Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Closure

Orange County Library System will be closed Sunday, January 18 and Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The library system will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 20. View a complete list of holiday closures

New Library Catalog Preview

We are launching a new catalog on February 10 and would like your feedback. Preview the new catalog and take the survey


Ocls-blog logo
  • 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

    Read More

  • 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

    Read More

  • 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

    Read More

  • DeborahHopkinsonHeader-01

    Q&A with Sunshine State Author Deborah Hopkinson

    Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of more than 60 books for young readers including picture books, middle grade historical fiction and nonfiction. In 2020, she won the Sunshine State Young Reader Award for her grade 3–5 novel, How I Became a Spy: A Mystery of World War II London. This month, Mayor Buddy’s Book

    Read More

  • From the Director, July 2021

    From the Director, July 2021

    There’s nothing that brings a library to life like the smiles we see on the faces of children and families who come to our live events. We haven’t been able to see those smiles in person in nearly a year and a half, as we’ve held nearly all of our events and programs online while

    Read More

  • Our History Speaks Volumes: Remembering Glenn F. Miller (1937–1996)

    Our History Speaks Volumes: Remembering Glenn F. Miller (1937–1996)

    On November 1, 1970, Library Director Clara Wendel retired having served 27 years as head of Orange County Library System. She was succeeded by Glenn Miller, who became only the third library director in OCLS’ nearly 50-year history. Originally from Saginaw, Michigan, Miller began his career in library service in 1958, working as a reference

    Read More

  • International Year of Peace and Trust: Called To Forgive & Resist!

    International Year of Peace and Trust: Called To Forgive & Resist!

    Called to Forgive: The Charleston Church Shooting, a Victim’s Husband, and the Path to Healing and Peace by Anthony B. Thompson with Denise George Could you forgive the murderer your spouse? On June 17, 2015, nine Black people were killed during a Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. While

    Read More

  • Q&A with a Sloth Conservationist. Photo Credit: Justin Mott/Kindred Guardians Project

    Q&A with a Sloth Conservationist

    Monique Pool is the founder of Green Heritage Fund Suriname. The foundation’s mission is to move all Surinamers to make wise decisions for the sustainable use of natural resources. This month, Monique will share her work with sloths in presentation on our Facebook and YouTube Live. She was kind enough to answer some questions for

    Read More

  • RUSA Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services Award

    RUSA Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services Award

    West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center has been awarded the Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services Award for its genealogy offerings to customers. Presented by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, this award recognizes libraries for developing imaginative and unique resources to meet patrons’ reference needs.

    Read More

  • The Story of Pride

    The Story of Pride

    In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City became the unlikely catalyst for the struggle for LGBT+ rights. At that time, there were laws against being homosexual which extended to prohibiting the sale of alcohol to homosexuals and dancing with someone of the

    Read More