Message from Innovation Officer Kaycee Shiley
At your library, we believe in reaching for the stars — not just in the sky, but in how we serve our community. Whether it’s helping someone apply for a job, sparking a love of reading in a young child, or providing resources to satisfy curiosity, we’re always aiming higher to meet your needs and interests.
This August, as the Perseid meteor shower dazzles in the skies above, we’re highlighting some of our resources that bring a little extra stardust to the community.
Join us as we transform the library into an EcoStation in the stars during CosmicCon: Solarpunk Utopia on Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the downtown Main Library.
Get a closer look at the meteor shower by checking out one of our telescopes. Telescopes can be placed on hold and checked out for two weeks.
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NASA is working toward a decade-long goal of sending astronauts to Mars in the documentary Space: The Longest Goodbye, available on Kanopy, which follows a NASA psychologist as they help astronauts stay mentally healthy during isolation in space. Prefer to explore the cosmos yourself? Discover a variety of streaming videos on Kanopy about astronomy, space, and meteor showers, all free with your library card.
Become the expert in your family by exploring Astronomy 101 through Universal Class and learn more about constellations, the solar system, and the planets.
Prefer your space with a little more fiction? Grab a group of friends and reserve Orbital by Samantha Harvey through our Traveling Book Club Kits to take a trip around our planet — no space suit required.
Look through our catalog or ask a library staff member to discover even more space-themed reads and resources. We have an entire universe waiting for you!
Stay curious,
Kaycee Shiley, Innovation Officer
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Don’t miss the Fall Seed Library Kickoff on Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the downtown Main Library! Celebrate 10 years of growing with free fall seed packets, hands-on activities, and expert gardening advice. It’s a great opportunity for gardeners of all experience levels to get inspired and ready for the season.
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Celebrate our seventh annual CosmicCon featuring this year’s theme, Solarpunk Utopia, and explore a future where sustainability, science, and creativity unite! On Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Leon County Main Library, enjoy hands-on activities, interactive sessions, scavenger hunts, and more. Join the fun and register to compete in our cosplay competition for a chance to win prizes.
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Residents of all ages are invited to submit artwork for this year’s exhibit, Cultura Tallahassee: The Colors of Community, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Selected works will be displayed at Leon County Public Library locations from September 15 to October 15. The deadline to submit artwork is August 29.
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Starting Tuesday, August 5, stay connected to the world with PressReader, a new resource available through our Digital Library. With your library card, you can enjoy unlimited access to more than 7,000 newspapers and magazines from across the globe. Plus, enjoy digital print access to The New York Times right in the app. Catch up on global headlines or browse your favorite magazines from wherever you are!
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Exciting news for Miccosukee-area readers! You can now reserve books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs, and Launchpads through our online catalog and pick them up at our new self-service pick-up locker at the Miccosukee Community Center, located at 15011 Cromartie Road. It’s a simple, convenient way to access library materials — on your schedule. A book drop is also available next to the locker for easy returns.
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The Leon County Public Library was recently recognized with two American Library Association PR Xchange Awards for marketing materials promoting programs and services. Leon County received two of the 26 national awards presented for print materials and was the only library in Florida to receive recognition in this category. The winning materials included the 2024 summer programs booklet and the Essential Libraries Initiative booklet. Congratulations to the library team!
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Since 2023, the Tallahassee Garden Club’s Babies Breath Circle has nurtured a native plant and wildflower garden outside the Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library. What started as two small beds has blossomed into a vibrant space for pollinators and community learning.
Thanks to grant support and local partnerships, the garden now features QR-coded plant markers, butterfly-friendly additions, and educational resources. In 2024, the garden was named the Best Florida Neighborhood Project by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., and earlier this year was designated a certified stop on the Rosalynn Carter Monarch Butterfly Trail.
Stop by the Northeast Branch Library to enjoy the garden and see how native plants help our environment thrive.
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Story Time and Stay & Play will be on break from Monday, August 11, through Saturday, August 16. Regular story time programming will resume Tuesday, August 19.
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Enjoy engaging Virtual Author Talks with bestselling authors from a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. Tune in for these live events with interactive Q&As, or watch the recording afterward.Â
Upcoming Virtual Author Talks include:
- Tuesday, August 5, at 2Â p.m.: Author Talk with Dr. Jay Falk, Smithsonian evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist.
- Wednesday, August 20, at 7 p.m.: Author Talk with Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue.
- Thursday, August 28, at 2 p.m.: Author Talk with Dr. Tasha Eurich, New York Times bestselling author, organizational psychologist, and researcher.
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