Do You Love Your Library?
February is Library Lovers Month, so it's a great time to let everyone know what you love about Jacksonville Public Library! With two Lit Chat author events, two Writer's Lab workshops and over a dozen Book Clubs, you're really going to love your next visit. We're also celebrating Black History Month with a screening and discussion of African Diasporans Hidden Kulture, which explores African American history in Jacksonville. If you're interested in world history, politics, and how it affects you, grab your seat for a "Great Decisions" world affairs discussion program.
Read more below or search our events calendar for all adult programs.
Be the first to know about upcoming events!
What Library Superfans are Reading in February
If you're reading this, then you're already a library superfan. But have you considered joining a Library Book Club or inviting your bookish besties to join you at your favorite? There are over a dozen book clubs to choose from, including one that meets live on Zoom.
Reminder: The 2026 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge started on January 1 and one of the 16 challenge categories is "A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026." Not only that, members read and discuss books that satisfy other challenge categories, making it even easier to complete 12 books in a year.
Screening Room: African Diasporans Hidden Kulture
Journey through Jacksonville's extraordinary African American culture and heritage with filmmaker Nola D. Oracle. She visits places like LaVilla, Durkeeville, Kingsley Plantation, and American Beach to illuminate the contributions of African Diasporans, preserving their stories for the next generation.
Watch and discuss African Diasporans Hidden Kulture from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Highlands Library. An audience Q&A and discussion with the filmmaker will follow. This "Screening Room" is part of an ongoing series of public programs that explore and collect African American history. It is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Register to attend the screening
Writer's Lab: Discover Local Author Resources
Learn how to format, design, and produce professional quality book files with Pressbooks Public. This workshop meets live on Zoom from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 7, so you'll be able to follow along on your computer. You'll also learn how to reach new readers through libraries statewide (and potentially all across the U.S. and Canada) with the Indie Author Project.
Lit Chat Author Talk with Brianna Ellis
Brianna Ellis fell in love with poetry as a young girl, eventually exploring this passion as a rap lyricist. Her skillful writing also led to a career in journalism, after graduating from Queens College in her hometown of Queens, NY. She's pursued many creative endeavors along the way: In addition to her debut poetry book, Eternally You, Brianna has published multiple children's books.
Get to know this enthusiastic author at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 at Brentwood Branch Library. A book signing will follow the presentation, with books available for sale on site.
Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Tribute Festival
The Friends of Brentwood Library, Inc. and its founder and matriarch, Sharon Coon, invite you to celebrate the 126th anniversary of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" February 7 - 21, 2026, in the hometown of the Johnson brothers. Known as the Black National Anthem, "Lift E'very Voice and Sing" is a song of endurance, freedom, suffering, joy and thanksgiving. Originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1899, it was set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson.
This tribute festival features multiple free events including:
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Smithsonian Institute Exhibition
- Opening/reception at 5 p.m. on Feb. 10
- Brentwood Branch Library, 3725 N. Pearl St.
- Theme: "Votes for Women - A Portrait of Persistence"
- Part of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, “Because of Her Story”
- Outlines the more than 80-year movement for women to obtain the right to vote
- View selections from the exhibition on the Google Arts and Culture website
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"Our Democracy and the Ballot" Symposium
- Tuesday, February 17
- "Meet & Greet" reception from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.
- Symposium and panel discussion from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Main Library, 303 N. Laura St. (Hicks Auditorium)
- Panelists will reflect on the 1923 speech by James Weldon Johnson regarding the vital role of voting and citizenship
- Presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
The Great Decisions: A World Affairs Discussion Series
The Foreign Policy Association—a non-partisan not-for-profit—created Great Decisions to serve as a catalyst for developing an awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues. Today, it is the country's largest world affairs discussion program taking place in libraries, schools, and community centers across the United States. Each program includes a 25-minute video, followed by a discussion, facilitated by local subject-matter expert.
There are a total of eight discussion topics in this series, with four being discussed in February:
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Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
- with Dr. Will Miller, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Southeast Regional
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Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
- with Patrick O'Reilly, Retired Foreign Service Officer & UNF Professor
- 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Webb Wesconnett Regional
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Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
- with Dr. Jasmine McNealy, University of Florida
- 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, live on Zoom
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U.S. Engagement of Africa
- with Dr. Will Miller, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, at Highlands Regional
Sign up for Great Decisions on our events calendar.
Lit Chat Interview with Terah Shelton Harris
If you read upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings, you may know the name Terah Shelton Harris from One Summer in Savannah or Long After We Are Gone. Her books have been chosen as a Target Book Club pick, LibraryReads pick, Kobo Best Book, Together We Read pick, Publisher’s Marketplace Buzz Book, and a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Best Debut. They're both great picks for the "Read a book by a 2026 Lit Chat author" category of our adult reading challenge.
Her third book, Where the Wildflowers Grow, is out this February. Meet the author at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Mandarin Branch Library. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Mandarin Library. A book signing will follow the interview, with books available for sale on site.
Writer's Lab: So You Think Your Book Could Be a Movie?
Looking for a practical, myth-busting guide to screenwriting? Join award-winning screenwriter, novelist and creative entrepreneur, Jaimie Engle, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at University Park Branch. At this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the key differences between novel writing and screenwriting and what makes a story truly adaptable to film or television.
Life Lab: Improve Your Day-to-Day Life
Life Lab is a series of free workshops offered by trained professionals and volunteers, aimed at improving your life. They cover a wide range of topics from gardening to financial literacy to small business needs. No need to bring anything but yourself to participate!
Upcoming Workshops:
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Right Plant, Right Place with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Murray Hill Branch Library
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Container Gardening with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at University Park Branch Library
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Why Wildflowers? with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 at Willow Branch Library
Search our events calendar for more workshops offered by our community partners at the Library.
