Searching for something entertaining and free of charge for your family to do this summer? Look no further than the Orange County Library System. OCLS is offering in-branch and online programs, activities, and popular materials for everyone.
Whether you are interested in eBooks or eMagazines, eAudio books, print books or audio CD sets for long summer vacation drives, or visits to your local library for events, OCLS has all of these and more. For more information on dates and times for events listed below, go to www.ocls.info. You can also access all downloadable titles and interactive digital services from the library’s home page.
For Kids
The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program at the library (for young children through the age of 11) is the sports-focused On Your Mark, Get Set, Read. There are weekly events at every branch location and opportunities to win prizes. Summer Reading runs from June 11 to Aug. 15. For more information on the title list, go to the www.ocls.info home page and select Summer Reading Program from the menu bar on the home page.
For older kids, ages 9-12, there is Camp Savvy, offering cool one-day classes like 3D Design for Printing and Make Mods in Minecraft Camp. Melrose Camp at the new Melrose Center at the main branch downtown offers classes focusing on the Arts to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The Southeast Branch (closest to Lake Nona) is hosting Celebrate Summer with Mix 105.1 in June and Star Wars Galactic Games in July. Both of these events are for children ages 6-12.
For information on online activities and materials using computers and tablets, go to Kids Connect at www.kids.ocls.info. Elementary school-aged children can access eBooks by going to the library home page, selecting Books, Movies, & More from the menu bar, then selecting Kids & Teens. From there, click on Tumblebooks Library. Here, kids will have access to electronic picture books, interactive games, and entertaining educational videos.
For Teens
Teen library visitors, both in-person and online, have access to a universe of cool things to read and do. Into electronics? The new Melrose Center FabLab downtown is offering a course called TechKrew: Intro to Radio Electronics Using Snap Circuits. Other branches are hosting classes on everything from Button Bonanza crafting to Dreamology, the study of dreams. Downloadable movies can be checked out on the OCLS web site. Teens (and adults) also can try their hand at learning a new language by accessing Mango Languages or Rocket Languages. Both are interactive digital services designed to be engaging and fun. Homework and technology help are available, too. All of these services can be found at www.ocls.info by clicking on Learning & Research on the home page.
For All Members of the Family
Think you need to order from Amazon or go to the book store to get what you want to read this summer? Think again. Name a popular title and the library likely has it in whatever format you choose. You can pick up your book at one of the 16 branches of the library, or you can order a book online and it will be delivered to your house. For information on this service, go to the www.ocls.info home page and click on Using the Library in the upper right corner of the page. Click on Home Delivery on the left menu of the new page. You’re now set to hit the beach or the pool!
If you prefer to download your books, audio books, and magazines, click on Books, Movies & More from the library home page. There, you will find eBooks of all genres, popular eMagazines in full color, downloadable movies, and eAudio books that you can listen to alone or as a family. Once you find the title you want from the OCLS online catalog, you will need to follow the directions listed on the site to access it. For example, OneClickdigital, one of the eAudio book providers, offers a video tutorial on setting up the service on your computer and/or the OneClickdigital eAudio/eBook app. Zinio Magazines also has an app so you can download as many magazines as you wish in order to read them offline on your tablet or smart phone.
Orange County Library System is one of the most dynamic in the country. If you haven’t seen what they have to offer in a while, now is a great time! All you need is a library card.
