Jacksonville Public Library Blog

For the Book Lovers: Celebrating National Book Lovers Day

At Jacksonville Public Library, we celebrate book lovers every day! Not only do we have all the best books - available in hardcover, paperback, large print, and audiobook formats - but you also have access to digital formats through Libby, hoopla, Tumblebook, and Biblioboard Library. We also have a year-round reading challenge for adults designed to expand your reading horizons and we participate in Mayor Deegan's River City Readers city-wide literacy challenge. If you want to interact with other book lovers outside of big events like Jax Book Fest, you can also join a Library Book Club and get even more book recommendations from readers just like you!

Meet Restaurateur Kenny Gilbert & Other Adult Programs for August

This month, we've got local restaurateur, Kenny Gilbert talking all things cooking and cookbooks, Life Lab gardening and civic literacy workshops, and a "Pop-Up" Writer's Lab for authors looking to "Polish Your Pitch." Keep reading to learn more!

August Art Walk Features a Travel-Inspired Art Exhibit and Reception

Celebrate our community's deep pool of creative talent with us on the first Wednesday of each month in Downtown Jacksonville! The Main Library stays open until 9 p.m. for the festivities! We are conveniently located directly across from James Weldon Johnson Park, one of Art Walk's two major hubs of activity. This month, check out local art in the gallery, join the zinesters meeting and collaborating in the Zine Zone, or sign up for an art tour.

Improve Your Day-To-Day Life with FREE Life Lab Workshops!

New name... same great series! 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. No need to bring anything but yourself to participate!

Go "Back to School" with the Library and Learn Small Business Skills

August is back-to-school month here in Florida. Learning isn't just for the littles, though! As a small business owner or someone who's thinking about starting a small business, there are things you need to know, too! The public library is a great place to learn. Can't afford a college course? No problem! The best back-to-school supply that you or your kids could want is a Jacksonville Public Library card. Bonus: you don't have to wait for a tax-free holiday to pick one up! They're always free!

Read and Discuss Great Books at a Library Book Club this August

Summer may be winding down, but our Library Book Clubs keep heating up with the best book recommendations and discussions! And if you can't get enough reading and recommendations: There's also still plenty of time to finish the Jax Stacks Reading Challenge and pick up a few books from one of the three #1 New York Times bestselling authors who'll be headlining Jax Book Fest 2024.

Writer's Lab Workshops in August: Get Ready for Jax Book Fest

Are you an aspiring author? Thinking about self-publishing? Need tips for marketing your work? Learn how to get your book on the library's shelves and more! Get help writing, publishing, and marketing your own book with free workshops at the Library! There are two Writer's Lab workshops in August with our friends from the Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida. Plus, information about this year's Jax Book Fest: Writer's Day is now live on our blog and events calendar. Save your seat now!

Tips and Tools for Conducting Market Research for Your Small Business

The use of zip codes as we know them started on July 1, 1963. Why is this string of numbers important to your business? The Library has many free tools like Data Axle Reference Solutions to help you with demographic research, small business marketing, and more. Read this month's Small Business & Side Hustles newsletter to learn how to conduct your own market research!

Celebrate the Anniversary of the Moon Landing with Books About Space

International Moon Day is observed annually on July 20. It marks the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969. Whether you take this opportunity to learn more about the moon landing, astronauts, and NASA or you spend the day reading some fun (or fantastical) books inspired by space exploration - the staff of Jacksonville Public Library has some great recommendations to get you started.

Shop the Big Bag Book Summer Sale and Support the Library!

Friends of Jacksonville Public Library Big Bag Book Sale July 18-20

Summer and reading just go together! But now, so do HOT deals on literal bags full of books! The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library's semi-annual Big Bag Book Sale returns July 18-20 with fantastic deals on books, movies, audiobooks, records, jigsaw puzzles, and more. Not only can you fill a paper bag full of books for just $15 (already a great deal), but you can also get free bags of books, too! That's a lot of books!