Jacksonville Public Library Blog

Never Stop Learning with Free Adult Programs this May

May is "Get Caught Reading Month," an annual reminder to celebrate the joy and FUN of reading! Of course, with the Library, you can do more than just read great books. You can join a Library Book Club and talk about what you're reading with fellow readers. Or, you can meet and learn from bestselling authors and up-and-coming local writers with our free Lit Chat author talk series! You can even try your hand at writing and publishing your own books with free Writer's Lab workshops.

Lit Chat with NYT Bestselling Author Marie Bostwick

Margaret Ryan never really meant to start a book club... or a feminist revolution in the most exclusive and picturesque suburb of Concordia, Virginia. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Bostwick is "perfect for those who love book clubs, nostagalia for the 1960s, and stories of female friendship." (Booklist). Meet the author and get your book signed at West Branch Library on Monday, May 19.

Screening Room: Mele Murals by Tadashi Nakamura

Mele Murals is an award-winning documentary on the transformative power of modern graffiti art. Set against the resurgence of Hawaiian language and culture over the past two decades, the film shows how public art powerfully fuses with Native Hawaiian traditions to impact the youth, the town of Waimea, and most of all the artists. Watch and discuss the documentary film by Tadashi Nakamura at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Main Library. The screening will be followed by a group conversation led with Kady Yellow.

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Jacksonville Public Library has an AMAZING collection of books featuring stories and information written by and about people from varied backgrounds, races, ethnicities, life experiences, and viewpoints. Throughout the month, the Library will highlight books in our collection by and about Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians including here on our blog, through book displays in your local library, and via reading challenges for all ages on Beanstack.

Writer's Lab Workshops in May + Cash Prizes for Indie Authors

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.

Get Caught Reading One of These Great Book Club Picks in May

Did you know? May is "Get Caught Reading Month." A celebration promoting the joy and FUN of reading, it's a great way to show the little ones in your life that there are books out there for every person and every interest. Bonus: If you're a member of one of our Library Book Clubs, there's a pretty good chance you're going to get caught reading, or at the very least, caught talking about the book you've read! With so many great recommendations from Book Clubs across the City, you might just get caught reading and discussing multiple books!

Lit Chat with Environmental Journalist Cynthia Barnett

Seashells have been the most coveted and collected of nature’s creations since the dawn of humanity. They were money before coins, jewelry before gems, art before canvas. In The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans, acclaimed environmental author Cynthia Barnett blends cultural history and science to trace our long love affair with seashells and the hidden lives of the mollusks that make them. Meet the author and learn more about her work on Saturday, May 10, at Main Library.

Life Lab: Free Gardening, Online Banking and Business Classes in May

Learn how to grow your own garden, start a 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.

Get Inspired This Poetry Month With Help From the Library

April is National Poetry Month and we've got some great recommendations to get you inspired to write your own verses, including some poetry collections by locals like Jessica Q. Stark and Michelle Lizet Flores. Later this month, local author Lena Shaqareq joins us for a Junior Lit Chat Author Talk for children, ages 5-12. She'll be giving away copies of her rhyming children's book, How the Sun Got Its Light. Plus, we've got a special History Chat that explores the life and poetry of Matthew R. Ward and Jacksonville's role in the Great Migration.

Books to Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month

Jacksonville Public Library has an AMAZING collection of books featuring stories and information written by and about people from varied backgrounds, races, ethnicities, life experiences, and viewpoints. Every April, we are encouraged to celebrate the Arab American community’s rich heritage, history, and hopes as well as their many contributions to our country. There are more than 3.5 million Arab Americans who are currently living in the United States.