Library Calendars 1970s-1990s

Monthly calendars distributed with the Friends of the Library Newsletter provided information on events at the Orlando Public Library and branch locations in Orange and Osceola counties.

The Calendar varied in paper size and color and font type and size. Branches mentioned include Azalea Park, Booker T. Washington, East Orange, Eastland, Edgewater, Ft. Gatlin, Kissimmee, North Orange, Northgate, Pine Hills, Saint Cloud, South Trail, Southeast, Washington Shores, and West Orange.

Children’s programs at the Orlando Public Library were usually presented in the Children’s Department in the basement of the 1966 and 1986 Orlando Public Library.

1970 Calendars – There were many interesting events at Orange and Osceola county libraries in 1970. Walt Disney World officials met with young adults to discuss employment, the Orlando Poetry Society met at the Orlando Public Library, library staff were featured on “Book Break” on WDBO Radio every Saturday, and the Friends presented “Discussion ’70” every Sunday on WFTV Channel 9.

1971 Calendars – The Friend’s “Discussion ’71” with Russell Troutman continued weekly on WFTV Channel 9 with exciting topics and guests. Azalea Park, College Park, Ft. Gatlin, Kissimmee and St. Cloud branches feature weekly Story Hours, the Stupendous Speaker Series and special programs for adults and young adults continue through the year.

1972 Calendars – The 1972 Calendar of Events features children’s programs with stories, films and filmstrips and performances by Junior League Puppet Shows. The Foreign Film Series was a monthly event at the Orlando Public Library. Local groups like the Poetry Society and the Central Florida Genealogical Society met monthly at the Orlando Public Library. Cultural events, book reviews at the College Park Branch, and musical entertainment are also featured, as well as programs on popular interests of the day like astrology.

Carolyn Peterson, head of the Children’s Department, invited adults and young adults to attend an hour-long workshop on how to share literature with children in the February calendar.

Branches mentioned are Azalea Park, Booker T. Washington, College Park, Eastland, Kissimmee, Northgate, Orlando Public Library, St. Cloud, and Washington Shores.

1973 Calendars – The Orlando Public Library hosted an International Cinema Series and the Orlando Poetry Society met monthly. American Handicrafts Company, Tandy Leather, Loch Haven Art Center, and Conway Palm Florist presented craft programs at Northgate. Children’s Story Hours with film strips, stories and flannelboard stories and puppet shows presented by the Junior League Puppets were held in the Auditorium and the Conference Room at the Orlando Public Library and at all the branches. In November, the library celebrated its Golden Anniversary with an Open House and Walking Tour of the library and a Golden Anniversary Dinner at the Kahler Plaza.

1979 Calendars – In 1979, the Library Calendar features Story Time events for Toddlers, Preschool, and the Very Young at branches in Orange and Osceola counties. The Kissimmee Library has family film Series in January and February. “Catch ’em In the Cradle!” – created by the Children’s Department staff at the Orlando Public Library – was introduced to new parents and parents-to-be in February with events at every branch and continued through the year.

The Friends’ “Dinner with the Authors” in March featured authors Ellen Goodman, Philip Caputo and Joseph Persico at the Dutch Inn Resort Hotel at Lake Buena Vista. “Discussion ’79,” produced the Friends aired on WFTV Channel 9, hosted by Russell Troutman. Ye Olde Book Sale was held at the Winter Park Mall in May and November and also at the First Federal Savings and Loan in the Westgate Shopping Center in St. Cloud. Events at the Pine Hills Branch are featured. Summer programs for Young Adults include body-builder John “Spike” Ingrao, Paragators Sky Diving, Thursday night movies, and more. Meet the author featured Cleveland Amory at the Burdines at Fashion Square in December.

1980 Library Calendars – The 1980 Library Calendars for libraries in Orange-Osceola counties promote the award-winning Catch ’em in the Cradle workshop for new parents and parents-to-be, the Ye Olde Book Sale, the weekly discussion series produced by the Friends and broadcast on Channel 9 WFTV hosted by Russell Troutman, Storytime hours and more.

The August calendar promotes “Pull for the Library,” and the opening of the new Genealogy Department at the A.P. Phillips Building at 1045 Legion Place on Lake Ivanhoe Boulevard.

The October calendar promotes Filmfest every Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium in the basement of the Orlando Public Library and at branch libraries.

1981 Calendars – The 1981 Library Calendars feature presentations by the Orlando Opera Company, “Discussion ’81” on WFTV Channel 9, the Friends sponsored events at Burdines in the Fashion Square Mall like “Breakfast at Burdines” with novelists and a special reception in October with the Sentinel Star book editor, Ed Hayes. While the heading no longer mentions Osceola County, there are still Story Time hours for the Kissimmee and St. Cloud libraries.

The July/August calendar promotes the Young Adult Department‘s “Free Friday Night Films” series.

1982 Calendars – Based on events in the Library Calendars, 1982 seems to be the year of films and videocassettes. Film events include Friday Night at the Movies, Saturday Afternoon Film Program, the Winter Senior Showcase, Family Film Winter Series, School’s Out Films, Preschool Story Time “Movies from Books,” Spring Film Festival, Holiday Film Series, School Age Film Program, and After School Movies. The 5th Annual Dinner with the Authors was on February 20th with authors A. E. Hotchner, Fran Lebowitz and Frank Deford. “Catch ’em In the Cradle” workshop for expectant parents was presented in March and the year ends with the announcement of the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Expansion of the Orlando Public Library on Tuesday, December 7th.

1983 Calendars – In 1983, The Library Calendars promote film series, Storytimes, weekly “Discussion ’83” television series on WFTV Channel 9 with Russell Troutman, Ye Olde Book Sale, and film series for children, young adults and adults continued at most locations. Meet the Author events and “Breakfast at Burdines” featured authors Charles Brady, Donald J. Sobol, Henry B. Rothblatt, Sally Morrison, and Kate Barnes.

1984 Calendars – In 1984, Parent Orientations – a prerequisite for those who wished to bring a toddler to story programs – continued as did after school movies.

1985 Calendars – The first annual “Authors in the Park festival was conducted in Winter Park’s Central Park. The activities included talks by ten Florida authors, eight storytellers and 57 exhibitors. Ye Olde Book Sale at the Winter Park Mall was also in October. In November 1985 tours of the library expansion were given as part of the “Light Up Orlando” event. Film series for adults, young adults, and little ones continued during the year.

1986 Calendars -The new Southeast Library opened in January, the East Orange Library opened February 1st, and the 9th Annual Dinner with the Authors at the Wyndham Hotel Sea World took place in March with Robert B. Parker, Josephine Humphreys and Don Hewitt. The Grand Celebration for the opening of the expanded and remodeled Orlando Public Library took place in April. Storytimes are listed with the titles of the books featured, the Young Adult Summer Film Festival is presented weekly at the Orlando Public Library, and the Adult Film Series at the Northgate Branch continues through the year. To end the year, the 2nd Meet the Author event with Stephen Becker and Wyatt Wyatt was held in December.

1987 Calendars – Pre-registration of toddlers kicked off the year as did the adult film series at the Northgate Library. Ye Olde Book Sale at the Winter Park Mall took place in May, and the Young Adult Summer Film Festival returned in June. A new program developed by the Children’s Department called “Parents and Pre-Threes” was launched in September. Edgewater Library began their Fall Film Festival in November, and the Friend’s “Meet the Author” event in December featured author Cleveland Amory.

1988 Calendars – In February, the Orlando Public Library began a monthly “Family Night” with a film and stories for parents and young children. In June, the “Family Night” programs were weekly, and Edgewater Library continued their film series for adults. There was an ongoing Chess Tournament for young adults in the YA Department on 2nd floor at the Orlando Public Library; trophies were awarded in August.

1989 Calendars – Family Nights at the Orlando Public Library and the adult film series at the Edgewater branch continue in 1989. The Book Sale in the new Book Store at the Orlando Public Library took place in May, as did “Meet the Author” with Beth Brainard. Programs at Osceola County libraries stopped during the Spring, and the Young Adult Chess Tournament returned to the Orlando Public Library Young Adult Department in July.

1990 Calendars – The 1990 calendars no longer include programs for the Osceola County libraries. The Calendars list information for Children’s Department events: Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, Parents and Pre 3’s, Storytime for the Very Young, Storytime for All Ages. They also include programs for Young Adults, Friends of the Library events, and holiday closures.

1991 Calendars – In January the Friends presented an Introduction to the works of Zora Neale Hurston. Photograph Ralph Conte’s works were displayed throughout the Orlando Public Library. East Orange (Tower Square Shopping Center), Edgewater (Edgewater Commerce Center), North Orange, South Trail, Southeast, Southwest, Washington Park, West Colonial (West Colonial Oaks Shopping Center), and West Orange all have storytime events during the year.

In May the Friends annual meeting and author brunch at the Harley Hotel featured author Patrick Smith. The artwork of Christopher Yue and Sing Yue was on display at the OPL. In September, Colonel George “Bud” Day spoke at the Friends Author Brunch at the 4^th Fighter Group Restaurant, Herndon Executive Airport. In October Author J. Thomas Gurney spoke at the OPL, and the Windermere Library appears in the calendar for the first time.

1992 Calendars – Preschool, School Age, Parents and Pre 3’s, and Family Story Programs are presented weekly, bi-monthly or monthly at branches throughout the system. The South Orange branch in the Waterbridge Downs Shopping Center first appears in February. Cartoonist Jake Vest was the guest speaker at the Friends Annual Meeting and Author Brunch in May. All system libraries participated in the 1992 vacation reading program – “Into books… and out of this world” – with events from June to August.

Authors Mark Stern, Maurice O’Sullivan, Jack C. Lane, and Ed Hayes were guest speakers at Friends’ Meet the Author series during the fall. Photographers Donna D. Lovely, Lynn Hays Meredith and Tom Colasacco were displayed throughout the OPL in September and October.

1993 Calendars – Toddler, Preschool, School Age and/or Family Story Programs are scheduled weekly or bi-monthly at all locations. Artwork from Gere Anderson, Bettina B. Johnson, and American Indian Center, photographs from Carlo Sedney and Gary Przyborski, and wood carvings from Sam Bonacci displayed their works at OPL or the branches. WKCF Orlando Magic Magicians performed at OPL in the Oak Room (Albertson Room) in August and the Children’s Department celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of the Vacation Reading Program.   Children’s Department Head Carolyn Peterson, retired at the end of December, after over 20 years at OCLS. Two initiatives to encourage reading in young children – “Catch ‘em in the Cradle” and “Sharing Literature with Children” – were created during her tenure.

1994 Calendars – The Orlando Public Library hours changed in January: 9-9 Mon-Thurs, 9-6 Fri-Sat, and 1-6 on Sunday. Family, Preschool, Toddler, and/or School Age story programs are presented at OPL and/or branch locations. Artwork from African American Artist Alliance, Yolanda Martin, Robert Freyer, Ray Perez, the Ink and Paint Club, Philip Cocimano, Widilia Cardona, and the Artists’ League of Orange County, as well as photographs by David O. Stillings, wood carvings by Bill Phillips were displayed at OPL and/or branches during the year. Orlando Street Railway models by James Stoll (models are still on display at the OPL) and a Pocket History of Orlando are presented in April. Authors Roy Blount, Jr., Dennis McFarland, and Judith Rossner were guest speakers for the Friends’ “Booked for Supper” event in November at the Orlando Expo Centre, and Shaquille O’Neal’s ALA READ posters were available for purchase in the bookstore.

The first OCLS Info-News announces the opening November 14^th of the Southeast Library Outlet at the Hoffner Centre, replacing the Southeast Library. The new Library Outlets featured ample parking, high demand books, AV material, reference collections, multiple meeting rooms, drive up windows, books for sale, vending machines for refreshments.

The December 1994 calendar features “The Story on Storytelling” and mentions the library’s storytelling troupe who present Continuous Storytelling three days a week from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m.

Books and Beyond

The Calendar was no longer needed with the publication of the first Books & Beyond newsletter in October 1996, as it encompassed all the activities and events in the Orange County Library System. The Friends of the Library Newsletter continued for a short time.