Attention Jacksonville: We want your self-published zines, comics, booklets, and mini magazines for the Library’s Zine Collection! Whether you’re new to the medium, established zinester, or somewhere in between, submit a copy of your work to the Library. We accept zines of different shapes, sizes and formats. Whether hand drawn or hand written, photocopied and stapled, or professionally-printed: we want to see it all!
CALLING ALL TEENS: Join us for an Animal Advocate Mini Camp this summer and explore ways to help all animals lead happy, cruelty-free lives. You'll get tools and tips, talk with other teens and even make pet toys to donate to local shelters. Make a positive impact in the lives of ALL our furry (and even those not-so furry) friends.
Kick-off your summer weekends in July with Mr. Joe! Join Mr. Joe and library staff on Friday evenings in July at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens for a special Pop-Up Storytime to celebrate Summer at the Cummer! Mr. Joe will present two Pop-Up Storytimes at 5:30 pm & 6:30 pm in the newly refreshed and nationally recognized education center, Art Connections. The Library will also have a table in Art Connections where you can sign up for a library card and check out books! Bring the family to experience stories, songs, art, culture, and community this Summer at the Cummer!
Have you always wanted to write and/or draw comics? Are you interested in partnering with an artist to form a creative team to craft a graphic narrative? Learn some key lessons in creating your own comics with artist and educator James Greene in this three-part workshop. Exploit the real-estate of the blank page while yielding to the collaborative virtues of words and pictures where image is text, too.
Comics – and their longer-form siblings, graphic novels – are much more than just books with pretty pictures. There may have panels instead of paragraphs but they actually share a lot in common with their prose (or text-only) counterparts. You can find graphic novels covering just about every conceivable genre and subject matter. For struggling young readers, graphic novels can act as a gateway into a world of reading; they build confidence, comprehension and vocabularies. With so many reasons to give graphic novels a try and with so many great titles to choose from… now is the perfect time to head on over to your local library, to the Library’s catalog or our app.
July has an abundance of new, highly anticipated book releases! USA Today's bestselling authors Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor wrote a historical fiction book called Three Words for Goodbye. Additionally, Brian Staveley continues his wildly popular epic fantasy series, the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, with the fifth latest installment, The Empire’s Ruin. Are you excited yet? Many excellent books like these will be arriving at the library in July. Also, remember to check out the Summer Reading program if you have not already!
Jacksonville artist Michael Regina published his first books with Kickstarter money back in 2013, and now his newest book, The Sleepover, is being published by a major imprint. Find out how he achieved this success at our next Lit Chat!
With America’s birthday approaching, why not up the fun of the festivities with some great Fourth of July reads? We’ve compiled a list of Fourth of July books for kids that are both educational and entertaining. While Independence Day is a great day to celebrate with fireworks and fun, it’s also important to educate children on what the day is truly all about. Fictional books such as July Jitters and Fireworks at the FBI are packed with compelling Fourth of July adventures while non-fictional books such as Fourth of July Fireworks and Independence Day explain the history behind the holiday and its importance. Do not forget these books can help you succeed in our annual Summer Reading Program!
Whether you are curious about writing or a seasoned author, the Authors Roundtable welcomes writers at all stages to provide education, information, networking, and support. We invite you to attend and participate in educational forums, workshops, classes, and events. Join us on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. at The Lounge @303 North in the Main Library. This event is free and open to the public. Free street parking on weekends.
Can you think of something more refreshing -- on a long, sweltering summer day in the South -- than sipping on a tall, icy-cold glass of satisfyingly sweet tea and reading that Carolina swamp-girl mystery everybody’s been talking about and you just can’t put down? Whether you’re alone (engaging in some much-needed self-care), beachside and pouring over the latest bestseller or you’re chatting about your next book club read with your bestie from the comfort of well-used front porch swing: Southern-style sweet tea and sizzling summer reads just go hand in hand. So, this Iced Tea Month enjoy this short list of cool classic and contemporary Summer/Southern reads.
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