from the director
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From the Director, October 2021
When this pandemic first started, I remember having conversations about how we could best serve customers, even though we couldn’t invite them to gather in our buildings for storytimes, author talks and computer classes. Our team hustled to find the right tools to convert everything we do to a virtual format, and I must say, I…
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From the Director, September 2021
In our August issue, you may have noticed that we announced a gradual return to in-person events starting in September. That announcement was made before the rapid rise in coronavirus cases in Florida. Out of caution and concern for the safety of our customers and staff, the decision has been made to postpone those in-person…
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From the Director, August 2021
Nothing goes hand-in-hand better than schools and libraries – two institutions dedicated to learning, growth and development. That’s why, every August, we like to feature back-to-school events designed to help parents and kids prepare for the return to the classroom. We’ll have a back-to-school virtual celebration on August 5, with storytimes, crafts and activities to…
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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…
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From the Director, June 2021
June is here, and that means that our annual Summer Reading Program is about to kick into high gear, with hundreds of events, programs, camps and classes for kids and adults. Just like last year, all programs are virtual, so you can participate from the comfort of your own home. Learn to design a logo…
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From the Director, May 2021
It was only a year ago that Orange County Library System released a statement letting our community know that our library system stands for equality, inclusion and compassion for all of our citizens. We made that statement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Protests…
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From the Director, April 2021
We have a lot to celebrate this spring. First of all, there’s the ever-widening availability of COVID-19 vaccines to those who want them. As of this writing, the state has made the vaccine available to people 50 and over, and Orange County has taken the additional step of offering the vaccine to anyone 40 or…
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From the Director, March 2021
March marks one year since the pandemic truly hit home for us. On March 18, 2020, our libraries temporarily closed to the public so we could figure out how to keep our staff and customers safe. We had no idea at that time that our buildings would be closed for six weeks, and that our…
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From the Director, February 2021
One positive thing that has come out of this pandemic has been some new opportunities available to us due to our extensive use of virtual programming. Orange County Library System used to be an entirely in-person operation – all of our events and programs happened at one of our 15 library locations. Now, though, we…
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From the Director, January 2021
To say that 2020 was a tumultuous year would be a gross understatement, so I think it’s only natural that most of us are hoping for a fresh start in 2021. While the pandemic continues to impact our lives as we ring in this new year, I hope you won’t let that dampen your optimism…
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