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Q&A with Kelly J. Baptist
Kelly J. Baptist is the author of several works for young readers. Her published works include the middle-grade novels The Swag is in the Socks, Eb & Flow and the Isaiah Dunn series. She won the 2015 We Need Diverse Books short story contest with her story, The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.…
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The History of Orange County Library System: Friends of the Library Bookmobile
In 1949, the Albertson Public Library board received a proposal for a bookmobile that would reach residents in outlying areas of the county. Believing that no other service would be a greater benefit to the community, Sorosis of Orlando Woman’s Club raised $6,000 to purchase a school bus and convert it into a mobile library…
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Attention, OverDrive Users: It’s Time to Upgrade to Libby
On May 1, 2023, the OverDrive app for iOS, Android, and Windows 8/10 will be discontinued. OverDrive users are encouraged to upgrade to the newer Libby app to browse, check out, and enjoy Orange County Library’s eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazine collection. It’s time to give Libby a try! All your loans, holds, and wish…
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OCLS y el 2023
By Laura Lizardi, Carmen Medina Bermudez, and Maria Peraza El 2022 está a punto de terminar y ha sido un año lleno de cambios, progresos y del regreso a la normalidad después de los tiempos de COVID 19. Para las bibliotecas del Condado de Orange ha sido un año de renovaciones y remodelaciones en diferentes sucursales,…
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From the Director, March 2023
As part of our 100 Year Celebration, we plan to share stories about the history of Orange County Library System in each issue of Books & Beyond. We’ll focus on one decade at a time, and this month, we take a look at the 1930s – a particularly difficult time for everyone, including the library.…
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The History of Orange County Library System: Olive Brumbaugh and the Albertson Public Library
In the spring of 1923, the library board was in need of an experienced librarian to organize and administer the newly established Albertson Public Library. After a lengthy search, they received an application from Miss Olive Brumbaugh, librarian of the Public Library of Frankfort, Indiana. On April 20, 1923, the position was offered to her,…
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Kodachrome: The Iconic Color Film
Kodachrome, produced by the company Kodak, is the oldest selling brand of color film in existence. Invented in 1935, it quickly became the standard film for cinematography and still photography. Notably, Kodachrome captured the first color photographs of historical events such as the Hindenburg’s disaster of 1937, the first climbers confirmed at the top of…
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2023 Early Learning Calendars
Now available in English and Spanish! Our 2023 Early Learning Calendar includes twelve months of learning activities, book lists and nursery rhymes. One side has a calendar with a fun skills-building activity for every day of the month, and the other contains supplementary content like nursery rhymes, early literacy tips, song lyrics and suggested reading…
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From the Director, February 2023
On January 7, we kicked off Orange County Library System’s 100 Year Celebration at Orlando Public Library with a host of special guests. We were lucky enough to have Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, State Rep. Anna Eskamani and County Commissioner Nicole Wilson join us…
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The History of Orange County Library System: Eddie T. Jackson and the Booker T. Washington Library
The Albertson Public Library opened its doors in November 1923, but until the mid-1960s, those doors were closed to members of the Black community because of segregation. In her first Librarian’s Report, Olive Brumbaugh noted that Black residents “were entitled to library privileges yet could not use the Albertson [Public Library], so the Booker T.…
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