Conservation Series Ends June 27
In May, Jacksonville Public Library partnered with three local organizations to kick off an eight-part conservation speaker series. In case you missed it: This series brings together local experts, authors, environmental advocates, and community members for free programs focused on land conservation, wildlife, waterways, and environmental issues affecting Northeast Florida. There are a few more opportunities to join the conversation before the series ends June 27.
Conservation Series final programs:
- Two Life Lab workshops with St. Johns Riverkeeper, North Florida Land Trust
- Blue Cypress Boardwalk Stroll and a Lit Chat Interview with author Clay Henderson
Florida Reflections: An America 250 Series also wraps up in June. This statewide series invites audiences to look beyond familiar narratives and reconsider Florida’s place in the American story. Explore the events calendar to learn more or keep reading!
Be the first to know about upcoming events!
What Library Book Clubs Are Reading this June
Are you challenging yourself to read more this summer? Summer at Jax Library runs June 1 - August 1. This year's theme, Unearth a Story™ underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings. Take on your own Summer Reading Challenge! We're at the halfway point for the 2026 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge. Summer is a great time to make progress on your reading tracker!
Lit Chat Interview with Clay Henderson
An award-winning environmental lawyer, educator, and writer long involved in environmental policy, Clay Henderson has published four books, including Forces of Nature, an environmental history of Florida, which received the Stetson Kennedy Florida Book Award. He has been recognized with the national public service award from The Nature Conservancy, lifetime achievement award from Environment and Land Use Section of the Florida Bar, and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and an EMMY award for the documentary Protect Our Paradise.
Meet the author from 1 -2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, at University Park Branch Library. A book signing will follow, with books available for sale on site.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from The Mosaic Company. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or The Mosaic Company.
Florida Reflections: An America 250 History Series
Led by historians, scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners, these programs explore overlooked Revolutionary histories, the development of democracy in Florida, Indigenous knowledge, and the cultural traditions that carry memory across generations.
Join us at Southeast Library for:
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The Enduring Relevance of Abraham Lincoln
- with Steve Sibert, executive director of Florida Humanities from 2017-2020
- 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11
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Telling Florida Food Stories
- with Dalia Colon, host and executive producer of The Zest podcast for WUSF
- 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25
Register for all Florida Reflections Events
Acknowledgement: Florida Reflections was developed by Florida Humanities and is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250–a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Funding is provided in part through the Thomas M. & Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Brevard. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or its partners.
Writer's Lab: Creating and Publishing a Children's Book
In this interactive 90-minute workshop with author Jennifer Swanson, you will learn the basics of writing and publishing a children's book including how to create a hook to engage an editor, the basics of the research and revision process, and more.
Get your ideas flowing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at Pablo Creek Regional Library. An award-winning author of 55 nonfiction books for kids, Jennifer's books have received starred reviews, won four Florida Book Awards, and received a Parent's Gold Choice Gold Award.
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 Duval County
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at Webb Wesconnett Library
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SAVe our River Grasses: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
- with Soraya Aidinejad, St. Johns Riverkeeper
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at Mandarin Branch
- Part of the 2026 Conservation Series
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Water Efficiently
- with UF/IFAS Extension Duval County
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at Murray Hill Branch
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Biking in Jax
- with Tanner Pletzke, Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator
- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at University Park Branch
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Intro to Small Business Resources at the Library
- 3 - 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at Main Library
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Edible Gardening
- with UF/IFAS Extension Duval County
- 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at University Park Branch
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Plants for Conservation: Your Yard Can Help Florida's Wildlife
- with Kala Neighbor, North Florida Land Trust
- 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, at Beaches Branch
- Part of the 2026 Conservation Series
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Stroll the Blue Cypress Boardwalk
- with author Clay Henderson
- 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, at Blue Cypress Park
- Followed by a Lit Chat Interview at University Park Branch
- Part of the 2026 Conservation Series
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Growing Seeds
- with UF/IFAS Extension Duval County
- 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at Mandarin Branch
Search our events calendar for more workshops offered by our community partners at the Library.
