I was a library kid. I spent most of my adolescence in the library. Checking out books for fun, using the computers when the internet was out at home. Studying for school. Research projects and papers. In my last few years of high school, I volunteered after school for scholarships. It's sad to see libraries don't seem to get there level of love they used to as a public service. Thank you for the childhood memories! I'm no longer in Orange County, but you'll always have a place in my heart! read more

Less than a block away from Lake Eola is the downtown library. Aside from just books and movies this location has the most to offer as far as services and activities. From balloon animal courses, fiber arts, Renaissance events, resume help, or language learning, this location has it all! Plus, the staff has always been super kind and helpful. I've personally taken a couple of foamsmithing classes where you make props for cosplay. In Foamsmithing I we made Deathstroke masks. In II we made pokeballs. Both classes were a blast and I can't wait for the next one! read more

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I love their free special events. Over the decades I've enjoyed computer classes, sewing classes, crafts, free concerts & dance shows. Lovely staff & place. I feel very encouraged & welcomed. Lots to learn & enjoy. Their painting classes are great, even comedy improv. Airplane simulators, driving simulators, audio recording studio, 3D printing... read more

Orange County Library System - Sewing courses with an excellent, kind instructor. She's soooooooo NICE! Great machines to practice on. Sooo FUN! - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I love the Orange County Library. I'm sad I can't be part of it because I do not live in the area. I love to visit it when I'm in town. I enjoyed my time in the children's section - the person was very helpful and suggested some online resources. Also love the big book sale. I think it's on the second or third floor. I picked up many foreign language books for an activity at church. I walked out with a whole bag of Books for $10. Everybody is friendly and it's just wonderful to walk around and see all the different displays. There's also wonderful art displayed as well. read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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When I travel, I look to see what events are happening locally. So interesting to stumble across a virtual cooking event happening via Zoom from the Orange County Library System. So nice to be able to sign up for Cuisine Corner to make Korean Vegetable Pancakes with Dipping Sauce. Loved this virtual cooking class which reminded me of all of those Yelp virtual cooking classes that I enjoyed during the height of the pandemic. Dianne Morin led a great class. Thinly sliced carrots, zucchini, green onions, and red onions were transformed into the most delicious vegetable pancakes. So easy. Nice to be able to ask questions. The recipe only used flour and water, but I would add an egg for extra protein next time. For the dipping sauce, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, garlic, green onions and sesame seeds were mixed to make a tasty sauce. I substituted Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, because that is what I had in my pantry. It was a good choice. Would definitely make this quick and easy Taste of Korea again. The Orange County Library System offers other virtual (and in person) classes. Hope to be able to cook with Dianne Morin again. Bon Appetit! For the Pancakes: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup potato starch (optional for extra crispiness) 1 cup cold water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces - long cup leek, sliced thinly 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup zucchini, julienned 1/4 cup onion, thinly slice 2 tablespoons avocado oil (per pancake) For the Dipping Sauce: 2 tablespoons soy sauce ​ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 green onion, finely chopped (optional) 1 small garlic clove, minced Instructions Prepare the Pancake Batter ​In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, potato starch (if using), cold water, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth. Add the vegetables (green onions, carrots, zucchini, leeks, and onion) to the batter. Mix well to coat evenly Cook the Pancakes: Heat a non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the batter into the pan and spread it out evenly into a thin layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy. Flip the pancake and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes. Remove and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil as needed. Make the Dipping Sauce: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes (if using), green onion, and garlic. Stir well. Serve: Cut the pancakes into bite-sized pieces. Serve warm with the dipping sauce on the side. Enjoy your crispy, savory Korean vegetable pancakes with the perfectly balanced dipping sauce! read more

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This library is very nice! I came on a Wednesday around 2 pm to check out some books and print some papers. The employees were very helpful and friendly! They guided me to the YA section and explained how I could print something. Printing here is $0.15 per page and is located on the first floor. You can ask the librarian how to print and they'll give you a paper with a QR code to scan. It takes you to their website and will direct you from there. I parked in the parking garage across the street. For daytime parking it's $1 for 30 minutes and then $2 per hour maxing out at $15. If you go over 30 minutes (I was 45 minutes ;-;) they'll charge you $2. I'd recommend trying for street parking if it's available since their rate is $1 per hour. read more

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Pretty vast library system located right on the heart of downtown. I came in during the weekend and didn't feel crowded on the inside at all. One thing to note about this place is that they do not have free parking. I parked in the garage across the street and paid $10 for a day ticket. The library has 3 floors with different services within them. I mainly explored the 2nd and 3rd floor for their study rooms. You can try your luck and reserve one on site but I do recommend getting a reservation online if you have a library card (it's free!). Their 2nd floor had many different hobby rooms where you can reserve and try out the equipment. Again, highly recommend reserving online if there is a specific thing you'd like to try (i.e. VR room, driving simulators, sewing room, music and video production rooms, etc.). In order to use these more technical rooms, you do need to complete a little "seminar" with the rules and expectations which can be completed online or in person at the kiosks. There is also additional training you will need for the simulator rooms which has to be done in person. The library also hosts various events/classes you can sign up for every month which I can't wait to join in on! read more

There are so many new tools in the Library downtown! I haven't been in a while since my time at college and just got my new Library ID. I am begging everyone to checkout each floor! It's amazing you won't be disappointed! read more

5 Stars for ease of obtaining a library card online, great selection, very cool building right in the heart of Downtown Orlando, and access to free audiobook rentals! I've been putting off getting a library card for waaaaay too long because I figured the process involved me going in person and bringing physical proof of residency, but I recently found out it was MUCH easier than that. And now I feel like a fool for waiting so long! In fact, you can go to the Orange County Library Systems website (linked on their Yelp page) and apply for a card by simply inputting your name, address, and phone number. From there you wait to get an email confirming your new card number and a link to set a pin. The email was in my inbox almost the moment I submitted the online form. In terms of the physical location, I really appreciate that there's a parking garage directly across the street for easy parking and access. The building is an enormous and striking example of brutalist architecture and worth gawking at before you enter. It has multiple floors, but don't miss out on checking out the Melrose Center upstairs where after a brief intro appt you can make use of space for working, different audio visual rooms, a recording studio and podcast studios, and more! Finally, I am a new fan of the Libby app. With a valid library card number you can easily reserve ebooks, audio books, and more. I just "checked out" a couple of audiobooks for some long flights. They give you up to 21 days to listen right from the app. So, now that you know, what're you waiting for? Get yourself a library card in 2 mins online and begin enjoying!! read more

I attended the 100 Year Celebration Kickoff event at the Orange County Library - Main Branch on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023. I've been patronizing the Main library and branches in the Orlando area since I was in elementary school. Even in the age of e-books and delivery of media through our laptops, tablets, and smartphones, the library still serves an important purpose in our community. As their Mission Statement reads, the Orange County Library System's goal is "Adding to quality of life by creating a learning environment and experiences that foster personal growth and development." The library system is a true treasure which everyone in the community can freely benefit from. Here's to another 100 years of providing the citizens of Orange County and surrounding areas a vital resource. read more

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I am so impressed with how much the library offers. Recently went there for their 3D printing orientation and I'm so excited to start creating my own pieces. Well there I saw they were offering a prop making class and took that as well. The variety of classes offered here are amazing. There's quite literally something for everyone. I love that the library offers a safe place for people to continue their education. Going to bring my youngest back here to try a cooking class. Go online so you can do the orientation and then start checking out all day I have to offer at the Melrose center. The staff are really friendly and helpful. It seems like some things are new and they're moving protocols around so it may take a little while to get an answer but they will do their best to help. I would highly recommend Melrose center for anyone looking for a place to connect with others or take part in activities. The facilities are clean and well maintained and I truly consider this a hidden gem in downtown Orlando. read more

Orange County Library System - Inside - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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My family and I love going to this library, they have all my grandsons favorite books and we are always happy to see their smiling faces encourage our love for reading read more

I recently went to the main library in Downtown Orlando. Amazing decor, carpeting, the vast openness at every floor, the architecture, the multitude of books, book store, displays etc. It won the National Award for best public library in America. It was breathtaking. It is an A+. I love libraries. The NY Public library with the lions, the Morgan private library in NY, Benares University's library in Varanasi for the mini paintings and history, Oxford Library which gets a copy of every book printed in England, Boulder library for their world cat system, and our SF library for the good books. Don't forget Berkeley for reading room. So the Downtown Library in Orlando is an A+ for the building that they own from private donors. Excellent gift shop with cool, hip, and trendy things that are quite alright. The Friends of the Orange County Library System Bookstore sells excellent books at affordable prices with proceeds being donated to the library. The library is vast with each floor as big as a full city block. You will get exercise just walking around. They are one of the best public libraries in America and has the awards to prove it. Nice displays of DVDs and CDs on the ground floor. The only complaints was me and my friend couldn't sit in a chair to look at books or relax due to the current pandemic. I also prefer the books at the SF library e.g. more vegan books there yet the building and aesthetics here top most public libraries anywhere. This is the best secret in Florida and is better than the Magic Kingdom. read more

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Such an amazing library in the heart of Orlando. It's truly the biggest library I have visited. The library has 5 floors, the first 4 floors are part of the library and are open to the public. The 5th floor is for library administration. The library has a Children's Library, a Book Store, a Technology Center, a Sewing Studio, a Simulation Lab, a Teen Club Area, a Public Computer Area, a Passport office, a gift shop and many more cool areas. You can rent out books, dvd's, cd's, audio books. It also has study rooms, meeting rooms and classrooms you can reserve. Adults, Children, Teens, College Students can come here and find something to do, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy. I love books and I am an avid reader, I have to say I was impressed with everything they had this is a MORE than books library. read more

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First time here at the branch, it's centrally located in downtown Florida. Parking garage across the street. Thou don't know if there is a fee. I wanted to get a library card, thou there is a fee because I don't live in the county which is unfortunate. The library is clean and the staff and volunteers very helpful! Also, there is a security guard on campus. Lots of available resources. On the second floor is a Game Development Lab and a Sewing Studio available to the public. Thou please check the website for details. One drawback, some people who study study and there are those who are there and talking which is distracting. If you have a card for this branch, you are able to reserve study or meeting rooms. Impressive library and would like to explore more the other resources they provide. Enjoy! read more

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This library is one of the largest I've seen in Florida. Towering at four stories, it includes specialized library collections, historical artifacts, technology centers, multiple circulation desks, a general store, and a bookstore. Technically, it even has its own parking garage even though the general public can use it for any purpose. You can obtain a library card here as long as you have an orange county address and a Florida license from any county. The staff are well educated and curate tons of community events for visitors, such as book-face photography! When I visited last weekend, they had their seasonal bookstore sale that marked everything off by 50%. I ended up with quiet a haul! read more

Orange County Library System - Bookstore - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I was here for an Event when the library is typically closed, so I didn't really get to use any of the library's services. This branch is right in the heart of downtown Orlando. This is a huge library that looks to have multiple sections. It might take up the whole city block. The entrance on Central brings you into a large lobby area. The staff at the event was super helpful and friendly, but I'm not certain if they were with the event or with the library. It was set up with a stage and plenty of seating for the crowd. The event ran smoothly with a minor hiccup in the presentation. Street parking can be a challenge, but if you look at Google maps, you will a parking garage across the street. All in all, it was a nice evening, in a nice library. I have another branch closer to me and will most likely use that branch for my library needs. I wouldn't hesitate to come back here if something interesting was happening though. read more

Orange County Library System - Stage and screen. - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

July 8, 2020 - Wandering in Downtown Orlando Florida Library on a rainy day - priceless. Very clean library with a castle for children to read in, sculptures, and art. Loved the Nic 707 & Chelsea Smith art exhibits all over the library. read more

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Too many homeless people sleeping at all the work stations. Staff just sits around doing nothing. Extremely frustrating because you can't get work done. read more

This is for the big library that's located downtown off of central. it's definitely a great location because it has plenty of books, classes, activities, artwork, and more! They definitely offer the most of any library in the area. The staff is always very friendly and helpful when it comes to finding what you're looking for or signing up for an activity on site. they also have a small book store where they remove items from the shelves that have been in stock for a while or they have too much stock of it, and they're looking to sell it at a very discounted price. Be sure to be on the lookout for their friends of the library sale which happens every couple of months and they offer an even steeper discount on the merchandise they sell in the store. The classes that they offer range from computer courses to learning how to cook for one or two people, they also have plenty of classes for young adults, school-age children, toddlers, and even little babies. they do have a paper circular that you can pick up while you're there that list out all the classes for the month. Or you can check them out online and sign up there. The only part I don't like about this particular library is kind of beyond their control. You have to find somewhere to park that is off site. There is a garage that is right across the street, however if there are any heavily trafficked events happening downtown at the same time you want to visit that garage can fill up quickly as it is centrally located. And you do have to pay to park. you can try to scour around for a free parallel spot, but they are rare. Overall: A other than a little bit of difficulty parking once here inside it's definitely worth the trip! They have tons and tons of books and their classes are awesome! Be sure to check them out! read more

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I love the library! As a self-proclaimed bookworm, libraries are my second home. My review isn't for the downtown location, but for the entire OCLS as a whole. I absolutely love it! Seriously, one of the most extensive collections with so many different media formats. Prefer physical books? They have those. E-books? Check. Audiobooks? Yes. Movies and music are also available for rent/streaming purposes. Not to mention the tons of events they hold and the classes/learning opportunities they provide. You can even book audio production studios, editing bays, driving simulators, photo booths, and more! And it's all free! Seriously, the OCLS is such an amazing resource and that cannot be stressed enough. They're what a library should be and I'm proud to support them. My favorite part of the OCLS? You can have books and movies delivered to your house for free! Their request system is seriously so convenient, especially for those who don't always have time to go to the physical library during the week and you can quickly return materials at any OCLS branch. I utilize the drop-off window at the downtown location (they have a window towards the back of the building on Wall St). read more

Best library in Orange County. Great kids department. Super help to find books. Great inter library loan to get books not in their system. They also deliver books to your house if you check the box. I think it's awesome!! read more

Geez Louise! The Public Library System has sure come a long way since I was a kid!! I've always been a library nerd, and I can remember the days where it was just straight up books, audio, magazines and periodicals, and as time progressed they started adding things like computers, CD's, DVD's but daaaaaang have you been to the downtown Orlando library? I got lost it was so big! and they have.. wait for it.. a sewing studio.. yeah! and you can learn FOR FREE.. get out of town!! Do you know how much it costs to take classes like sewing, photography, or video graphics at a local college/university? These people have state of the art equipment, it blew my mind, how are more people not taking advantage of this? The only downside is that if you can't find street parking, you'll have to park in the garage across the street and that can be expensive if you're taking a class and then hanging out for a bit, but taking into consideration your class is FREE, who cares? What are you waiting for? Sign up for a class already! read more

Orange County Library System - Intro to sewing class - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This is one of my favorite libraries in Orlando because of the friendly staff, convenient location, and variety of free events. The staff at the front desk greet almost everyone who enters and are eager to help visitors. It's a relatively large library (with its own discounted bookstore too!), but it becomes so much more navigable for first time visitors because the staff are happy to assist. The library is also located just a few blocks from lake Eola, Publix, restaurants/bars, ice cream shops, you name it. Finally, this location has many cool events ranging from an sewing/crochet workshops and African music performances to story times with children and a kung fu show. There's definitely something for everyone. The OCLS website has the entire events listing. read more

To begin with, this is a beautiful Federal style building. The interior is also pretty cool, open and airy. I had some time to kill so I explored this library. I roamed around the first level, the kids & teens level, and I was amazed by the amount of music and movies they had here. A very good collection indeed. After my unsystematic walk, I went up the elevator to the top level. This level is also very large, with private rooms and everything. Many tables were lined up, and empty. On one of the windows, they have charging stations for cell phones and other rechargeable devices. I was carrying my laptop, so I found an empty table by a window and got to work. I saw a few vagrants here and there. I am not a germophobe, but I was very pleased with the maintenance of the facilities. The maintenance crew kept walking around, spraying and cleaning the common areas. Before leaving, I picked up a couple books. Unfortunately, this library doesn't have self check-out, so I had to wait briefly behind someone trying to check out 20 DVDs while trying to return another 20 DVDs, which he said he didn't know where he got them. Luckily another employee popped up and checked me out. A nice and tranquil place, to summarize. read more

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Years ago I switched over to a Kindle e reader and started accessing my library books through the overdrive service. I could not be more pleased. I can download the titles online 24/7 and they are automatically returned when due. The selection is fantastic for new releases, a bit less for old classics. While I always enjoy a visit to the library and bonding with a physical book, this way of accessing books is wonderful. It has actually got me reading more which I count as a good thing. read more

How does Dude living 15.3 miles away - in another COUNTY - get to be Duke with a gazillion check-ins? As a volunteer for Mayor Buddy Dyer's Book Club - assigned to the downtown library for the past 18 months or so - I get the privilege of coming here every Thursday and reading books with kiddies. So as such, I'm a guest here, and not eligible for any privileges that the natives enjoy. I thought I could get a 'guest card' or something, seeing how I'm donating a chunk of my precious time! I'm told that even if Mayor Dyer's mother wanted a library card, she'd have to pay if she lives outside of Orange. The figure quoted unofficially was north of a Benjamin Franklin. That's a shame, because this really is a fantastic facility. With Book Club finishing at 530, I usually stick around until traffic clears up before I make my trek back to that OTHER county - that means I've had the chance to explore. At 5 sprawling floors high, the first words you can think of might be "spacious" and "expansive": books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, talking books ... I'm sure I haven't even begun to touch on half of what they have to offer. There are lots of electronic gadgetries available; the second floor, for instance, has a huge bank of computers that seem to be always half occupied. There are meeting rooms, gift shop, and other facilities. One thing I like - which others may not - is their attitude toward (and treatment of) the homeless. Being where they are located, there's always a parade of scraggly folks in the bathroom, cleaning up, often carrying all their worldly possessions in a backpack or a little cart that trails them. It always give me pangs to see folks in such a state. "There, but for the grace of God, go I!" So I like the fact that the library is somewhat tolerant of these visitors, giving them some measure of shelter where otherwise they may have none. There are obligatory signs saying "No bathing" or some such warning, but I've never really seen it policed, nor does it seem necessary, as the facilities are more tidy than 95% of the ones you'd encounter in any given gas station. They DO take the 'precaution' of not providing paper towels - nothing but pretty old and worn-out hand dryers here. So now that I've given you 4-stars, Ms. Orange County Library system, do I get a free guest pass? No? Is it on account of it being 'only' 4-stars? I'd gladly change it to '5'! Still no? What do you mean it's against 'Yelp' policy? I can talk to Jeremy about that. Put him on the line this minute... read more

The library is huge and has fantastic books and great staff I think the staff might be crippled or forced to be less than professional by some policies which are beyond their control but I'm sure there's a reason for those. The children's librarians are amazing recently my son picked a Peppa Pig book from the bin and the librarian offered to show us where the other ones were despite my protest of not wanting to bother her and then once we found them she went above and beyond to check recently checked in books to get my son the best possible choice again without being asked to and despite my comments that his current choices were good enough. She seem to just really want to make kids fall in love with reading and find book that would encourage reading read more

This place is one of the biggest libraries I've been to! Due to it being so spacious there are plenty of rooms to study, have meetings, or to set up an interview session. The staff here are quite helpful as well. All in all it's a great place to find peace and quiet when you need to catch up on work. read more

Orange County Library System - Bookshelves - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Orlando doesn't mess around when it comes to libraries. They've got branches all over town, and if you're looking for a book that they don't have at your particular location, it is totally easy to track down a branch that does have it. The downtown branch is my favorite for a variety of reasons. First, it's the biggest and home to the most variety. They've got everything you could possibly want whether it be books, used DVDs, used CDs, eBooks, and Orlando history. That being said, it's smack in the middle of downtown, so parking is a little tricky if you're trying to avoid parking fees. With 4 floors, this library has a wealth of material to choose from. If they're currently not carrying a book you want, they'll order it for you. If you don't feel like braving downtown traffic, they've even got a delivery service to drop off books at your doorstep. It's like Netflix but with books. What I really like about Orlando's library system is the abundance of free classes for all sorts of things. You can take a class to learn how to code on the web, and you could also take a class to learn how to knit. This is awesome for people who want to learn a new skill while meeting likeminded individuals. I've been taking knitting classes just for the heck of it, and I've enjoyed them immensely. For my personal tastes, this downtown location typically has the books I'm looking for. The staff here are always friendly and helpful, and they always happy to help you find what you're looking for. This location also has frequent guest speakers and storytime for kids, so this is an excellent place to bring your toddler on a weekend morning. Libraries provide books with a wealth of information and knowledge, and it's all for free as soon as you sign up for a library card (free of charge, of course). I'm really happy that Orlando has leaned into their library system in order to afford the best educational opportunities for those who may not have access, and they provide classes for random folks like me to learn new skills. And their book selection is great, check out the biography section. | read more

I attended the jigsaw puzzle jamboree which was essentially a puzzle race against a few other teams. The winner had the fun opportunity to have their puzzle hung up in the library. This was my first time at this library and the first thing I noticed was the super cute decorations. There was 1 broken elevator which isn't fantastic saying there are so many levels of stairs. I noticed it appeared this library offered so much and had such a variety for people to explore. The staff was friendly and the library appeared very clean. I wish the library would validate parking but the parking garage across the street could've been more expensive. read more

Been here 300 million times in the 6yrs that I've lived here and I've always been happy with this particular location. My daughter has taken many of the kids and tween workshops during the summer and has enjoyed them. I've taken a beginners sewing class here and the instructor was so kind and patient. I like to come here to get away and work on homework or to come a peruse the vast collection of books. If there aren't any events going on in the area, you can usually find parking along the side streets and nearby streets. Sometimes if I have to park a little further away I just hop on the Lymmo for a free ride to the library, as that is one of their stops. read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Love this library branch! I remember as a child this being my favorite place to spend an afternoon after day care. Me and my mother would come after she got off, read stories to each other, and marvel at how big the library was. I will always cherish the moments shared here with her and hope to share the same memories with a child of my own one day. The staff is not only helpful, but extremely HAPPY! Agnes at the front desk is so bubbly, kind, and honestly down to earth. To be so pretty, kind, knowledgeable, and most of all humble is rare. She made getting my new library card extremely easy and fun! After explaining to me everything that comes with my card, I'd never been so excited about checking books out (haha). After a few shared Virgo jokes, a history lesson on when the building was built, and the nervous laughter of being able to rent 100 items at one time, I left with a pep in my step and a smile that could brighten anyone's day. Thanks Agnes and the entire team downtown!!!!! read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

My husband and I have taken our 2 year old grand daughter to this library several times for toddler story time on Saturday mornings. Every time we visit, we have a great time. The staff members who run the story time are very dedicated to making sure the little ones have a great time.The story time features songs, a little bit of movement to get the 'sillies' out before sitting down, stories, and of course, bubbles at the end of story time. The children's area is very clean and bright. There are paintings of story characters on the walls as well as figures of story book characters spread throughout the children's area. I noticed bulletin boards and handouts listing many activities at the library for children of all ages. There is a large selection of children's books and many computers are available in the children's section. I can't say much about the rest of the library as our visits have been limited to the children's section but we look forward to taking our grand daughter to toddler story time! read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Visited the library for Potterversary and they did an awesome job in the library! All of the floors had an event for families and Potter fans to interact with. I was just looking for the butter beer! But away from the event, the library has stepped up! They have a few VR sections that are always available! I will return for more events or just to check out the VR activities! read more

At the main Library in Orlando downtown, Orlando Public Library located at 101 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, FL 32801 has a special light art show on the side of the building located on Magnolia. "Light Waves - Urban Musical Instrument" is an artistic masterpiece from 2001, PhenomenArts, Inc. -- Christopher Janney, Artistic Director When walking by you may just believe they are neon lights on the outside of the Library, however, it is actually an artistic puzzle. There are buttons with hand prints over them to invoke playing the puzzle/art. "Start over here to unlock the key, Reverse the row - gee why are be? It's an urbal musical instrument. So step back and hear what you see." There is a specific way you have to push the lights so that it makes a musical masterpiece. It is very fun to try and awesome to watch when you unlock it! If you have never tried it, you must check it out next time you are walking by! read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, iPhone & iPad apps... are these the places you expect to find your library? 'Cause that is where I can find mine! The OCLS is leaps and bounds better than most public library systems! I have been here on many occasions conducting research and I have found the reference librarians to be incredibly helpful. The library offers books, cds, dvds, tons of public classes, and delivery services for tons of content. This is not the library of yesteryear, but rather the library of tomorrow! read more

Orange County Library System - Libraries Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I love libraries, and this is a good one. Well-organized. Friendly staff. Enthusiastic Friends of the Library branch that runs a great used bookstore on site. Cool local history section. Best of all, there is a drive-up window. Put a book on hold, and drive by to pick it up! If you live in Orlando, you should patronize this place. You should also support it with a donation. read more

Ok, so I'm gonna do what we all do at some point. Drive up I95. Way up. So, I swung by the OCLS, and was just blown away by the size of the collection. I was just looking for one or two books on CD, and walked out with about 30 selections. I'm completely overwhelmed. Don't be intimidated by it's look. Don't worry that much about the parking- although it's not free..... Enjoy your Library. It's magnificent! read more

I guess it is hard not to love a building full of books... books are my happy place. Some libraries do exceed expectations, and this is one of them. On my first visit with my brand spanking new card in hand (you can order it online, how cool is that??) I was genuinely impressed with the size of this Library. Yes it is the main library, so that is to be expected. It is however quite complete - I found Christopher Rice and Anne Rices latest novels on the shelf the day after their release, and got slightly distracted at the rows of books. By slightly I mean I totally ended up spending a long time just browsing. There are classes, for free! Yup check them out online, and also special events. It is the Halloween season, so scary movies for adults (as an empty nester I appreciate adult only events), ghost stories and more. Everyone I had contact with, which by the way was because they were asking me if I needed help, not me trying to get help and not getting anyone like in other cities (cough, cough Miami) here they really go out of their way and are truly pleasant. If there is a but... which there kind of is... it is the fact that it is downtown and therefore has no parking lot for patrons. If you are in your car you have to pay for parking. Street parking has a two hour limit and as a very nice gentleman who works there explained, it is a limit per zone which means that even if you move your car you better make sure you are not in the same zone, otherwise you get a ticket. There is a parking garage that charges $2 per hour. So street parking would be cheapest. read more