Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library

10/12/2026

10/11/2026

This year’s Banned Books Week coincides with ALA’s official 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion, ALA has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990, when ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom began tracking book challenges, through 2025.

The full list of the 150 most challenged books - those that have been targeted for restriction or removal in libraries and schools - spans contemporary titles such as "Gender Q***r: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe and literary classics such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.

“Every book on this list is a reminder that readers have the right to explore ideas and decide for themselves what to read,” said ALA President Maria McCauley. “For 150 years, ALA has worked alongside library workers to keep that choice open to everyone. We ask for support for our libraries so the next generation has that same freedom.”

See the full list at ala150.org/150books.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

You can often find books by Judy Blume in the Carousel Bookstore.

10/10/2026

The NLS is a wonderful resource for people who have difficulty reading print! Check it out at the link below.

A Dyslexia Awareness Month reminder: Many people don’t realize that the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress also serves people with reading disabilities such as dyslexia.

If you find it difficult to use print because of a reading disability, you can still enjoy reading with free audiobooks from NLS! In addition to its vast collection of books and magazines, NLS has materials you won’t find anywhere else in audio, like cookbooks, crafting books, how-to guides and graphic novels. Find out more about NLS services and how to enroll at www.loc.gov/nls/who-we-serve/reading-disabled?loclr=fbloc.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Uncover the mysteries behind legendary sea monsters with The Florida Aquarium, gain insight into how our local firefighters do what they do while learning about fire safety, have fun creating stories in an interactive collaborative session, and discover all there is to know about the bats of our sunny state at our libraries next week!⁠
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Find these programs and much more by checking out HCPLC.org/Events.

10/08/2026

Learn about the superheroes protecting our Freedom to Read this Banned Books Week in THE LIBRARIANS, Director/Producer Kim A. Snyder's Emmy Award-winning documentary now available to watch on digital!

As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy. "Superb," "gripping," and "profoundly alarming" - The New York Times

10/07/2026

Amendment 3 is not just a property tax issue. It is a library services issue.
Across Florida, public libraries depend on stable local funding to provide the services people use every day: books and e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs, senior services, job seeker support, homework help, meeting rooms, technology assistance, outreach, and trusted help from trained staff.

When local revenue is reduced, communities may be forced to make difficult choices. That will mean fewer open hours, fewer staff, smaller collections, reduced programs, less technology access, delayed projects, new fees, or even branch closures.

Friends groups, foundations, donors, and volunteers are essential library partners. They help libraries do more. But private support cannot replace the public funding that keeps a library system open, staffed, equipped, and available to everyone.

Before voting on Amendment 3, look closely at how your own library is funded. Ask what services depend on local public dollars. Ask what would happen to hours, staffing, books, programs, technology, outreach, and branches if that funding is reduced.

Libraries are local services. Library funding is local funding. Get the facts.
Learn more at www.KeepLibrariesFunded.org.

10/05/2026

We asked dozens of them about America’s libraries — what they provide, what they need to survive. Here’s what they told us.