Ocls-blog logo

Now Trending

  • The History of Orange County Library System: Proud Past, Bright Future

    The History of Orange County Library System: Proud Past, Bright Future

    One hundred years ago, there was no permanent library in Orlando. The only library that existed was a small circulating collection of books owned and loaned by the Sorosis of Orlando Woman’s Club, a philanthropic women’s organization that still supports education and local charities to this day. Recognizing the demand for a real public library…

    Read More

  • Waive Fines Goodbye

    Have you heard the big news yet? Orange County Library System is fine free.

    That’s right – you can waive fines goodbye! All existing overdue charges have been canceled and late fines were eliminated as of Sunday, October 16. If you had fines on your account but have returned your items to the library, your account has been cleared. Come back and use the library! However, if you have…

    Read More

  • Search Blog Configure Configure All About Steve: Getting to Know OCLS’s New Library Director/CEO

    All About Steve: Getting to Know OCLS’s New Library Director/CEO

    On August 26, after eight months of searching, it was announced that Steve Powell would be Orange County Library System’s new Library Director/CEO. Steve, who has been an employee with OCLS since 2007, has served as Interim Director since January 2022. We sat down with Steve to give everyone a chance to get to know…

    Read More

  • Steve Powell Selected as Orange County Library System's New Library Director/CEO

    Steve Powell Selected as Orange County Library System’s New Library Director/CEO

    On behalf of the Orange County Library System Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate Interim Director/CEO & COO Steve Powell on being selected to become the library’s new Library Director/CEO. Steve was the top choice among three finalists, all of whom had impressive backgrounds in library service. After an eight-month-long nationwide search, interviews…

    Read More

  • Q&A with Youth Services Intern Emily Gingras

    Q&A with Youth Services Intern Emily Gingras

    Emily Gingras has been interning at the library throughout the summer, working in the Youth Services department. As her internship comes to a close, we caught up with her to learn about her time working at OCLS and the upcoming blog series she’s writing for the library. What’s your major/minor at UCF and why were…

    Read More

  • Expanding Library Services with the New Group Home Library Card

    Expanding Library Services with the New Group Home Library Card

    On June 2, a group from the Great Oaks Village group foster home visited Orlando Public Library for a tour of the building. They showed their excitement for programs like BizKids Club and the objectively cool Melrose Center. They also received welcome bags full of library swag, but most importantly, they went home with their…

    Read More

  • From the Interim Director, August 2022

    From the Interim Director, August 2022

    The Summer Reading Program is the library’s busiest time of year, at least in terms of volume. But when summer ends, a lot of the library’s most important work begins. As parents are preparing their kids for their return to the classroom and teachers are making plans for what’s to come in the new year,…

    Read More

  • From the Interim Director, July 2022

    From the Interim Director, July 2022

    We are heading into summer with some good news – our 2022 Summer Reading Program is off to a strong start. We announced that we would be offering in-person events this summer, in addition to virtual selections, and the response has been fantastic. Hundreds of kids and their parents are showing up for events at…

    Read More

  • Orange County Library System issues library card to Orange County group home Great Oaks Village

    Orange County Library System issues library card to Orange County group home Great Oaks Village

    On June 2, a group of kids from the Great Oaks Village group foster home visited the Orlando Public Library. They received welcome bags, toured the building and (most importantly) they received their new Group Home Card, which allows them to check out materials. Group foster homes offer kids in need a place of safety…

    Read More

  • Orange County Library System board of trustees members, library director and others posing in front of the book arch at Orlando Public Library and holding the signed lease agreements for Horizon West and Lake Nona branches

    Orange County Library System Board of Trustees approves leases for library branches in Lake Nona, Horizon West

    On June 9, the Orange County Library System Board of Trustees approved leases for new library branches in both Lake Nona and Horizon West. In Horizon West, the library will have a ground lease with Orange County that will allow for the design and construction of a library in the Horizon West Regional Park. The…

    Read More