# Adult Programs in May
This month, we have two History Chat programs, two Lit Chat Author Interviews, two Writer's Lab workshops, 15 Book Club meetings, a Great Decisions discussion, Life Lit gardening workshops, and more! So, whether you like meeting bestselling authors or just fellow book lovers around Jacksonville, there are so many great ways to use your Library card this month!
We'll also have some great book recommendations, book displays, and drop-in activities in your favorite branches throughout the month to celebrate Military Appreciation Month, Jewish American History Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and more!
Be the first to know about upcoming Lit Chat author events, Writer's Lab workshops, and more!
Beaches Library Comic Fest
Beaches Library Comic Fest returns Saturday, May 4, from 1 – 4 p.m. and features some of your favorite local cosplayers, gamers, and comic creators from the Beaches community and beyond. There will be a costume contest, drop-in crafts, and special guests like the Ghostbusters of Middleburg, the Last Council Saber Academy, local cosplayer and blogger Candy Keane, special effects makeup artist Jay Woodley, and more!
This FAN-tastic event is sponsored by Friends of the Beaches Branch Library.
Writer's Lab Workshop: Authors Roundtable
Marketing Yourself as an Author - Saturday, May 4, at 10:15 a.m.
Through a Q&A-style lecture, this month's presenter will provide writers with a basic knowledge of marketing that they can use to promote their work and essential resources for building readership. Authors Roundtable is a local 501C3 that supports authors in reaching their highest potential.
Meeting on the first Saturday of every month at the Main Library, authors participate in educational forums, workshops, classes, and events. Check out what they have in store for June and July!
Great Decisions: Climate Technology and Competition
Will the United States and China, with other powerful countries following suit, approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism? Or could a growing spirit of international accord develop to confront the “common enemy” of climate change? Stephanie Morse, M.A. International Affairs, leads the discussion on Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at Southeast Library.
Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. Each meeting begins with a 30-minute film on a topic important to American foreign policy decisions, followed by a discussion.
Lit Chat Interview with Siera London
USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning author Siera London crafts tales with a message to heal the heart and soul. From contemporary to paranormal, Siera weaves stories with heroines you know, heroes you love, and romance you feel. Meet her live at the Bradham and Brooks Branch Library on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. as she talks with author Jessica Hatch! Siera is a retired Navy veteran and a Jacksonville native.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can catch the live stream online via Zoom. A book signing will follow the in-person interview, with books available for purchase on-site from Femme Fire Books.
History Chat: Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories
Learn about the history of the Jewish community in Florida on Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mandarin Branch Library. Presenter Marcia Jo Zerivitz will present highlights from her book, Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories, and address how the Jewish community contributed to Florida’s growth from colonial times to the present - including their involvement in agriculture, education, the arts, and more!
Marcia Jo Zerivitz is the Founding Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU in South Beach. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Mandarin Library in honor of Jewish American History Month.
Lit Chat Interview with Jeff Goodell
Meet Jeff Goodell, author of The Heat Will Kill You First and other environmental non-fiction, live at the Main Library on Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m.! This program is in partnership with the St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Jacksonville Climate Coalition. The interview will consist of a 40-minute conversation between the guest author and interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams followed by an audience Q&A.
A book signing will follow the interview, with books available for sale on-site.
Writer's Lab Workshop: Launch & Grow Your Substack Newsletter
Hurley Winkler writes the popular Substack newsletter Lonely Victories for an engaged audience of writers and readers. This May, she shares the keys to her success on Substack and the reasons why you should consider writing an email newsletter. Learn about newsletter content strategies, the benefits of Substack over other social media platforms, and monetizing your newsletter on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at the Regency Square Branch Library.
Hurley Winkler leads the Book Club for Writers and teaches classes for writers. She also hosts and produces the Jax Music Hour on WJCT News 89.9, broadcasting every Saturday night at 8. Her writing has been published in The Millions, Neutral Spaces, and Hobart, and she has an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. She is currently on submission with her first novel.
History Chat: Greenlining Jax
Greenlining Jax aims to address the lingering environmental effects of redlining in Jacksonville with equitable, actionable, and sustainable solutions that improve economic development, environmental justice, and quality of life. Learn more about this initiative at the Brown Eastside Branch Library on Tuesday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m. Presenters will also discuss their efforts to educate and empower underserved communities that have been affected.
Improve Your Day-to-Day Life
Life Lit are free workshops offered by trained professionals and volunteers that focus on improving your day-to-day life. These programs cover a wide range of workshops from gardening to small business needs. No need to bring anything but yourself to participate!
DIY Gardening:
- Good Bug/Bad Bug with UF/IFAS - Tuesday, May 7, at 6 p.m., at Maxville
- Notes of a Lazy Composter with UF/IFAS - Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m., at Murray Hill
- Springing into Summer with UF/IFAS - Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. at University Park
- Emerging Technology with EY - Tuesday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m. at University Park
Library Book Club Meetings in May
It can be hard to make new friends as adults. We all get so busy with family, work, and other responsibilities. It can be hard to meet new people or strike up a conversation. The great thing about joining a Library Book Club is that you already have something in common with your fellow book lovers. Not only that, you have new books, themes, and characters to talk about every month! Not a member of a Library Book Club yet?! There are several to choose from.
Jax Stacks Adult Reading Challenge + Virtual Book Club
We've got a fresh new set of 16 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge categories for 2024! While many of the categories are designed to broaden your reading horizons and get you to try something new, others are going to match up with books you're probably planning to read anyway. Either way, you'll have fun and read some great books! To make it easy, we've printed up Jax Stacks Bookmarks to help you keep track of the categories you've crossed off. Pick one up at your local library.
We will be discussing the category "A sci-fi or alternate history book set in Asia" live on Zoom on Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. Note: No reading is required to attend this book club, just an interest in our reading challenge and the desire to talk about great books.
