America250
On July 4, 2026, the United States is celebrating a historic milestone—its 250th birthday! This landmark anniversary honors two and a half centuries since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It’s an opportunity to reflect on our nation's founding promise: that we are all created equal, with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Our history is a rich, ongoing story of innovation and perseverance, and your library is the perfect place to explore it. To celebrate the U.S. Semiquincentennial, the library invites you to be a part of history and join the commemoration by attending an event, visiting a special exhibit, or picking up a limited-edition library card.
Library Lunch Break Series
Library Lunch Break: The Music of America, Then and Now
When: Monday, September 14, from 12 to 1 p.m.
Where: Leon County Main Library, 200 West Park Avenue
Trace the evolution of American music from folk and field chants to the blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll, rock, and rap. Join us for a high-speed chase down the back roads of music history, from songs with no names and no identifiable authors to the pyrotechnics of modern arena concerts. Stick around for a discussion and bring your questions along with the title of a favorite tune or two.
This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
David Kirby is the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of English at Florida State University and the author of several books, including Little Richard: The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
This project was funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida’s LSTA program is administered by the Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.
Limited Edition Library Card
Celebrate America250 with a specially designed limited-edition Leon County Public Library card — available while supplies last! This commemorative card not only unlocks a world of knowledge and resources but also serves as a treasured memento of this historic occasion.
New and current library card holders can receive the America250 card at no cost by visiting any Leon County Public Library location.
Read Across America Beanstack Challenge
Explore the stories, voices, and ideas that have shaped America in Beanstack, the library's online reading tracker. Read engaging books, complete fun activities, and get "bingo" to earn a sticker and enter our end-of-year prize drawing.
Events
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Audience: teens-adults
Location:
Virtual
Description:
Join us as we chat with award-winning historian David O. Stewart about his newest work, The Democracy We Must Keep, and the question he explores throughout the book: What did America's founders say about democracy, and can we remain true to their vision for America?
Two hundred fifty years ago, passionate men attempted to create something the world had never seen before: a nation built not on kings or armies, but on ideas where the people ruled.
In The Democracy We Must Keep, historian David O. Stewart takes readers inside the nine key documents that shaped the formation of the United States—from Patrick Henry's thunderous cry for liberty to the carefully crafted design of a government chosen by the people, with limits on all officials holding power under the Constitution.
Through the words of seven visionary founders—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and others—Stewart shows how a fragile experiment in self-government took shape.
These men were not saints. They argued passionately. They worried that the new nation might fall apart. Yet together, they forged the principles that must still define American democracy:
- Power must be limited.
- Leaders must answer to the people.
- Individual rights must be protected by law.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, The Democracy We Must Keep urges readers to rediscover core ideas that built the nation—and to consider what it will take to protect them.
Register for this virtual Author Talk at LeonCountyLibrary.org/AuthorTalks.
View upcoming Author Talk programs and recordings of past talks at LeonCountyLibrary.org/AuthorTalks.
The Author Talk series is sponsored by the Friends of the Leon County Public Library.
More info
-
Audience: teens-adults
Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:
Trace the evolution of American music from folk and field chants to the blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll, rock, and rap. Join us for a high-speed chase down the back roads of music history, from songs with no names and no identifiable authors to the pyrotechnics of modern arena concerts. Stick around for a discussion and bring your questions along with the title of a favorite tune or two.
This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
About the Speaker
David Kirby is the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of English at Florida State University and the author of several books, including Little Richard: The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
This project was funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida’s LSTA program is administered by the Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.
More info
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No more events.
Exhibits
Resources
Explore reading lists about the American Revolution for all ages.
Want to read on the go? Check out eBooks and audiobooks in the America250 Collection on Libby using your library card.