Monthly Newsletter

Happy New Year!

As we welcome in the New Year, we would like to wish all of you a very prosperous year and say thank you to all of you who supported us during 2019! Last year the Foundation supported numerous activities for the Library such as Jax Book Fest, Summer Learning, Career Online High School, Makerspace programs, and Lifelong learning programs. These programs touched thousands of lives every year and are essential to the growth of our community. It is our mission to strengthen the ability of the Jacksonville Public Library to serve as an education and cultural resource for our community and promote the use of library resources, enthusiasm for reading, and increased literacy for all Jacksonville residents. It is your support that allows us to continue on our mission to make our Library and our community better.

This year, with your help, we will continue to enhance the services of the Library, starting by hosting an awesome Jax Book Fest with New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer! We hope you will continue to support us on our journey to make our Library the best institution it can be.

We encourage each of you to make a one-time or recurring gift today to support Library programs and services! All donations can be made online at www.jplfoundation.org/donate-now. Again, we wish you and your family a wonderful New Year!

You're Invited 

You're invited to an exclusive Author Event with bestselling author Brad Meltzer on Friday, February 28, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and 10 other best-selling thrillers. His most recent book, The First Conspiracy, is his first nonfiction and is about a secret plot to kill George Washington. He is the host of Brad Meltzer's Lost History on H2 and Brad Meltzer's Decoded on the History Channel. The Hollywood Reporter listed Meltzer as one of the top 25 most powerful authors. Save the date on your calendar for an incredible evening with this renowned author. Tickets will go on sale Friday, January 17, and can be purchased online at https://www.jplfoundation.org/authorevent. 

 Welcome, Patrick! 

On behalf of the Board and staff to the Jacksonville Public Library we would like to welcome new board member Patrick Leddy. Patrick is a partner at Farmand, Farmand, and Farmand, LLP, where he is responsible for client relationships, business development, community engagement, and firm administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant with over sixteen years of leadership and industry and public accounting experience. Patrick is excited to join the Board and we are excited to have him! 

Friends Book Sale 

The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library will have their first book sale of 2020. The sale will begin with member's night on Thursday, January 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and open to the public on Friday, January 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Memberships are $10 and can be purchased at the door. To learn more about the sale, please visit www.fjpl.org.

Library News & Updates

Writer's Workshops with Local Authors 

Level up your writing with a pro as you prepare for the 2020 Jax Book Fest! The Library will host a series of writer's workshops leading up to Jax Book Fest 2020. Award-winning author of "It was never about a hot dog and a Coke!" and civil rights icon Rodney Hurst will host a nonfiction writer's workshop on Saturday, January 4, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Highlands Regional Library. Books will be available for purchase. 

On Saturday, January 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the Highlands Regional Library will welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author, Brenda Jackson. Her workshop will focus on how to be inspired and write romance novels. Books will be available for purchase. 

The final workshop will be held on Saturday, February 8, at 1:00 p.m. at the Southeast Branch Library with award-winning author Nikesha Elise Williams. The workshop will focus on how to write and market your books. Her books will also be available for purchase. 

All workshops are free and open to the public. 

Journey Beyond Your Imagination 

Journey with us as National Geographic's director of cartographic databases traces the 132-year history of maps and cartography of National Geographic, and map out your day to hear about Mapping Jax and La Florida. Did you know you can check out National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler online? Enjoy reading both cover to cover every month—free—with RB Digital at the library. Help is here if you need it. Mapping Our Past will take place at the Main Library on the 4th Floor in the Ansbacher Map Room on January 25, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.