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  • Overnight Science Experiments to Try at Home!

    Overnight Science Experiments to Try at Home!

    Due in no small part to the slow organic processes of our natural world, some scientific experiments demand more than the prescribed 30 to 40 minutes of a library event. Some require much more time to occur. Listed below are instructions on how to perform three awesome experiments at home over the course of a…

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    Orange County Library Board votes on plan to work with Orlando and Orange County on concept to develop branches in Horizon West, Lake Nona

    Orange County Library System’s Board of Trustees, the City of Orlando and Orange County have agreed to pursue a plan to work together to build new library branches in Horizon West and Lake Nona. Both communities have been requesting that the library build new branches to serve their growing populations, but the library has not…

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  • Five Shonen Jump Manga Recommendations!

    Five Shonen Jump Manga Recommendations!

    With Demon Slayer: The Movie – Mugen Train (2020) sweeping the Japanese and American box office, it has become apparent that a huge audience exists for the genre of Japanese manga and anime. Who could be surprised? Manga showcases some of the most fascinating artwork, bombastic storylines and colorful characters in any modern medium. If…

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  • International Year of Peace and Trust: Mandela and the General & Trust First

    International Year of Peace and Trust: Mandela and the General & Trust First

    Mandela and the General by John Carlin with art by Oriol Malet Will the freedom struggle end in a bloodbath? Nelson Mandela’s fight against racism is about to spiral into an all-out race war. Unless he can win over his archenemy, the white supremacist General Viljoen, the democratic struggle for equality and justice in South…

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  • Bringing Readers Together Through Mayor Buddy’s Book Club

    Bringing Readers Together Through Mayor Buddy’s Book Club

    Throughout the year, Orange County Library System, City of Orlando’s Mayor Matching Grant recipient, proudly partners with Mayor Buddy’s Book Club, a City of Orlando youth program, to host monthly book clubs at local neighborhood centers across Orlando. These book clubs connect young readers with literacy coaches and community helpers, such as firefighters, police officers and public officials who participate in lively book discussions and trivia. The…

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  • From the Director August 2021 Header-01

    From the Director, August 2021

    Nothing goes hand-in-hand better than schools and libraries – two institutions dedicated to learning, growth and development. That’s why, every August, we like to feature back-to-school events designed to help parents and kids prepare for the return to the classroom. We’ll have a back-to-school virtual celebration on August 5, with storytimes, crafts and activities to…

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  • Our History Speaks Volumes: West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center

    Our History Speaks Volumes: West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center

    On August 8, 2001, West Oaks Branch opened its doors for the very first time. Twenty years later, the branch continues to provide integral library services to the residents of Ocoee and Western Orange County. West Oaks Branch began as one of several library branch locations that opened in the early 2000s, under Orange County…

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  • International Year of Peace and Trust: I Am Malala

    International Year of Peace and Trust: I Am Malala

    I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick Malala Yousafzai, now known simply as Malala, is an international symbol of peace. She will turn just 24 years old this month. In October 2012, she received a worldwide outpouring of support when a Taliban gunman…

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  • Q&A with a Manatee Conservationist

    Q&A with a Manatee Conservationist

    Photo Credit: Save the Manatee Club   We Floridians love manatees and, since the theme for the Summer Reading Program this year is Tales & Tails, you can participate in several manatee-focused programs. This month, Save the Manatee Club will present Manatee Conservation about sea cows and how you can protect them. To pique your…

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  • DIY Film Fest: Explore Florida

    DIY Film Fest: Explore Florida

    In July, Orange County Library System will host Explore Florida, a series of events which survey Florida’s rich history and cultural traditions. In concert with this series, we’ve selected a number of films – all of which are available for free through the library’s collection – that are set throughout the Sunshine State.   The…

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Holiday Closure

Orange County Library System will be closed Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25, Tuesday, December 31 and Wednesday, January 1 in observance of Christmas and New Year's. View a complete list of holiday closures >

Winter Garden Branch Closure

From January 6 through February 15, Winter Garden Branch will get a much needed refresh to better serve the community. Learn more about the Winter Garden Branch closing >