Jacksonville Public Library Blog

Books About Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Sometimes referred to as "MLK Day" or "MLK Day of Service," Martin Luther King, Jr. Day marks the birthday of one of America's greatest civil rights heroes. Check out inspiring biographies for children, explore King's legacy and the history of the civil rights movement, and read stories of everyday activism.

Meet NYT Bestselling Author Kwame Alexander

Lit Chat: An American Story Author Talk with Kwame Alexander and Dare Coulter

How do you talk to kids about slavery? In the new book, An American Story, New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander's unparalleled poetry combines with debut illustrator Dare Coulter's singular art to present a sweeping account of our country's founding. They'll join us, as part of their book tour, for an interview with Jacksonville's own Rahman Johnson to talk about how they put this book together and what they want readers to take away from it. The book and this interview program are intended for middle and high schoolers, educators, parents, and caregivers.

Staff Picks Book Review - The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Library Staff Picks graphic for a book review

The hashtag “dark academia” arrives on the scene in 2005 to describe a scholarly aesthetic, accessorized with pocket watches, oxfords, and tweed blazers. The term has since found its way into the literary lexicon to define tragic stories set in institutions of higher education.

Meet Actress Turned Novelist Deborah Goodrich Royce

Lit Chat Author Interview with Deborah Goodrich Royce

Calling our thriller and true crime lovers, our Florida fiction readers, and our soap opera fans! Former soap star turned author Deborah Goodrich Royce joins us at the Beaches Library this January to talk about her new book, Reef Road, a thriller based on a true crime and set in Palm Beach.

Explore the past, present and future of Arlington

Forward Thinking: Building Arlington Saturday, January 21 10:30 a.m. Regency Branch Library

Forward Thinking: Building Arlington, Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 am in the Regency Square Branch Library. The panel discussion will focus on the past, present, and future of local structures unique to Arlington. This program is a part of Regency’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Prep for Planting Season with Life Lit

Life Lit logo

Start preparing for the planting season with help from our friends at the UF Extension Office! And if you want to be the first to know about new workshops and locations, sign up for our Life Lit mailing list on the Library U enrollment page!

A Year-Round Reading Challenge For Adults

Jax Stacks Reading Challenge

The 2023 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge starts January 1 and runs through December 31, 2023. Library staff has hand-picked 16 categories of books for you to read this year to broaden your reading horizons. Try a new series, a new genre, and a new format, and check out some books you might have overlooked!

Staff Picks Genre Study - It’s The End Of The World As We Know It!

Staff Picks Genre Study book list graphic

All good things must come to an end. Humans have always been fascinated by what the future holds and the futures in these books do not disappoint. Whether it is the disappearance of natural resources in Shusterman’s book Dry, a community learning to live without the comforts of 20th century life in Pat Frank’s Alas Babylon or Robert Neville’s attempt to hide from the night walkers in I am Legend, these books will leave you wondering how you would fare if the world as you knew it was suddenly turned on its head.

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