Jacksonville Public Library Blog 2023 Archive

Kids Books to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is a celebration! The natural beauty and resources we all enjoy here on the First Coast are something to behold. When was the last time you visited the riverfront, our amazing beaches or the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens? Earth Day is also a reminder and a call to action. So many plants and animals call the Earth home! Every generation must do its part to protect it. Even the youngest kids can get in on the fun! For ideas and tools, check out these books about kids who are doing small (and big) things that make difference every day!

Celebrating Jax Poets: Interview with Jessica Q. Stark and Dorsey Craft

Lit Chat Author Interview with Jessica Q. Stark

Jessica Q. Stark is the author of Buffalo Girl (BOA Editions, forthcoming April 2023), Savage Pageant (Birds, LLC, 2020) and four poetry chapbooks, including INNANET (The Offending Adam, 2021). Savage Pageant was named one of the “Best Books of 2020” in The Boston Globe and in Hyperallergic. Her poetry has most recently appeared or is forthcoming in Best American Poetry, Poetry Society of America, Pleiades, The Southeast Review, Carolina Quarterly, The Boiler, Tupelo Quarterly, Glass Poetry Journal, among others. She is a Poetry Editor at AGNI and is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of North Florida.

Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage with Wayne Wood

Join us for a lively, wide-ranging discussion about Jacksonville's history and architecture, highlighting Wayne's new "Bicentennial Edition" of his local classic book, Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, as well as several of his previous books. Interviewed by Dr. Tim Gilmore, a colorful and prolific author in his own right, Wayne will present little-known facts about Jacksonville's buildings and will discuss his all-time favorite landmarks in the city.

Staff Picks Book Review - Through the Camera Luna: Cryptozoology and Conspiracies in Thomas Taylor’s Malamander

Library Staff Picks graphic for a book review

Malamander by Thomas Taylor is an atmospheric mystery set in the seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea. This salty tale features a quirky cast of characters who quickly become entangled in the lore of a legendary sea monster and its wish-granting egg. As the resident Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, Herbie Lemon is in charge of reuniting lost items with their owners.

Do You Have The Best Indie-Published Book In Florida?

The Florida Author Project contest just kicked off on April 1, 2023, and submissions are being accepted through May 31, 2023. Submit your indie-published Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fiction ebook for a chance to win $1000!

Staff Picks Genre Study - What You Might Enjoy Based on Your Favorite Streaming Program

Staff Picks Genre Study book list graphic

Those born after the advent of DVR and streaming services probably never heard the yell from a sibling, “hurry, it’s ON!” We now look at the 1980s the way we once looked at shows like Happy Days. At that time, the only way to see a show was to watch it when it first came on or wait until the summer to watch a rerun.

How to Generate Ideas And Start Writing Your Book

Writer's Lab: It All Starts With An Idea Workshop with Michael Regina

Ready to write a book, if you could just figure out what to write about? You’re not alone! Join us for a writing workshop all about how to generate ideas and turn them into something you can write about!

Calling Jax Poets and Poetry Enthusiasts

Whether you write love sonnets in secret, perform your own lyrics on stage, rock the mic at slam poetry or just really enjoy sitting down with a good poetry collection and a cup of tea - April is your time to shine! And what better place than the Library to get your poetry fix?!

Join us this month at the Library for drop-in activities, Lit Chat author events, and more!

Local Veteran Writes Poetry About Love, Pain, Faith and More

Aaron Woodson is a Florida-based military combat veteran who has served in the US Air Force and US Air National Guard for over 15 years. He began his military career participating in military campaigns such as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. At a very young age, Aaron began to nurture an interest in and passion for poetry. He began to write poems at school and his love for writing grew so deep that he told his parents that someday he would publish his own book. Having moved to Jacksonville in 2016, he decided to finish up his now-completed book, The Face of Expression, a poetry book that fuses story-telling and non-fiction clips into it.

We Are Open for Poets: April Art Walk 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, and plays host to student art shows, Author's Roundtables, 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.