Jacksonville Public Library Blog 2023 Archive

Books for Dads and Future Fathers

Even dads like getting lost in a good book! At the Library, you'll find everything from thrillers like Harlen Coben's I Will Find You to classics like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or even post-apocalyptic masterpieces like The Road from the late, great Cormac McCarthy. So, whether you're a dad yourself or just thinking about parenthood and the life lessons your father taught you... You'll find stories of strong fathers, patience, pride and more -right here at the Library.

Books to Honor and Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth has been celebrated by African Americans since the 1800s and became a federal holiday in 2021. It is a combination of June and nineteenth and is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. If you're still somewhat new to Juneteenth celebrations or you'd like to share the history with your children, the Library has books to help you out! Check out our book recommendations to learn more about the history of this holiday and the ways it's traditionally celebrated.

Dungeon Master Summer Academy for Teens

Wanted: Teen Adventurers (ages 12-17) Dungeon Master Summer Academy

Ever wanted to run your own Dungeon & Dragons adventures? Learn how to write, craft, and play in a world of your own making! Join us in the Teen Room at the Main Library on select Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays June 5 - July 12 for drop-in crafts, one-shot writing clinics, session zero prep and more at a DM Summer Academy just for teens (ages 12-18). If you're still new to D&D or just have no interest in running games, you can still stop by on Drop-In D&D days to play and give our DMs-in-training some practice!

Junior Lit Chat with Andrea Davis Pinkney

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 books for young readers, among them The Red Pencil and A Poem for Peter, as well as several collaborations with her husband Brian Pinkney, including Sit-In and Hand in Hand, which received the Coretta Scott King Book Award. Join us for a Junior Lit Chat with Andrea Davis Pinkney, Friday, June 16, from 4:30-5 p.m. live at the Brentwood Library. Intended for kids, ages 5-12. The first 50 kids in attendance will get a FREE copy of A Poem for Peter to take home. A reception and book signing will follow.

We Are Open for Art Walk: June 7 at the Main Library

Celebrate our community's deep pool of creative talent on the first Wednesday of each month in Downtown Jacksonville! The Main Library is directly across from James Weldon Johnson Park, from one of Art Walk's three major hubs of activity. We host student art shows, teen open mic nights and more! Plus, it's the perfect time to take a self-guided tour of murals, maps and public art found throughout your library headquarters.

Lit Chat and Writer's Lab with NYT Bestselling Author Susan Orlean

New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean joins us at the Main Library in June for two days of bookish excitement! Readers can check out our Lit Chat Interview with her on Friday evening, and writers can attend a Writer’s Lab workshop on Saturday morning. We’d love to see you at both!

Join a Library Book Club in June

Whether it's a sizzling summer romance for that much-deserved day at the beach, a cozy mystery for that long flight or night in... or the perfect nonfiction audiobook for that cross-country road trip - you can count on the Library to have all of the hottest titles! And with all the money you save from those FREE books, that just means more money towards your next vacation (or stay-cation)!

Book your next visit to the Library. Find your next read and chat with your fellow readers this summer at a Library Book Club near you!

Adult Programs this June: Lit Chats, Writer's Labs and More!

Summer is almost here and so are a ton of great programs! There are three - count them THREE - awesome Lit Chats in June, a Writer’s Lab doubleheader, and our newest Book Club at Pablo Creek! If you're not sure what to read this summer, we've got some great book recommendations for you on our blog.

In June, we'll announce the dates for Jax Book Fest 2023 and the three authors who'll be headlining that event! Join us at Lit Chats and Writer's Labs this summer and be sure to follow our social media (and read your emails) for the BIG reveal.

Summer Reading Recommendations for Kids, Teens and Adults

Make the Library - and reading - part of your summer from June 1 through August 12! Our theme this year, All Together Now, invites you to read, play and explore together with fun shows, programs, hands-on activities and, of course, all kinds of books!

Lit Chat Interview with graphic novelist Leela Corman at DCAZ Fest

Lit Chat Interview with Leela Corman at DCAZ Fest

Join us for a Lit Chat Interview with graphic novelist Leela Corman. She'll be in conversation with local podcaster Badr Milligan live at the Main Library during the second annual Duval Comic and Zine Fest on Saturday, June 10, at 1:30 p.m. Corman is a founding instructor of the Sequential Artists Workshop in Gainesville, Florida, and an instructor at Rhode Island School of Design. DCAZ Fest is a celebration for self-publishing that brings together local comic and zine makers with fans of underground art, alternative press and DIY media. Chair seating will be guaranteed to those who register for the in-person program and there will also be standing room available at the event.