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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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Library Kicks Off 100 Year Celebration
On January 7, Orange County Library System kicked off its 100 Year Celebration with a daylong event at the Orlando Public Library that featured a ceremony dedicating the library to the community for the next 100 years, live music and activities for all ages. The library also announced at the event that, thanks to a…
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From the Director, January 2023
In 1923, the city of Orlando was less than 100 years old. Founded in the 1840s as a town called Jernigan, the city had nearly doubled in size by the 1920s, and a building boom was underway. The Angebilt Hotel, which is still located on Orange Avenue, opened to the public in 1923. The Orlando…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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