Jacksonville Public Library Blog 2023 Archive

Writer's Lab Workshop with bestselling author Jami Attenberg

Writer's Lab: Put Your Creativity First a workshop with Jami Attenberg. Includes a head shot of the author.

How do you best serve your creative processes? Where do you go for inspiration? How important is a writing community? And how can you carve out a life in this business of art? New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg will share ideas and perspectives for putting your creativity first at our next Writer's Lab workshop. Later that same day, she'll return for a Lit Chat Interview where she'll be in conversation with local author and interviewer, Nikesha Elise Wiliams.

January Art Walk: Create an Eight-Page Mini Zine or Comic

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. Not only that, there is usually local art on display, zinesters meeting and collaborating on the first floor, tabletop gamers doing one-shot adventures, and special drop-in activities going on in the Teen Room.

January Life Lit Workshops: Business, Money Matters & Gardening!

Life Lit are free workshops offered by trained professionals and volunteers that focus on improving your day-to-day life. These programs cover a wide range of workshops from gardening to small business needs. No need to bring anything but yourself to participate!

Adult Programs at the Library in January

It's going to be a busy January here at the Library! Whether you're resolving to read more, challenging yourself to (finally) write that novel that's been kicking around in the back of your head for years, or just continuing your pursuit of lifelong learning: We've got a great lineup of adult programs this month! Improve your day-to-day life with one of ten Life Lit workshops, get inspired with a Writer's Lab workshop and Lit Chat Interview featuring bestselling author Jami Attenberg, come together as a community for a thought-provoking Forward Thinking panel discussion, or check out a brand new Library Book Club.

Novel Pursuits: Library Book Club Meetings in January

The new year brings with it new releases, new challenges, fresh starts, and an all-new Library Book Club! Novel Pursuits meets on the third Saturday of the month at San Marco Branch Library. Where will our fiction collection take you? You'll have to join the club to find out! Book clubs are also one of the best ways to find out what other people are reading (and what they think about the books everyone else is reading). What do you say? Join us at your favorite library and let's talk books!

Get Help With Your Science Fair Project from the Library

Science Fair: Get free help from your library!

Looking for project ideas? Have an awesome experiment in mind but you're just not sure how to get started? Don't worry, the Library has your back! We have a digital resource just for students called "Science in Context" that can help you choose and conduct a successful experiment! You'll get everything you need including an outline of how to run the experiment, a list of the materials you'll need, related resources for the research section of your project, and a citation in the format you need for the experiment! The best part: It's FREE and available anytime, at the Library or even at home!

Small Business: Running and Marketing a Niche Business

"Niche" is the name of the game! For December, we spoke with small business owner Noel Michael, CEO of Bello Boopie, Inc., who shared his insights on owning a niche business. Bello Boopie's humble beginnings began in 1970 with the establishment of Things Very Special, an appointment-only, home-based business. When the business changed ownership in 2015, Things Very Special went under a major transformation.

Celebrate the Season at the Beaches Library's Yule Ball for All

Yule Ball for All. Graphic features an illustration of a snowy owl and some letters.

The Yule Ball for All returns to the Beaches Branch Library! Celebrate the magic of the season with other members of the Harry Potter fandom on Saturday, January 6 from 2-4 p.m. You can dance, make and take several themed crafts, play Quidditch and other games, drink butterbeer, and get a photo in your fancy dress robes (or other Harry Potter cosplay)! Sponsored by the Friends of the Beaches Branch Library.

Using the Library's App or Mobile Website and Catalog

If you're like most people, you use your phone or mobile device to connect to the world. Not only do we have an easy-to-use Library app, but the Library's website and catalog are also completely mobile-responsive, so getting to all the library products and services you love is as easy as tapping on your screen.

Great Books You Might Have Missed in 2023

Has your to-be-read list gotten a little thin? Need a few more books to complete the Jax Stacks Reading Challenge? Looking for the perfect gift idea for that bibliophile in your life who's read everything else? Do you like to venture off the bestseller list to discover those rare literary gems that fell through the cracks? We've got some great books for you this month that, for whatever reason, you might have missed in 2023.