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  • #OCLSReads for Pride Month

    #OCLSReads for Pride Month

    Every June is designated as Pride Month to celebrate the impact of LGBTQ people. This year is extra special as it is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which served as the catalyst for the gay liberation movement in the United States. These are some of my favorite selections perfect to learn more about…

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  • SummerReads2019Header-01

    #OCLSReads Books for Summer 

    Summer brings longer days and even warmer weather, which means more time for reading—preferably indoors away from oppressive 95-degree Florida weather. But whichever environment you prefer (reading at the beach, at a park, or even relaxing at home), here are some suggestions from two Collection Development librarians to add to your #TBR list this summer.    One…

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  • From the Director Header June 2019-01

    From the Director, June 2019

    Every year, the Orange County Library System’s Summer Reading Program grows. It’s a labor of love for us to create the hundreds of camps, events, classes and educational opportunities that help kids continue to learn over the summer. This is important because studies show that kids who don’t participate in educational activities in summer don’t…

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  • How Ali Learned English With The Library

    How Ali Learned English With The Library

    Did you know the Orlando Public Library is now offering English from Zero? Located in the heart of downtown, the location will offer the course on Sundays starting June 9. English from Zero is a basic English course for speakers of other languages, no matter the language. To give you a little more insight on…

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  • Melrose in the Mix

    Melrose in the Mix

    Melrose in the Mix is a live recording session held regularly in the Melrose Center. The series began in April 2017 with a session by Swamp Sistas, a society of women singer/songwriters led by popular roots musician Beth McKee. Since then we’ve hosted 17 sessions, with acts ranging from local hip-hop standouts E-Turn and Sean…

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  • From the Director May 2019

    From the Director, May 2019

    I want to take a minute to tell you about the Friends of the Orange County Library System. They’re an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to help fund library programs that aren’t covered by our budget. They are the organization that runs our bookstore and gift shop, helps coordinate our volunteer program and funds the…

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  • How to Find Books For a 1-Year-Old

    #OCLSReads: How To Find Books for a 1-Year-Old

    Last year I wrote a post from my 4-year-old’s perspective, listing her top books of the year. Today I’m bringing you some of my 1-year-old’s favorites, and this was inspired by several interactions. As a librarian, many parents ask me for book recommendations, specifically for babies/toddlers who aren’t interested in books yet. They don’t take…

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  • From the Director April 2019

    From the Director, April 2019

    Libraries equal strong communities.  That’s the theme of this year’s National Library Week, a national initiative sponsored by the American Library Association to encourage people to celebrate the contributions libraries (and library workers) make that help shape the world we live in.  Think, for a moment, what libraries do for those around you. They give…

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    7 Ways to Participate in National Library Week

    “To build up a library is to create a life,” Argentinian author Carlos MarĂ­a DomĂ­nguez once said. “It’s never just a random collection of books.” When you take a look at the Orange County Library System and the communities we serve, you get some sense of what DomĂ­nguez means. This month we celebrate National Library…

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  • From the Director March 2019

    From the Director, March 2019

    When you think of the library, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of it as the place you visited as a child, where you learned to sit quietly while you listened to adults reading you stories. Maybe you think of it as the place you went in college to escape the din of your…

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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.