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  • The History of Orange County Library System: Glenn Miller and the Orlando Public Library Expansion

    The History of Orange County Library System: Glenn Miller and the Orlando Public Library Expansion

    Glenn Miller got his start in libraries at an early age. At 16, he was a clerk at Saginaw Public Library in Michigan, and during college, he worked as a reference assistant. After graduating, Miller became the city librarian in Southfield, MI before he and his family moved to Winter Park, Florida, where he accepted…

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  • 5 Cookbooks Chef Mira Can't Live Without!

    5 Cookbooks Chef Mira Can’t Live Without!

    Perfect for aspiring or advanced cooks, Chef Yamira Lee Johnson’s top 5 cookbooks she can’t live without are inspiring, helpful reads for the kitchen. With each recommendation, we journey through Chef Yamira’s culinary career with roots planted in Puerto Rican cooking to her current passion for adapting old favorites into healthy, plant-based recipes. Books Mentioned:…

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  • Cinco Componentes de Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer: El Juego

    Cinco Componentes de Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer: El Juego

    ECRR es una iniciativa cuyo objetivo es brindarle a los cuidadores y padres los recursos necesarios para el desarrollo literario de su hijo. Como padre o cuidador, usted es el mejor maestro, y la iniciativa de “Todos Los Niños Listos Para Leer” (ECRR por sus siglas en inglĂ©s) provee las herramientas y recursos para ayudar a…

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  • Five Components of Every Child Ready to Read: Playing

    Five Components of Every Child Ready to Read: Playing

    Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) is an initiative created to provide caregivers and families with resources to support their child’s early literacy development. As a parent or caregiver, you are your child’s first and best teacher and the ECRR initiative provides tools and resources to help your child enter school with the skills they need. It…

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  • From the Director, July 2023

    From the Director, July 2023

    This year, the library’s home delivery service turns 50 years old. It was launched in 1973 by former Library Director Glenn Miller, who was looking for a way to make library service more accessible for people in the county. The library had a bookmobile, but it was aging and the county was growing – it…

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  • The History of Orange County Library System: Home Delivery

    The History of Orange County Library System: Home Delivery

    The Orange County Library System books-by-mail program was initiated in December 1973. At the time, the library’s presence in Orange County consisted of the Orlando Public Library, nine branches and an aging bookmobile. The county population was about 350,000 and development was stretching in all directions. Library Director Glenn Miller wanted to phase out the…

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  • 2023 Alafaya Bookmark Design Contest

    2023 Alafaya Bookmark Design Contest

    School’s out, and Orange County Library System is celebrating summer in a number of ways. Starting June 3, our annual summer program called Summer at Your Library will be in full swing. We’re excited about our theme this year – All Together Now: Kindness, Friendship, and Unity – and the activities we offer for all…

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  • From the Director, June 2023

    From the Director, June 2023

    I grew up in rural northeast Pennsylvania. When I was a kid, my access to the library was limited to school or visiting a bookmobile. As a result, I feel like I missed out on a lot of opportunities to discover the world through books. I didn’t get to experience the journeys they can take…

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  • The History of Orange County Library System: Clara Wendel & the Construction of Orlando Public Library

    The History of Orange County Library System: Clara Wendel & the Construction of Orlando Public Library

    On February 1, 1943, Clara Wendel became Orange County Library System’s second library director. Clara was 39 years old when she was selected for the position, and OCLS – still the Albertson Public Library at the time – was celebrating its 20th anniversary. Originally from Illinois, Clara’s family relocated to Gotha, FL in her childhood.…

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  • From the Interim Director June 2022

    From the Interim Director, June 2022

    One of the most important relationships Orange County Library System has is with Orange County Public Schools. We strive to ensure that every school in the county has a library staff liaison who provides them with information about library events and services, and we collaborate with OCPS on a variety of initiatives, like virtual field…

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