Jacksonville Public Library Blog

90th Birthday of the NLS

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled 90th Birthday

"For some people the Talking Books service has functioned as a lifeline of sorts," said Chris Eaton, Librarian with the Jacksonville Public Library's Special Needs Library. "These books take them places when they feel like they have nowhere else to go." If you live in Florida and have trouble reading print as the result of an eye problem, a reading disability, or difficulty holding a book because of arthritis, a stroke, or an accident, you may apply for Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library services. This library service is free and is supported by your tax dollars. Currently, the Jacksonville Public Library has a little over 1000 active users but there's capacity for many more.

Lit Chat with Marsha Dean Phelts

Marsha Dean Phelts joins us this week to chat about American Beach and her two books, An American Beach for African Americans and The American Beach Cookbook. Phelts will cover the myths of the beach -- what is the first, the most, the oldest? -- and the informational treasures unearthed there. She will also talk about the women of American Beach, including Miss Martha, Emma Morgan, Beach Lady, Annette Myers, and Hurricane Dora.

11 Films to Watch for Black History Month (and After)

11 Films to Watch During Black History Month on Kanopy

For Black History Month 2021, Kanopy has featured "11 Films to Watch." These included important films like Oscar-winner Moonlight, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, and Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro. Black history shouldn't be confined to just one month. So, even if you're starting late or you missed the celebration entirely, rest easy. There's really no deadline on this list. They are, however, a great addition to #theblackfriendchallenge and any other self-education you may be doing on anti-racism and social justice.

Magical Fairy Tales For Grown-Ups And Kids

Fairy tales are often thought of as children’s stories involving magical lands, fantastical beasts, and imaginary creatures like witches, goblins, elves, and sorcerers. While this is true, there are plenty of fairy tales for adults that can create that same feeling of wonder and escape from reality. So, for the adults that love to get lost in a magical tale, here’s a list of fables and folktales to read on National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. We also put together a list of fairy tales to read with the little princes and princesses in your life too. Have a happily ever after kind of day!

Digital Learning Day: Computers In the Library

Woman and a group of children using library computer 1990s

Digital Learning Day celebrates the use of digital technology in learning. While libraries have always been centers for lifelong learning, it has been our embrace of technology over the last several decades that have kept us both relevant and essential in this new age of hand-held devices and instant access to information. That is also why, this past year, libraries were able to shift quickly to virtual programming and add more digital resources in response to the pandemic. Things have changed so fast. It's easy to forget that just 30 or 40 years ago, many of us had never even used a personal computer. The appearance of desktop computers in libraries was still somewhat novel in the 1980s and 90s. Now, computers and the Internet are essential to library operations and the services we provide to the public.

The Girl Behind The Black Friend Challenge

Taylor Richardson Read Poster with The Black Friend book

In January of 2021, Jacksonville teen Taylor Richardson started a GoFundMe campaign and reading challenge called #TheBlackFriendChallenge in the hopes of starting a dialogue to combat racism. Her original goal was to get 100 copies of The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph. She's since raised over $22,000 and has distributed books to schools and libraries in over 30 states and 40 US Embassies. The Jacksonville Public Library accepted the challenge and her generous donation - making sure the book is available for pickup at all 21 Library locations.

Your Jacksonville Public Library Card Can Now Get You Into MOCA For Free

Discover MOCA With Your Jacksonville Public Library Card

You don't have to be a bookworm to enjoy your Jacksonville Public Library card! The Jacksonville Public Library and The Museum of Contemporary Art have announced a new perk that comes with being a card-carrying member: you can now score free admission to MOCA with your library card on the final Friday of each month. Additionally, you can save on MOCA memberships. Library cards are so cool, aren’t they?

African American History Month Books For Kids

February is Black History Month, and a great way to help children learn about African American history is by using books as a teaching tool. This booklist covers a multitude of subjects and is essential reading not only for February but all year long. 

Recently Digitized: Local Black History Gem

Scrapbook page from the segregated Duval Recreation Program in the 1950s

In the 1950s, the Duval County Recreation Program ran in the segregated African-American schools, the Jefferson Street Swimming Pool, and the Brewster Hospital during summer break. Activities included playground, library, homemaking, arts and crafts, movies, and music. These photos were originally kept in very large wood bound scrapbooks but can now be accessed online thanks to a recent digitization project.

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