Library

Library Holiday Hours

All three Lakeland Library locations will be closed Monday, May 26th for the Memorial Day holiday.

We will reopen on Tuesday, May 27th at 9 AM.

Horticulture Workshop: Pollinator Paradise

Join us in the Lakeland Public Library Meeting Room on Tuesday, May 27th from 10 AM to 11 AM to explore the art of horticulture in an engaging collaborative program with the University of Florida. In this workshop, you can learn about pollinators and how to create a beautiful and sustainable environment for them. No registration required. Ages 18+.

Friends Book Sale 50% Off May 23rd-25th

Coming this weekend only—Friday, May 23rd through Sunday, May 25th—enjoy 50% off at the Friends of the Library Book Sale at the Lakeland Public Library! Browse and select from a variety of genres and formats for all ages and get a jumpstart on your summer reading! All Friends book area sales are cash-only.

Main Library Summer Reading Kickoff May 30th

Get ready to jiggle and giggle and to be amazed by the one and only JiggleMan at the Lakeland Public Library on Friday, May 30th from 10 AM to 11 AM! Enjoy wacky acrobatics, balls of all sizes, giant suits, and leaf blowers, plus plenty of laughter and audience participation!  It's a show you won’t forget, enjoyment and excitement are guaranteed!  Remember to pick up a summer reading log while you’re here—it's the perfect way to kick off your summer!

No registration required. All ages welcome.

*Due to limited space and the nature of the events, summer camps, daycares, and groups cannot be accommodated.

Jackson Branch Touch-A-Truck & Summer Reading Kickoff Party June 1st

Climb aboard, destination: Florida! Join us on Saturday May 31st from 10 am-12 pm at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library for our second annual Summer Reading Kick-Off Party and Touch-A-Truck! Enjoy crafts, games, and snacks, and pick up your summer reading log. 

See unique vehicles including the following:

• A fire truck with Lakeland Fire Department
• An ambulance with Polk County Fire Rescue
• A bearcat with Lakeland Police Department's SWAT Team
• A garbage truck with the City of Lakeland's Solid Waste Department
• A Citrus Connection bus

The Summer Reading Kick-Off Party is open to all ages, no registration required. 

*Due to limited space and the nature of the events, summer camps, daycares, and groups cannot be accommodated.

Questions? Contact Cassie Walters-Shantal 863.834.4294 or email cassandra.walters-shantal@lakelandgov.net

Vanished Lakeland

"Out of sight, out of mind."

Enjoy this "Vanished Lakeland" photographic stroll through buildings formerly standing in Lakeland but now demolished, removed, or changed in such as way that they are now vanished, showcased from our Flickr digital collection.

Summer Storytimes at Lakeland Libraries

Storytime is on for the summer! All three Lakeland Library locations have preschool storytimes for children ages 2-5 and their grownups, and the Lakeland Public Library has a baby storytime too for children birth to age 2! 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) 
June 3, 17
July 1, 15

Lakeland Public Library Preschool Storytimes (10 AM select Wednesdays) 
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23

Lakeland Public Library Baby Storytimes (11 AM select Thursdays) 
June 5, 12, 26
July 3, 10, 17, 24

Larry Jackson Branch Library Storytimes (10 AM select Thursdays) 
June 5, 12
July 3, 10, 17, 24

Larry Jackson Branch Library Bilingual Storytime (10 AM last Thursday of the month) 
June 26
July 31

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