Message from Library Director Pamela Monroe
They say, “April showers bring May flowers.” This is a proverb you can take literally, but I like the deeper, extended meaning that a period of discomfort or hardship can lead to happiness and joy.
Take a moment to look for the things that bring happiness and joy to your life. A library card can give you both of those things for free.
- Check out materials about the outdoors and prepare for a trip.
- Visit the Northeast Branch and check out the National Parks Tempestry Project.
- Attend a yoga session at Eastside Branch or the Main Library.
- Teens can join the Teen Advisory Board for the Cozy Crochet event and make a bracelet or coaster.
- Select a new genre to read. Have you been reading the classics all your life? Try a graphic novel.
If you need recommendations, our staff is always willing to help. You can also check out our recommendations on Facebook and Instagram, or use BookBrowse. Whatever you decide, find joy in it.
Amazing things are happening!
Pamela Monroe, Library Director
Join us on Tuesday, May 16, at 6 p.m. for the next installment of the Library Lecture Series featuring an engaging and interactive discussion about Florida Emancipation Day, which is recognized each year on May 20. Emancipation Day: Where Do We Go From Here? will feature a panel of local professors and historians in conversation about how Florida Emancipation Day was celebrated in the past and how Leon County citizens can remember and celebrate this historic day now and in the future.
Families with children ages 1 month to 8 years old are invited to Stories and Screenings with 2-1-1 Big Bend's Help Me Grow program at the Main Library on Wednesday, May 17, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
While library staff read a story, Help Me Grow program staff will assist caretakers in completing behavioral and developmental screenings for their children. After the event, Help Me Grow will follow up with caretakers to discuss their screening results and refer them to a specialist if needed. Families will also receive a free developmental activity bag filled with age-appropriate toys and books.
Leon County Public Library and CareerSource Capital Region invite job seekers and transitioning professionals to Résumé Writing for Beginners at the Main Library on Wednesday, May 17 from 4-6 p.m. for hands-on training on developing and sharpening your résumé.
Have you ever read a book you loved so much you just had to talk with someone about it? Our Traveling Book Club Kits make that even easier! Whether you are part of an ongoing book club or just want to grab a group of friends for a one-time joint read, our Traveling Book Club Kits are an easy (and free!) way to experience a book together. Each kit contains 10 copies of the same book and can be reserved up to a year in advance. Kits can be picked up at any of our locations and have a loan period of six weeks. Happy reading!
Enjoy engaging virtual Author Talks with bestselling authors from a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. Tune in for these live events with interactive Q&As, or watch the recording afterward.
Upcoming virtual Author Talks include:
- Wednesday, May 3 at 1 p.m.: Author Talk with Britt Hawthorne, New York Times bestselling author of Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide.
- Wednesday, May 10 at 8 p.m.: Author Talk with Jena Friedman, comedian, filmmaker, screenwriter, and author of Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera.
- Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m.: Author Talk with Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I'm the Girl and winner of the Edgar Award and Odyssey Award.
- Wednesday, June 7 at 4 p.m.: Author Talk with Mike Rucker, organizational psychologist and author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.
The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library System will be closed for the following holidays:
- Florida Emancipation Day – Saturday, May 20.
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 29.
Though our locations are closed, you can still access numerous resources online. Visit LeonCountyLibrary.org/Apps for digital books, audiobooks, movies, and more!
View the calendar for more special events, story times & book clubs.
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