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Orlando Magazine - The first years
The first edition of the Orlando Magazine was published in July 1922 by the Orlando Chamber of Commerce. The first twelve issues of the magazine were bound and presented to the Albertson Public Library prior to its opening in November 1923, by someone wi ... Read more
Places
Young Adult Department 1960s -1980s
ABOVE: The Young Adult Department on the first floor in the area now known as the porch or clock area in the Children's Department. 1960s The Orlando Public Library opened to the public in August 1966, with 60,000 square feet of space - several times larg ... Read more
Topics
Footnotes 1966-1970
Footnotes Footnotes was a monthly publication presenting "Items of interest from the Orlando Public Library and Orange County Library System." Items of interest included news about library services, branches, staff and volunteers, along with a calendar o ... Read more
Organizations
Minutes of the Albertson Public Library Board of Directors 1923-1932
ABOVE: Albertson Public Library photo by Dixie Studio pasted on the back of the first page in the 1923-1930 minutes book. Albertson Public Library Board of Directors The minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Albertson Public Library b ... Read more
Places
Orlando Public Library Expansion 1982-1986
OPL Expansion from 60,000 to 290,000 square feet! From APL to OPL The Orlando Public Library was dedicated on Sunday, August 7, 1966, replacing the old Albertson Public Library which opened to the public on November 8, 1923. Compared to the old library, t ... Read more
Organizations
OCLS Branches - Then and Now
ABOVE: South Trail Library circa 1982. Orange County Library System Branch Libraries in 1993 Beginning in February 1993, the Friends of the Library Newsletters featured one of the eleven branches each month. The January 1993 newsletter announced the year- ... Read more
Topics
Friends of the Library Newsletters 1980 -1996
The Orlando Public Library Footnotes and the Friends of the Library Newsletters are the ancestors of the library's current monthly magazine, Books and Beyond. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the library in 2023, these publications preserve th ... Read more
Organizations
OCLS Extension Department 1966 - 1983
ABOVE: Arnold Sobel at the Northgate Library in 1983. OCLS Extension Department Scrapbook Photographs of employees who worked in the Extension Department and the library Annex from 1966 to 1983, were collected and  carefully and lovingly arranged in a sc ... Read more
Places
OPL Under Construction 1964-1966
ABOVE: Photo taken December 1, 1965, looking southeast from the AT&T building on Wall Street. Notice how close the new library is to the former Salvation Army Citadel in the lower right corner of the photo. Also, visible is the former staff lounge cal ... Read more
People
Olive Brumbaugh - Orlando's Librarian 1923-1943
The Duties of the Head Librarian The duties of the “librarian” enumerated in Article IX of the library’s Articles of Incorporation (pp. 3-4) indicate that, in addition to serving as a librarian, the person hired as head librarian oversaw all de ... Read more
Events
Albertson Library Staff Party - December 1963
Former staff at the Albertson Public Library were invited to a staff Christmas party on December 14, 1963. The date is significant because in September 1964, the Albertson library was demolished to make way for the new Orlando Public Library. Staff create ... Read more
Places
Albertson Public Library Blueprints
On February 21, 1922, the city of Orlando held a bond election for funds to build a public library and other municipal improvements. The vote was 155 against and 446 in favor! PLANS APPROVED - BIDS SOUGHT The May 13, 1922, Orlando Morning Sentinel announc ... Read more