library staff
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Best Books of 2025: Adult
As chairs of the Adult Book List committee, we are excited to share with you how the committee was formed, how the books were reviewed, and how the list you can now find in the December Books & Beyond newsletter was created. Several librarians from across the whole system met together in person in the…
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Best Books of 2025: Youth
This year marked an exciting first for our library: the creation of our Best Books list for babies, children, and young adults! Two of us had the privilege of leading this new committee, and with a wonderful team of librarians, we set out to find the most remarkable (and often overlooked) books of the year.…
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OCLS Honored at Good Stuff Awards by Horizon West MagazineÂ
On Thursday, September 25, Orange County Library System was one of several businesses honored at Horizon West Magazine’s “Good Stuff Awards,” held at picturesque Southern Hill Farms.  OCLS was recognized in two categories: as the winner in Destination for Fun for library pop-up events at the Waterleigh Clubhouse and honoree in Nearby Gem for our…
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Back-to-School Resources at OCLS
School is back in session and Orange County Library System has what you need to succeed! To spread the word, Youth Services Librarian Elena visited WESH Ch. 2 to talk with Jason Guy about the library’s back-to-school resources and help for students and parents all year long. He was excited to learn about all the…
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Pride: The Importance of Queer Stories
“I often wonder what I’d do if there weren’t any books in the world.” – James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room Reading queer stories, whether it’s romance, or horror, or literary fiction, always feels like coming home. A place to rest, to unwind after a long day, and be truly, utterly myself. I find comfort in seeing…
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Embracing the Aloha Spirit: A Celebration of AANHPI Heritage Through Culture and Connection
As we wrap up celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, I find myself reflecting deeply on the values, traditions, and spirit that shaped my upbringing—especially those rooted in my Native Hawaiian heritage. I was raised with the tradition and heritage of the aloha spirit—not just as a greeting or a…
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Book Recommendations: Picture Books for Mental Health Awareness Month
Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with these amazing picture books! Explore a diverse array of neurodivergent experiences, and the unique challenges (and triumphs) that come with them. While many children’s titles address juvenile mental health issues broadly (for instance, personifying anxiety as a monster), the entries on this list deal more specifically with symptoms of…
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With Books, I Was Never Alone
For years, I was floating by. I hated this feeling especially when it was combined with my intense moods. Grounding tools felt impossible to use; because I was an independently minded teenager, creating and maintaining healthy habits that people would advise for my success was not something I’d taken seriously. However, in 2014, after a…
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Mindfulness: More than a Buzzword
Mindfulness plays a valuable role in my well-being. I find it all too easy to settle into a daily routine that, while comforting in its consistency, can also be draining. Through simple mindful practices, I can take stock of my feelings and recalibrate. Mindfulness is defined as a type of meditation that focuses on being…
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The Sound of Heritage: Hebrew and Yiddish in Jewish American Culture
Working at OCLS gives me the joy of meeting people from all walks of life, each carrying their own unique history. Not long ago, I had a wonderful conversation with a customer eager to share theirs. They spoke about their family’s Jewish roots and the rich worlds of Hebrew and Yiddish. Their stories stayed with…
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