Celebrate our community's deep pool of creative talent with us on the first Wednesday of each month in Downtown Jacksonville. The Main Library stays open until 9 p.m. for the festivities. Don't forget to pick up a Map & Guide to the Main Library on your way in. During your visit, you'll find plenty of public art, a huge vintage map collection, and more.
# Open House at the Memory Lab
On the fourth floor of the Main Library is our impressive Memory Lab, where you can transfer a wide variety of photos, video and film into a digital format – for free – to share with family and friends. Join us to see demonstrations of our equipment and hear more about our extensive genealogy resources - including access to Ancestry Library Edition and FamilySearch - Yearbook Collection, and the Neighborhood Project.
# Art Tours of the Main Library
Augusta Savage, Al Held, Kathryn Freeman, Lee Adams, Jerry Uelsmann. Do you know that works by these artists and many more are on permanent display at the Main Library? Come take a 20-minute docent-led tour during Art Walk and rediscover these remarkable paintings, sculptures, and photographs. Tours start every half hour starting at 6 p.m. Meet the docent by the Art Tours sign in the Pajcic Promenade (the entry/hallway on the first floor).
From David Bear, one of our volunteer docents: "My favorite piece on the tour is the small bust by Augusta Savage. It’s such a beautiful work—delicate yet with very strong features. I especially appreciate her connection to the Jacksonville area. As a Black woman in her time, she was limited to casting in clay—and, ironically, she was from Clay County. Because of this, many of her pieces were fragile and haven’t survived. I also love the backstory of how this piece sat unnoticed on the circulation desk at one of the branches for so long before being recognized for what it was."
# Local Art
Stop by the gallery on the first floor for a local art exhibition featuring the work of local artists, titled 'Games We Play'. This exhibition is presented in partnership with The Art Center Cooperative and Jacksonville Artists' Guild.
The show runs through October 17. For more information, including a list of participating artists and an online preview gallery, please visit tacjacksonville.org.
# Free Activities
Monthly Zinester Meetup
Do you read zines? Make your own comics? Drop by Zine Zone on the first floor of the Main Library every first Wednesday of the month (during Art Walk) from 6 - 8:30 p.m. It's a space where "zinesters," writers, artists and more meet to network, learn new skills, do group projects, and make art. If you haven't already, this is also a good time to browse or donate to the Zine Collection.
For more info, visit jaxlibrary.org/zines.
Smash Bros. Tournament
Join us from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Teen Room (on the first floor) for a Super Smash Bros. Tournament for teens (ages 12-18) on the big screen TV!
Board Games
Looking for other adults to play board games with? Join us from 6-8 p.m. in the "engagement" space on the first floor. Just look for the big red carpet between the gallery and the Zine Zone. Note: Participation from beginning to end is not required and players can join/leave at any time.
This month's games:
- Strike
- Business Walrus
- Quarto
- Superfight
- Fairytale Gloom
- Dixit
-
Sushi Go Party
