Jacksonville Public Library Blog

Never Forget, Never Again: Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day

Books to Honor Holocaust Remembrance Day

The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. Around the country and the world, Holocaust victims are mourned and remembered by the reading of their names, by the lighting of candles, and by learning about the Holocaust.

Lit Chat Interview with Rebecca Brenner Graham - Live on Zoom

Meet the authors that everyone's talking about - from New York Times bestsellers to up-and-coming local writers. This month, meet the author of the new book, Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins's Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany. This Lit Chat Interview is a 60-minute (virtual) program consisting of a 40-minute conversation between author Dr. Rebecca Brenner Graham and Professor Jennie Ziegler, followed by 20 minutes of audience Q&A.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Recommended Reads + Local Events

Books to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service (MLK Day) is the only federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off." By participating in service projects, we can bridge divides, heal wounds, and create lasting change that will benefit our community for years to come. The service project might meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it might do the hard work of starting to build a sense of community or mutual responsibility.

Free Author Talks and Interviews at Your Library this January

Meet the authors that everyone's talking about - from New York Times bestsellers to up-and-coming local writers. Did you know that all of our Lit Chat authors' books count toward your Jax Stacks Reading Challenge completion? Find out what authors we're hosting this month and join in on the fun!

Books for Your Inner Word Nerd

Books for World Nerds. Image contains a pair of reading glasses.

Are you a fan of puns and fancy word play? Do you do deep dives on the origin and evolution of language? Do you often find yourself enjoying a good game of Scrabble or Wordle? We've got some books for the Word Nerd in you (or the one in your family).

Books for Your To-Be-Read Pile or Your Next Reading Challenge

What's your to-be-read pile looking like in 2025? Are you placing holds on the Library's Forthcoming Books so you're first in line for the next chapter in your favorite series? Or do you still have a ton of books on your list from 2024 that you've been meaning to pick up? January is a great time to take stock of your TBR and set reading goals for the year. That's why this year, we're celebrating "Book Blitz Month" along with you!