Monroe County Public Libraries are encouraging residents and visitors to take advantage of a wide range of free summer programs, digital resources and local history collections available throughout the Florida Keys.
Nancy Klingener of Monroe County Public Libraries joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on at the libraries.
The library system’s annual summer reading program provides expanded access to the Florida Keys History Center and the many free services available to cardholders across the county’s five library branches.
The library system’s summer reading program is now underway at all five branches, with events and activities scheduled throughout June and July. This year’s programming includes different themes at each branch. In Key West, the theme is “Ticket to Read,” while the Big Pine and Marathon branches are featuring “Coast to Coast, Cover to Cover.” In the Upper Keys, the Islamorada and Key Largo branches are celebrating America’s 250th birthday as part of their summer programming.
Klingener said the events are free and open to the public, and families visiting from out of town are also welcome to participate.
“If you have family visiting from out of town, you don’t need a library card to attend our events,” Klingener said. “All of our events are free and open to the public.”
Participants can also pick up reading logs at their local branch to track reading progress and earn prizes throughout the summer.
Klingener also spotlighted the growing resources of the Florida Keys History Center, located at the Key West Library at 700 Fleming St. The center has recently expanded its public hours and is now open Wednesday evenings until 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., making it more accessible to residents who work during traditional weekday hours.
The Florida Keys History Center continues to grow its online archives as well, adding photographs, historical documents and newly digitized audio collections. Among the latest additions are oral histories recorded by the Key West Woman’s Club during the nation’s Bicentennial in the 1970s, as well as recordings recovered from a Bicentennial time capsule buried at Horace O’Bryant School.
The center’s website also features “Today in Keys History,” a daily historical snapshot of notable events in the Florida Keys, along with “Island Chronicles,” a series of historical essays written by historian Dr. Corey Malcom. The online archive includes more than 24,000 historic images documenting life in the Keys, with new photos added regularly.
In addition to in-person programming and archives, Monroe County Libraries continue to offer a variety of digital resources for residents with library cards. Those services include Libby for e-books and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming films and children’s content, Freegal Music for music access and Mango Languages for language learning.
Klingener noted that Kanopy Kids offers unlimited viewing without ads, making it a family-friendly option for parents looking for safe and educational content. She also encouraged residents planning summer road trips to take advantage of the library’s audiobook collection through Libby.
“If you’re planning a road trip this summer, audiobooks are a great way to pass the time,” Klingener said.
Library officials say the goal is to provide educational and cultural resources for all ages, whether through summer reading activities, research opportunities, historical archives or digital media.
More information about branch locations, library cards, summer reading events and the Florida Keys History Center is available at www.keyslibraries.org.