Library U

Cap off this year’s Spooky Season at our chat with Sherry Thomas, author of the Lady Sherlock series of historical mysteries, including the upcoming Miss Moriarty, I Presume?  

Kristen Arnett’s novels and short stories explore queer life and life in Florida, combining the two with her signature dark humor. Join us to chat with the New York Times bestselling author about the stories that motivate her to write, what she’s learned from writing, and more!

October’s book club reads bring you some old favorite authors as well as new and upcoming authors. Stephen King and Agatha Christie headline at Beaches and Highlands branches. West branch reads The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, a debut novelist at 62 and Mandarin delves into Haben’s Story about the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, and her amazing journey from isolation to the world stage.

National Novel Writing Month is just around the corner! Whether you’re an eager Wrimo, stocking up on snacks, water, and writing tips to see you through your 1667-word days, or a curious aspiring writer, wondering what you can really accomplish in a month of writing, our October Writer’s Lab workshops have you covered!

Jacksonville Public Library + MOCA(Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville) present Art & Conversations, a series of innovative programs focused on literacy and the arts. In this series, the Jacksonville Public Library and MOCA collaborate to provide the community access to a rich set of resources by partnering an educational library program with a museum exhibition.

Jacksonville Public Library + MOCA present Art & Conversations, a series of innovative programs focused on literacy and the arts. In this series, the Jacksonville Public Library and MOCA collaborate to provide the community access to a rich set of resources by partnering an educational library program with a museum exhibition.

Willow Branch Library sits in a corner of Willow Branch Park, a popular location for local musicians during the late 1960s to develop and expand their audience. Named after the “Human Be-In,” San Francisco’s 1967 counterculture celebration, Jacksonville’s “be-ins” spawned several notable acts, including the Allman Brothers Band.

In Jacksonville and the Roots of Southern Rock, Michael Ray FitzGerald digs into the history of bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd and how Jacksonville played a role in bringing these bands to a national audience. FitzGerald and Alan Bliss, CEO of the Jacksonville Historical Society, will talk about this and more live at the Willow Branch Library!

Tim Barton joins our Lit Chat series on Tuesday, August 24th, at 7 pm. Tim will be discussing his book The American Story: The Beginnings. Click here to register. 

Tim Barton is the President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our religious, moral, and constitutional heritage. WallBuilders has been recognized from coast-to-coast for its work in education, history, law, and public policy, integrating the elements of Biblical faith and morality throughout all aspects of American life and culture.

The Library U Small Business and Side Hustle newsletter connects you to resources within the Library and community programs. If you would like to sign up to receive the Library U Small Business and Side Hustles quarterly newsletter, click here.

Links to the Library’s collection (READ), online programs through the Library (WATCH), and local non-profits and other community resources (EXPLORE) designed to assist you with your small business needs are part of the newsletter. Small Business and Side Hustle is delivered to your inbox in August, November, February, and May. 

How do you keep the spark alive over three decades of writing romance fiction? Rochelle Alers clearly knows the secret, with over 80 published books, including her newest, The Beach House. Join us to chat with this prolific romance author!