Jacksonville Public Library Blog

Indie Authors: Win $2500 in the Indie Author Project Annual Contest

Indie Author Project Annual Contest

Are you an indie author looking for a chance to showcase your talent? The Indie Author Project Annual Contest is looking for the best indie-published e-book in seven genres. Submit your work before May 31, 2025 for your chance to win $2,500 and other amazing prizes!

Writing Workshops, Author Talks and Book Clubs for Adults this April

Library U Adult Programs newsletter

Did you know? April 6 - 12 is National Library Week. This annual celebration highlights the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives. Of course, our cardholders are at the center of any celebration. You are the reason we do what we do! On occasions like this, we like to talk a little bit more about those programs and services that we offer and encourage everyone in our communities to read, learn and grow. Chart your next literary adventure by browsing the stacks or joining a book club. Let an author color your imagination at an author talk, outline your big business idea at an entrepreneur workshop, or trace your history with your library’s genealogy resources.

Lit Chat Interview with British Actor and Debut Author Paterson Joseph

Paterson Joseph Lit Chat

Paterson Joseph is a beloved British actor and writer. Recently seen on Vigil, Noughts + Crosses and Boat Story, he has also starred in The Leftovers and Law & Order UK and he also plays Arthur Slugworth in the Wonka movie. The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho is his debut novel. Catch the interview between Paterson Joseph and interviewer Kelsi Hasden from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at Southeast Regional Library.

Free Writer's Workshops and Opportunities to Get More Readers

Writer's Lab logo

Get help writing, publishing and marketing your own book with FREE Writer's Lab workshops! We've also got a ton of free resources like Pressbooks and Indie Author Project that will help you find new readers and make self-publishing easier. Speaking of which... Indie Author Project's Annual Contest is accepting entries starting April 1 through May 31, 2025. Get the recognition you deserve for writing great books! There's also a prize of $2500 for first place!

Get Drawn In With a Library Book Club this April

Join a Library Book Club

Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Well, everything! From young families stopping in for play and storytime, to students exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through hands-on activities, to seniors seeking tech help and everyone in between, libraries of all kinds help us connect the dots from one part of our journey to the next. Get drawn in with a great book and a lively discussion at a Library Book Club this month!

Life Lab: Free Gardening and Business Classes this April

Life Lab logo

Learn how to grow your own garden or small business and take control of your health, career, and personal finances with free workshops at the Library! Life Lab programs are offered by trained professionals and aimed at improving your day-to-day life. This month, explore the benefits of fertilizer in your garden, get workforce ready, and learn the basics of entrepreneurship with free classes from our community partners.

Lit Chat Interview with USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Mustian

Kelly Mustian Lit Chat

Four years after Kelly Mustian's USA Today bestselling debut novel, The Girls in the Stilt House, started appearing on "must-read" lists and earning starred reviews, the author is set to release her much-anticipated second novel on April 1, 2025. Like her first, The River Knows Your Name is already gathering buzz as a tumultuous and "well-woven mystery."

Elementary Art Exhibition 2025

Elementary Art Exhibition. 16 locations.

Our annual Elementary Art Exhibition honors the fantastic work of student artists and their teachers in the Visual Art programs at Duval County Public Schools. The "Best of Elementary Art Exhibition" starts Saturday, March 15, at Main Library. A larger "Elementary Art Exhibition" starts Thursday, March 27, at 15 other regional and neighborhood libraries, showcasing emerging artists from the closest elementary school to each participating library.

Jax Pop Con

graphic for Jax Pop Con Volume 2 at the library

Dust off those capes, grab your favorite set of dice, and start your next adventure downtown at the Main Library on Saturday, March 22. It's a celebration of all the books, comics, video games, TV shows, and movies you love with cosplay contests, one-shot D&D sessions, video game tournaments and so much more! We're geeking out about all the possibilities! Save the date and keep checking this blog for updates!

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