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    Vision: 2016’s Best Surprise Graphic Novel

    2016’s best surprise in the graphic novel world has to be Tom King’s sci-fi suburban drama “Vision“. Relatively new to the professional comic scene, King once was an assistant to the legendary “X-Men” writer, Chris Claremont. He put his comic career on hold to become a counterterrorism operations officer for the CIA after the September…

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    Books to Read With Your Children in Celebration of Women’s History Month: Part One

    Dr. Eugenie Clark, Shark Lady Can you say ichthyologist? Merriam-Webster online offers this phonetic spelling for better pronunciation. Go ahead, take a stab at it. \ˌik-thē-ˈä-lə-jist\ This is a fancy word for a fish scientist and Heather Lang, author of Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark, delves into the life of “Little Genie,”…

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  • Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

    Co-Authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Inspire Teens

    “We can’t be more loyal to our fears than our futures,” said Jason Reynolds, co-author of All American Boys, during a truly inspirational talk at the Orlando Public Library. He and co-author Brendan Kiely visited Orlando as part of the OCLS Sunshine State Author Series. The authors spoke at two Orange County libraries, two OCPS…

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  • peanut

    National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day!

    It’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day! Unlike “Peanut Butter Day” in January, National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day celebrates those who love peanut butter and the different ways they eat it.   When you think of peanut butter, most people think of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But peanut butter is present in all kinds of…

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    A Conversation with Jackson Pearce

    The Sunshine State Author Series brings top-notch writers of children’s and young adult literature to Orange County for public readings, writing workshops and visits with students to spark interest in reading. Library staff member Stephanie Doane had the privilege of interviewing our final author who will participate in the series, Jackson Pearce. She began writing…

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  • Jack Reacher

    Which is Better? The Book or the Movie?

    It's the age old question—which is better: the book or the movie? Most readers usually say the book but why is that? Is it because the book came first? Is it because you spend two hours watching a movie, but days reading a book? Reading can give you a deeper understanding of what’s going on…

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  • Herndon Branch

    8 Ways to Show Your Library Love

    February is National Library Lovers Month! Did you know that according the 2016 Pew Report, 76% of Americans believe that libraries serve their community well? Let’s make it 100%! Take a look at these eight ways you can show your appreciation for your local library all year round. 1. Visit At OCLS, there’s a branch…

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  • maker mondays 1

    The Maker Movement Comes to Colonial Drive

    Maker Mondays is a new series offered at the Alafaya Branch that aims to give library users, specifically children ages 8-15, an opportunity to get hands-on with DIY projects.  The series, which started in January, centers on an activity that gives children a chance to create, discover and learn every Monday afternoon. In each session, children…

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  • girl reading

    14 Romance Novels to Read This Valentine’s Day

    Valentine's Day—or Saint Valentine's Day as it also known—is an internationally recognized holiday that centers on a celebration of love. And while the holiday was not always a romantic or sentimental celebration, the earliest presence of these ideas can be found in the 14th Century when Geoffrey Chaucer and other writers explored the concept of…

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  • home

    6 Books to Refresh Your Home in 2017

    A new year gives us the opportunity to restart or even refresh areas of our lives. Our homes can be a haven but can also cause us unnecessary stress in our lives. Sometimes the way we organize – or don’t organize – our living spaces can contribute to feelings of overwhelm or dissatisfaction. As you…

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