The Lake Nona area has a new way to return library books!

The Orange County Library System (OCLS) recently installed a library return drop box on the Valencia College Lake Nona campus several months ahead of schedule. Local residents can easily return books and multimedia materials that were delivered to their homes through the library’s free delivery service or checked out at area branches.

“The materials collected will be picked up by the library six days a week – Monday through Saturday,” said Bethany Stone, OCLS chief branch officer. “We’re excited for the Lake Nona residents to begin using this new book drop.”

The campus can be found at 12350 Narcoossee Rd., and the drop box is located on Andric Lane behind the college, near the side of its parking lot closest to Lake Nona High School. Traveling north on Narcoossee, turn left on Nemours Parkway and then right on Andric Lane. The drop box will be on the right-hand side. Traveling south on Narcoossee, turn right on Vickrey Place and then left onto Andric Lane to access the drop box on the left-hand side.

The drop box was announced by the library leadership at the end of 2020 and was originally expected sometime this summer. The early arrival of the drop box was celebrated by many local residents on social media.

Fulya Morgan was among the first to use the drop box. “I was able to return my books at this location instead of driving all the way to Semoran,” she said.

Mikaela Walker shared, “This is amazing! I no longer have to drive down to Waterford to return books.”

Orange County residents can request books, DVDs, and CDs to be conveniently delivered to their homes free of charge with a library card. You can apply for a library card easily online at
ocls.info/using-library/get-or-replace-your-card.

In addition to being able to order books for home delivery, you can use your library card to download audiobooks and ebooks, access online events, attend a variety of classes, and more through the library’s Local Wanderer culture pass program. Your library card also gets you free admission to some of the best local museums and theaters.

The OCLS leadership is evaluating several potential locations for a possible future branch, including an opportunity to co-locate a library with the City of Orlando at a forthcoming government center on Dowden Road. Further review and discussions will continue among the library administration, trustees, and stakeholders. To express your support for a library in the Lake Nona area, sign the community petition at change.org/nonalibrary.