Adult Programs in July: Two Lit Chats, A Fanzine Writer's Lab & More!

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Library U: Never Stop Learning

#Adult Programs and A Book Sale in July

This month, catch up with Little House on the Prairie star Dean Butler for the release of his memoir and the show's 50th anniversary. Later in the month. learn how to make your own music fanzine with instructor Daryl Gussin in our Writer's Lab series. He returns later that same day for a Lit Chat Interview about music, zines and finding your community. Plus, there are 15 Library Book Club meetings, three Life Lit skills workshops, and more! 

July 18-20, the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library's Big Bag Book Sale is back! These deals are hot, hot, HOT! Where else can you fill a bag full of books for just $15? Members get their second bag full of books for free! Non-members can earn a free bag (after you pay for two bags of books). The Friends Bookstore is located at 3435 University Blvd N. (next to the University Park Branch Library). 


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Lit Chat Interview with Dean Butler (Live on Zoom)

Lit Chat Interview with Dean ButlerDean Butler is an actor, producer, and director best known for his role as Almanzo Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, based on the beloved Little House book series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. He was a producer for NBC Golf's Emmy-nominated series Feherty for over ten seasons. He also played Hank Summers (Buffy's dad) on Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Tuesday, July 9, from 1-2 p.m. | Live on Zoom

Register for FREE!

Dean Butler's new book, Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond, includes a foreword by Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim. He will be in conversation longtime journalist Devan Stuart Lesley. Lesley is co-founder and past President of the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum, a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to restore and reopen Jacksonville's sole remaining silent film studio complex.


Writer's Lab Workshop: Authors Roundtable with Kadeem Locke

Author's Roundtable

Expand Your Writing Circle - Saturday, July 13, at 10:15 a.m.

Connect to a larger writing community! This month, we'll discuss the power of and differences between networking online vs. in person and how you can leverage technology with user-friendly apps and online groups (to keep you on track). Kadeem Locke is a UNF graduate, and Jacksonville native now based in Tampa. His debut fantasy novel will be released this fall with Muse Literary. 

Register now!

Authors Roundtable is a local 501C3 that supports authors in reaching their highest potential. Meeting one Saturday a month at the Main Library, authors participate in educational forums, workshops, classes, and events. Check out what they have in store for August and September!


Writer's Lab: Music Fanzine Workshop with Daryl Gussin

Writer's Lab workshop with Daryl GussinTackle the fandom of art as a creative avenue and learn how to build community through collaborative projects. Instructor Daryl Gussin, managing editor of the music fanzine Razorcake, will offer a historical and personal background on the medium. Then, you'll be guided through the hands-on process of zine making. Participants will walk away with their own music fanzine as well as copies of fanzines from other participants. Zine-making supplies provided (but you're welcome to bring your own).

Saturday, July 20, from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Willow Branch Library

Register for the FREE workshop!


Lit Chat Interview with Writer & Musician Daryl Gussin

Lit Chat with Daryl Gussin

Daryl Gussin is a writer and musician who has been awkwardly standing around at punk shows for the last twenty-something years. Thankfully at some point in his late teens, he decided to become a little more productive and has been working on zines, setting up shows, and playing in bands consecutively since then. In 2006, he became integrally involved in the Razorcake fanzine where he is currently the managing editor. 

Saturday, July 20, from 2-3 p.m. | Willow Branch Library

Register for the FREE author talk!

He will be in conversation with local zine maker and self-publisher, Lindsay Anderson. Since 2013, Lindsay has developed a long-running zine project, has helped to organize the annual Duval Comic and Zine Fest, and recently launched a new quarterly zine called Mischief on the River.


Improve Your Day-to-Day Life

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!

See all upcoming programs!


Library Book Club Meetings in June

Join a Book Club

Looking for some great reads and good company? Find your community at one of 14 Library Book Clubs this July or join the Jax Stacks Virtual Book Club.

Whether you're participating in our Jax Stacks Reading Challenge or you just want to know what other book lovers in Jacksonville are reading (and discussing), you're bound to find something to enjoy!

Join a Book Club!


Jax Stacks Adult Reading Challenge + Virtual Book Club

Jax Stacks Reading ChallengeAre you at least halfway to finishing the 2024 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge? While many of the categories are designed to broaden your reading horizons and get you to try something new, others are going to match up with books you're probably planning to read anyway. Either way, you'll have fun and read some great books! To make it easy, we've printed up Jax Stacks Bookmarks to help you keep track of the categories you've crossed off.

We will be discussing the categories "A Non-Fiction Graphic Novel or Comic" and "A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book" live on Zoom on Tuesday, July 2, at 6:30 p.m. Note: No reading is required to attend this book club, just an interest in our reading challenge and the desire to talk about great books.

Register for the Book Club!