South Trail Branch Closure
South Trail Branch will be closed for enhancements from Monday, October 27 through Sunday, November 9. The branch will reopen on Monday, November 10. Learn more about the closure ›
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Orlando 150: Orange Avenue
Orange Avenue has been one of Orlando’s most significant thoroughfares since the town’s incorporation 150 years ago in 1875. According to a business district map from 1885, the street was populated with several businesses including hotels, saloons, grocery and dry goods stores, bakeries, drug stores and more. Orlando was developing rapidly and by the late…
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From the Director, July 2025
Summer Fun at Your Library is One Tap Away It’s easier than ever to unlock all your library card has to offer with our new mobile app, now available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Our new OCLS app makes it easy for customers to sign up for classes and…
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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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Q&A with artist Dafeney Josue Â
The Dafeney Josue Art Collection is the newest art installation at Orlando Public Library on display through June.  Dafeney Josue is a self-taught mixed media artist based in Orlando. Dafeney’s artwork celebrates Black women and femininity in vibrant and captivating ways. Below is an interview with the artist.  What do you hope viewers take away from your artwork?…
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From the Director, May 2025
Your Library Offers Unexpected Events and Experiences Registration has opened for Summer at Your Library. From June 1 through July 27, we have special events and programs for all ages at our 15 locations and at pop-up locations across the county. This year’s theme is “Color Our World” and the library has an array of…
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From book recommendations to pop culture discussions, the Orange County Library System wants you to join the conversation with library staff about the world around us.
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