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An Exciting New Chapter
Orange County Library is reimagining its place in the community.
Check it out— you may not recognize it!
Forget what you think you know about libraries. Orange County Library System is changing the old check-out-a-book-and-return-it model into a community touchstone for the ages.
The library turns 100 years old this year, and it has some amazing 21st century changes on the menu for library lovers throughout Orange County.
For one thing, in October 2022, the library quit issuing late fees. Remember those? With late fees on that history book you checked out last year adding up, the library might have become the last place in the world you’d ever want to revisit. Well, all late fees are now forgiven, and Danielle King, who has spent more than 20 years as a librarian with Orange County, says you wouldn’t believe the results. “Since then, we’ve recovered over $161,000 in materials and 24,000+ accounts have been restored to good standing.” Their oldest book returned, since fines were forgiven? “Outlines of Biochemistry,” she says, “due in February 1983!”
While physical materials still account for most of the action, to the tune of 400,120 checked out in July, digital books are gaining ground, with more than 272,638 July checkouts. Why are they so popular? They’re convenient, for one thing, and an entire shelf-full can fit on a phone or tablet.
Now, let’s talk bicycles. No, you can’t check out a bike, but Orange County has a Book Bike—soon to be a pair of Book Bikes—they take out into the community. It has a cart on the front that can be filled with books and other materials. The library plans to take the bikes to community events, like farmer’s markets, festivals, and expos all over the county.
As if that wasn’t enough, a new branch still in design phase is set to open in Horizon West Regional Park in 2025. The branch will be 20,000 square feet, and it will feature meeting rooms, an outdoor performance area, study rooms, public computers, and more. In the meantime, the Winter Garden Branch, conveniently located right along the West Orange Trail on E Plant St., continues to serve the whole community. Check it all out for yourself and check out some books while you’re at it!
