Jacksonville Public Library Blog 2023 Archive

Fourth of July Books for Kids

How does your family celebrate our nation's independence? Maybe you wake up early on the Fourth of July to bake that all-American apple pie? Or do you spend the whole morning preparing for that big barbeque in the backyard or picnic in the park? Of course, there are also parades and fireworks and all sorts of fun traditions! The Library has books (for all ages) that reflect the grand diversity and the rich tapestry that make our country and our community here in Jacksonville so great. We've highlighted a few of those books (for young readers) here!

Jax Stacks Book Recommendations: A Book by a 2023 Lit Chat Author

Welcome to a new month of the 2023 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge! We are going to give you suggestions for each* category in the challenge every month so that you always have a great library book waiting for you when you need it. Plus, you can share what you're reading with other Jax Stacks readers at our monthly Jax Stacks Reading Challenge Book Club. Note: Our July meeting takes place at the Southeast Regional Library!

Adult Programs this July: Authors, Book Clubs, History Chats and More!

We are really excited to bring a different kind of Writer’s Lab to the Library this month – a three-hour workshop on creating a Dungeons & Dragons campaign with a Wizards of the Coast employee! We also have great summery Lit Chats, gardening workshops for everyone, and 16 book clubs to check out. And, of course, the Jax Stacks Reading Challenge continues (with new prizes up for grabs)!

Lit Chat with Beatriz Williams for Historical Fiction Lovers

Lit Chat Interview with Beatriz Williams

Are you a fan of historical fiction? Then you'll want to register for our next Lit Chat Interview! We are excited to announce that Beatriz Williams has made Jacksonville Public Library an official stop on her latest book tour! She's got a brand new, ravishing summer read that transports readers back to a midcentury New England in the years following the Second World War. Rich with secrets and Cold War intrigue, The Beach at Summerly "weaves two standbys of summer fiction into one escapist story," (New York Times book review).

Join us for a Life Lit Program in July!

Do you have questions about invasive or aggressive plants? Curious about integrating wildflowers into your landscape to help pollinators? Avoid common garden mistakes and learn how to grow a Florida-friendly yard with help from Master Gardeners and 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!

Harnessing the Power of Diversity in Small Business

Is 2023 the year you... Make your hobby a side hustle? Start your own business? Or work on taking your business to the next level? This month is all about building and leading a diverse team and harnessing the strengths of being an outsider. We asked a local business owner a few questions. Plus, we've highlighted some books and other resources to help you out!

Join a Library Book Club this July

Building that TBR list for an upcoming vacation? Looking for more ideas for books to read for that one elusive Jax Stacks Reading Challenge category? Join a Library Book Club and get book recommendations from librarians and other book lovers! You might even make some bookish friends you can swap titles with!

Books for Dads and Future Fathers

Even dads like getting lost in a good book! At the Library, you'll find everything from thrillers like Harlen Coben's I Will Find You to classics like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or even post-apocalyptic masterpieces like The Road from the late, great Cormac McCarthy. So, whether you're a dad yourself or just thinking about parenthood and the life lessons your father taught you... You'll find stories of strong fathers, patience, pride and more -right here at the Library.

A Lit Chat Interview with Camille Dungy

Jacksonville Public Library and St. Johns Riverkeeper are partnering up to bring you two great events with author and poet Camille Dungy on Saturday, June 24. In her newest book, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden Dungy recounts the seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden in the predominately white community of Fort Collins, Colorado. When she moved there in 2013, with her husband and daughter, the community held strict restrictions about what residents could and could not plant in their gardens.

Books to Honor and Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth has been celebrated by African Americans since the 1800s and became a federal holiday in 2021. It is a combination of June and nineteenth and is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. If you're still somewhat new to Juneteenth celebrations or you'd like to share the history with your children, the Library has books to help you out! Check out our book recommendations to learn more about the history of this holiday and the ways it's traditionally celebrated.