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  • Great Short Story Collections to Keep You Occupied

    Great Short Story Collections to Keep You Occupied

    In a variety of contexts, storytellers are obligated to provide readers, or audiences, with engrossing tales of struggle, love, tragedy, comedy and horror. Some storytellers write these stories within the span of 400 pages while other writers choose to write these same types of stories in less than 100 pages. In either case, the result is…

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    What Does Hispanic Heritage Month Mean to You?

    In 1968, President Johnson commemorated the first Hispanic Heritage Week to honor the cultures and contributions of Latin Americans in our country. Twenty years later, President Reagan expanded the week-long celebration from September 15 through October 15, thus creating Hispanic Heritage Month. But why does it start in the middle of September? September 15 is…

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    6 Latinx Authors to Read During Hispanic Heritage Month

    In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we gathered just a few of the most meaningful books written by Latinx authors we’ve read in our lifetimes. This is an ideal time to pick up a new-to-you book and explore the varied, complex experiences of Latinx authors and the characters they’ve brought to life in these stories.…

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  • Were Reopening With Care-01

    We’re Reopening, With Care

    “The library hasn’t been closed, only our buildings have.” I’ve repeated this refrain often over the past couple of months when friends and neighbors would ask about our reopening. We’ve been able to offer an impressive amount of services online during this time and it has been heartening to see a large amount of Orange…

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    A Day in the Life

    As part of National Library Week, a yearly celebration of libraries, librarians and library workers, we asked some of our staff (and their pets) working and teaching from home to share how they are adjusting to working from home. Check out National Library Week at Orange County Library System to find out more about how we…

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  • Become Your Best Self with the Enneagram

    Become Your Best Self with the Enneagram

    I never expected to benefit from yet another personality test but as it turns out researching my Enneagram type was a wise choice. With a limited investment of time, you can learn a ton about yourself and the people you love.     The Enneagram types, represented by numbers one through nine, are more than personalities. They help to explain a person’s worldview, self-image and motivations. For example, I learned that people of my type, the Four, strive to be unique and authentic. They tend to…

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  • Read It! Don't Lose It: How to Regain Your Focus While Reading

    Read It! Don’t Lose It: How to Regain Your Focus While Reading

    Imagine you have just picked up a book from your “books I need to read” list. You prepare your favorite beverage and find the comfortable spot on your couch. Enthusiastically, you open the book and begin to read it, scanning the words, feeling the pages on your fingertips every time you turn to the next…

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  • Our History Speaks Volumes: Remembering Eddie T. Jackson

    Our History Speaks Volumes: Remembering Eddie T. Jackson

    In June 1924, our Booker T. Washington Branch opened at 107 South Terry St. The branch was the second public library location to open in the city of Orlando following the Albertson Public Library, which began service the previous year. Selected to serve as Head Librarian of the Booker T. Washington Branch was Eddie T. Jackson. Upon…

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  • Alafaya Branch 20th Anniversary

    Alafaya Branch 20th Anniversary

    Orange County Library System’s Alafaya Branch is excited to celebrate our 20th Anniversary on Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. You are invited to enjoy a day packed full of events and activities. Hear a story and mingle with visiting animals at Animal Storytime Presented by the Central Florida Fair, laugh out loud with the amazing Jiggleman and…

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    How to Host a Frugal Feast

    We find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, meaning it is time to host a plethora of dietary restrictions, picky guests and high expectations. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Festivus, National Cookie Day, New Year’s, or just having the family over. It is hard to compare yourself with social media being…

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Thanksgiving Closure

Orange County Library System will be closed starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 and remain closed through Friday, November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving. The library system will resume normal business hours on Saturday, November 30. Learn more about library closures >

Upcoming Southwest Branch Closure

Southwest Branch will be closed Monday, December 2 through Thursday, December 5 for replacement of the HVAC system. The book drop will remain open. We plan to reopen for normal business hours on Friday, December 6.