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  • Circa 1951 aerial photo of workers harvesting oranges below text "Pioneering Polk County Citrus with Dr. Canter Brown, Jr.; Thursday, January 29th at 5:30 PM" and Lakeland History & Culture Center logo with text Lecture Series and Lakeland Public Library Meeting Room; link to Library events calendar

    Lakeland History & Culture Center Lecture Series

    Join us at the Lakeland Public Library on Thursday, January 29th at 5:30 PM as Dr. Canter Brown, Jr. presents about how citrus developed into a premier commodity in Polk County – a top producer for the State’s citrus industry – in "Pioneering Polk County Citrus."

    Canter Brown Jr. is an historian, professor and author. He was born in Fort Meade, Florida, and earned his degrees at Florida State University. He taught at Florida A&M University and has worked at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. He is the author or co-author of thirteen books about Florida and southern United States history. These include the book, Florida’s Peace River Frontier, which earned him the Florida Historical Society’s Rembert W. Patrick Award, and the book Ossian Bingley Hart: Florida’s Loyalist Reconstruction Governor, which won the Certificate of Commendation of the American Association of State and Local History, about Ossian B. Hart, one of Florida’s Reconstruction era governors.

    In addition to Florida’s Peace River Frontier, Dr. Brown has also written two other books specific to Polk County. At the request of the Polk County Historical Association, he prepared the county’s prized two-volume history that covers early times to 2000: In the Midst of All That Makes Life Worth Living: Polk County to 1940 and None Could Have Richer Memories: Polk County Since 1940. He has also written extensively about his hometown in the book, Fort Meade, 1849-1900. His most recent work, issued in 2019 by the University of Alabama Press, was Henry Plant: Gilded Age Dreams for Florida and a New South.

    No registration required.

    Find out more information about "Pioneering Polk County Citrus".  No registration is required. All ages welcome.

  • Red, pink, and white hearts with text Sewing Saturday, Larry R. Jackson Branch Library; link to Library events calendar

    Youth Intermediate Sewing Saturday on February 7th at Jackson Branch Library

    We've got sewing machine basics, where can we go? Join us on Saturday, February 7th at 10:00 am at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library for projects to sew!

    Older kids and teens ages 9-17 who have taken our Spools Out for Summer sewing series or have hands-on experience using a sewing machine independently are invited to join us for a free 90-minute class. Sewing Saturday is limited to eight (8) participants and registration is required. Each participant must be registered separately.

    February's Project: Quilt-as-you-go Fabric Heart

    **Please note, this is not an introduction to sewing or sewing machines. Students need to have some basic experience using a sewing machines to participate.**

    **NOTE: This February project is the same as the Sewing Saturday class on January 10, 2026. If you attended the January 2026 Sewing Saturday, you are not eligible to register for this class. Any repeat registrants will be removed from the class list.**

    Find out more information or register beginning at 10 AM on January 31st.

  • Multicolor pink, blue, and yellow swirls and squiggles background with a red and green pepper forming a heart in center, with text Lakeland Public Library, Sweet & Spicy Book Club; link to Library events calendar

    Sweet & Spicy Book Club

    This is NOT your Mother’s Book Club! Join your favorite librarians at the Lakeland Public Library on February 3rd at 5:30 PM to discuss "Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell" by Taj McCoy. Each month, we will explore new genres, share recommendations, and make friends.

    The Sweet & Spicy Book Club meets at the Lakeland Public Library on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. This event is for ages 18+. No registration required.


 

  • Five seated children looking off screen smiling; link to Lakeland Libraries' Storytime Programs event calendar

    Preschool Storytimes at Lakeland Libraries

    All three Lakeland Library locations have preschool storytimes for children ages 2-5 and their grownups! With stories, songs, rhymes, and activities, storytimes promote the development of preliteracy, verbal and listening skills, and socio-emotional skills.

    Kelly Branch Library Storytimes (10:15 AM select Tuesdays) 
    February 3, 17

    Lakeland Public Library Storytimes (10 AM select Wednesdays) 
    January 28

    Larry R. Jackson Branch Storytimes (10 AM select Thursdays) 
    February 5, 12, 19

    Larry Jackson Branch Library Bilingual Storytime (10 AM last Thursday of the month) 
    January 29

    For more information, please contact the Kelly Branch Library 863.834.4286, Lakeland Public Library 863.834.4268, or Larry R. Jackson Branch Library 863.834.4288  

  • Twinkle lights, red and plaid scarves, pinecones, candy canes, red and white twine, and mug of cocoa surrounding tablet device with OverDrive logo and OverDrive and Libby apps on screen

    eBooks, Audiobooks, and Movies Anytime!

    Download and enjoy up to 10 ebooks, audiobooks, and movies on your tablet or mobile device for free with OverDrive.

    Create a free account with your library card and browse hundreds of titles, with new content added all the time. Plus, Lakeland users have access to additional OverDrive ADVANTAGE titles too!

    For a quick and easy way to borrow and read from your library, download and try the Libby app, brought to you by Overdrive!