# San Marco History, Sci-Fi, Poetry and More
We kick off Native American Heritage Month with a special History Chat: Seminoles of African Descent on November 1 with guest speaker, Dr. Vincent Adejumo. He will explore this unique, complex relationship between Black and Indigenous peoples in Florida in the 1700s to 1850s.
Plus, we wrap up the year-long celebration of San Marco Branch Library's 75th Anniversary with a History Chat: San Marco Sculptures and a Time Capsule Event.
You might also like:
- Library Book Clubs (18 different meetings to choose from)
- Lit Chat Interview with John Scalzi, bestselling Sci Fi author
- Writer's Lab: Find Poems Anywhere with Jessica Q. Stark
- Life Lab continues with free fall and winter gardening tips
Be the first to know about Lit Chat author events, writing workshops, and more!
# Featured Program
Lit Chat Interview with John Scalzi
John Scalzi is one of the most popular science fiction authors of his generation. His debut, Old Man's War, won him the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel), The Last Emperox, The Kaiju Preservation Society, and Starter Villain. Material from his blog, Whatever, has earned him two other Hugo Awards.
Join us from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Main Library for a 45-minute interview and 15 minutes of audience Q&A.
A book signing will follow, with books available for sale on site from San Marco Books & More. Note: Books can be pre-ordered (recommended) on their website and picked up at the event.
# More Adult Programs
History Chat: Seminoles of African Descent
Dr. Vincent Adejumo provides a general overview of the origins of the Black Seminoles of Florida, their impact in the Seminole Wars, and their legacy after being exiled from Florida from 10 - 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Main Library. An audience Q&A will follow the 40-minute presentation. This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and is part of an ongoing series of free community programs exploring and collecting African American history.
You'll Thank Yourself for Reading These Books
What are you thankful for? We are grateful for you and all of the folks reading and discussing books across the city. Whether you attend book club meetings or just use each month's book club picks as inspiration or additions to your own to-be-read list, we thank you. If you're looking for even more ideas about what to read next, there's also still time to complete the 2025 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge. You can find recommendations for the challenge categories here.
Writer's Lab: Find Poems Anywhere with Jessica Q. Stark
Jessica Q. Stark invites you to discover poetry in the everyday, transforming everyday words, phrases, and objects into poetry in a "found poetry" workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Willow Branch Library. Using materials like newspapers and magazines, you'll learn the art of collage and arrangement to create unique, personal poems. No writing experience required—just bring an open mind and a sense of curiosity.
Join the waitlist See all upcoming
Jessica Q. Stark is the author of Buffalo Girl (BOA Editions, April 2023), Savage Pageant (Birds, LLC, 2020) and four poetry chapbooks, including INNANET (The Offending Adam, 2021).
History Chat: Sculpture in San Marco
Join us from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 15, at the San Marco Branch Library for a presentation with longtime San Marco resident and community leader Zim Boulos. He will give the history and tell the stories behind several outdoor sculptures in San Marco including the iconic Three Lions (or Lion's Fountain) and Transform, the recently installed a butterfly sculpture in Landon Park. This part of the 75th Anniversary of San Marco Branch Library, which includes a Call for Memories, Neighborhood Photo Project and a series of public programs focused on the past, present and future of the neighborhood.
Stay from noon to 2 p.m. for a 75th Anniversary Time Capsule Event with:
- Library Director Tim Rogers and other local leaders
- A selection of San Marco archival documents (reserved for first-time public viewing)
- A photo station to capture memories of the day
- Trivia and free book giveaways of classic, hardbound titles
- Museum of Science and History hosting family activities
- San Marco Merchants Association sharing info on local businesses
- Light refreshments (snacks and drinks)
Add Your Memories to the Time Capsule
We'll be collecting photos, memories, and small items for the Time Capsule (before and during the event). The time capsule closes at 1 p.m. and will be reopened at our 100th anniversary.
Life Lab: Improve Your Day-to-Day Life
Grow your own garden or small business and take control of your health, career, and personal finances! 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:
-
Reduce Stormwater Runoff with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at San Marco Branch Library
-
Falling Into Winter with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Webb Wesconnett Library
-
Landscape Designing Workshop with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, at Southeast Library
-
Seeds with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at Willow Branch Library
-
Fall Gardening Tips with UF IFAS Extension Office
- 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at University Park Branch Library
Search our events calendar for more workshops offered by our community partners at the Library.
On the Path the U.S. Citizenship?
Prepare for the U.S. Naturalization Test and Interview. Jacksonville Public Library offers an online (nine-week) citizenship class designed to support immigrants on the path toward United States citizenship. The course covers U.S. History, Civics, interview prep and the naturalization process. Classes meet once a week with a live instructor, online via Zoom.
Our next course runs from November 7, 2025, through January 16, 2026. To express your interest in US Citizenship classes hosted by the Library, please complete the Interest/Waitlist Form on this page. This information will remain confidential and is not shared with anyone.
