Please note: The Big Pine Key branch is closed for upgrades and is expected to re-open soon. See the post below for updates and FAQs.
In 1823, the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida passed the Act that established Monroe County. It was the state’s sixth county and encompassed virtually all of what we now call South and Southwest Florida.
The Big Pine Key Branch is closed temporaril for repairs and refurbishment. It is expected to re-open soon.
Sign up here for newsletters from each branch of the library – and the Florida Keys History Center.
In partnership with Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden, the Key West Public Library presets a new way to encourage children to read all summer long while volunteering in the community.
Parrot Storytime is a reading program where children check out books from the library and read to the Parrots at Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden.
Readers of all ages Summer Reading is here! You can find reading logs and event schedules for every branch right here.
Enjoy unlimited plays in our curated collection for kids. Make extra screen time extra educational with Kanopy Kids, a video streaming service that’s free with your MCPL Library card.
The Month of May is full of opportunities to celebrate! From the […]
Even when the Monroe County Public Library buildings are closed, or you’re away from the Keys, the Library has a lot to offer.
You’ve heard of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts – now the Key West Library is introducing Library Scouts, where kids can earn badges for reading and participating in STEAM activities!
The Overdrive app is being discontinued as of May 1, 2023. So if you’re using that to read or listen to eBooks or eAudiobooks from our collection, now is the time to switch to Libby!
Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and ebooks. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries.
The Monroe County Public Library offers free cards to all military personnel and family on active duty or retired in the Keys.
There is no better way to celebrate this day than by becoming […]
Each bag includes 10 copies of a book club title and a list of discussion programs. They loan for a 6-week period.
From March 1 to 15, Monroe County Public Library patrons can read award-winning Mexican-American and Indigenous author Jennifer Givhan’s book, River Woman, River Demon, as an ebook and audiobook for free.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites […]
March is National Reading Month. celebrate the joy of reading with us this month! take a look at our suggested reading materials for this month.
Wednesday, March 15 11am-2pm The Key Largo Public Library is hosting a […]
Researchers studying the history of the Florida Keys – and the Civil […]
What better way to welcome spring than the Festival of colors?! Dance and have fun throwing bright colors with the librarians as we observe and appreciate Indian culture on Saturday March 11th at the Key West Public Library at 2:00. This program is free and open to all ages.
The Keys Citizen has donated bound volumes of the newspaper dating back to the 1920s to the Monroe County Public Library’s Florida Keys History Center.
In January, 1961, CBS aired “The Gershwin Years,” a special that featured dance scenes that had been shot on the Key West waterfront less than two weeks earlier.
Before we welcome in the new year, lets take a look at some (or at least what we think) of the best books of 2022! There’s something for everyone, easy readers, middle reads, and teens
You can work toward lots of your New Year’s resolutions at the library – and it’s all free.
Key West’s Mallory Square was named for the Clyde-Mallory Steamship Line, not Confederate Secretary of the Navy and slaveowner Stephen Mallory.
Key West’s Mallory Square was named for the Clyde-Mallory Steamship Line, not Confederate Secretary of the Navy and slaveowner Stephen Mallory.
It’s the most happiest time of the year! December is packed with tons of celebrations making it the holiday season. No matter how you choose to celebrate the holiday season, the one thing all of these traditions have in common is togetherness. Check out our collection of books to help kids learn about and commemorate these special occasions.
Staff from the Monroe County Library are here to help you with your questions and requests – even if you’re not in a library building.
A special program starting at the Key West Library informed more than […]
November is Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of indigenous peoples by reading books from our recommended reading list. Check out our recommended reading list below mixed with wide variety of genres —drama, memoirs, young adult fiction.
It’s Bat Week – an international celebration designed to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for bats.
A Library of Things is a collection of items other than books that can be borrowed from the Library at no charge. What would you like to see in the Library of Things?
Helping readers find their next favorite book is one of our favorite things to do.
Monroe County Mayor David Rice and the Board of County Commissioners declared the week of Oct. 16-22 as National Friends of Libraries Week in Monroe County.
Día de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated every year on November 1st and 2nd. Join us on Nov 2nd as The Florida Keys History Center, Historian Dr. Corey Malcolm and Archivist Breana Sowers, will present the audience with a look at iconic Keys cemeteries and death celebrations around the world.
Tis the SPOOKY Season of all things scary, creepy, and chilling. We’ve created a list of our favorite stories to read in October for Teens and Kids.
Sean Gaskell features traditional songs on the Kora, a 21-string harp that […]
As the floodwaters from Hurricane Ian finally recede in the Keys, you may be dealing with (among other things) documents, photographs and books that are important to you that got wet. Here is some advice from experts about how to salvage them, suggested by staff from the Library’s Florida Keys History Center.
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month
Here’s how you can be ready and stay informed when a storm is approaching
Sept. 18-24 is Banned Books Week, the 42nd year that librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers and others celebrate the freedom to read.
All Monroe County Library branches are closed on Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. But there’s still a lot you can do, thanks to online Library resources.
Get the school year off to the best possible start, sign up for a library card! With a library card you can discover new and exciting worlds! From borrowing audiobooks to streaming movies to taking free classes, there is so much you can access with a library card.
The library is considering names for its new kiosks on Stock Island and Key Largo – and we want your input.
Don’t wait until February or Valentine’s Day to pick up a romantic read, Get in on the Summer Lovin’ this August! If you are looking for a sweet contemporary to read, there is bound to be one here for you to fall in love with.
Don’t wait until February or Valentine’s Day to pick up a romantic read, Get in on the Summer Lovin’ this august! If you are looking for a sweet contemporary to read, there is bound to be one here for you to fall in love with. So get cozy and curl up with one of our favorite Young Adult romance novels. We recommend them all!
In celebration of Hemingway Days 2022, join longtime Hemingway scholar Dr. Ashley […]
As part of Hemingway Days, the Key West Library presents, the Key […]
This illustrated talk is presented by Solar System Ambassador Kevin Gallagher in […]
Pride Month has arrived! While every day is a time to be proud of your identity and orientation, June is that time for boldly celebrating LGBTQIA community. Join libraries across the nation to celebrate June as Rainbow Book Month, a nationwide celebration of the authors and books that reflect the lives and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Readers of all ages Summer Reading is here! Dive into reading this summer during our Summer Reading program with Ocean of Possibilities. This year we’re diving into the ocean depths to bring you and your family tons of exciting events!
In partnership with Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden, Join the library every Saturday from 11-3 spend an afternoon reading to parrots at Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden then come back to the library to earn a reading prize.
Readers of all ages Summer Reading is here! Dive into reading this summer during our Summer Reading program with Ocean of Possibilities. This year we’re diving into the ocean depths to bring you and your family tons of exciting events!
The Big Pine Book Lovers Book Club invites you to their next […]
This Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrate the many cultures and stories within the AANHPI community with books by authors of Asian, East Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage and cultures
Join us Saturday May 14th 1:00 PM in the Key West Public Library Auditorium for a Film Screening followed by a discussion with Director Etan. Then stick around for a Haitian food demonstration. Madan Sara, created by Haitian filmmaker Etant Dupain, profiles the lives of the women at the heart of Haiti’s informal economy; working tirelessly day in and day out to deliver food and other essentials to market. Madan Sara shows the vital importance these women play in the Haitian economy and for the next generation. It highlights the dangers they face in a country in the midst of growing instability, and allows audiences to hear directly from the Madan Sara about what needs to change.
Readers of all ages Summer Reading is here! Dive into reading this summer during our Summer Reading program with Ocean of Possibilities. This year we’re diving into the ocean depths to bring you and your family tons of exciting events!
Write Your Own Superhero Saturday, May 7 | 2-3pm at the Key […]
Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim friends! For book club this month we thought it would be fitting to read books written by Muslim Authors and books with Muslim characters.
Island Farm will be a special Storytime guest April 22nd at 11am.
Join us on Tuesday March 29th 10-11 am with Robin Sarabia, a Florida Keys Butterfly Technician as we discuss rare butterflies found in Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Despite captive-breeding and reintroduction efforts, this sun-loving coastal butterfly, once common throughout South Florida, is now one of the rarest insect species in North America.
What better way to welcome spring than the Festival of colors?! Come have fun throwing bright colors with the librarians as we observe and appreciate Indian culture on Saturday March 19th at the Key West Public Library. Starting with a cooking demo at 1:00, then the Festival of colors at 2:00. This program is free and open to all ages.
From anthologies to graphic novels, atmospheric fantasies to realistic tales tinged by everyday issues, there’s something to offer every type of reader in every one of these stories. Start this year off strong by supporting Black authors and their stories!
For the month of November visit the library every Saturday at 1:00 to learn about watercolor basics!
The Youth Department has tons of new titles waiting for you to check out!
Unlock your next read! Marathon Branch Library is pleased to introduce an […]
The Youth Department has tons of new titles waiting for you to check out!
atter how you choose to celebrate the holiday season, the one thing all of these traditions have in common is togetherness.
Get Moving @ Your Library with StoryWalk®Literacy and Recreation Program now available […]
It’s the happiest time of the year and we are so excited to announce that Santa is coming to Storytime!
StoryWalk® is a fun way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Take a stroll through our library garden while going from page to page following the numbers to enjoy the full story.
November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of indigenous peoples by reading books from our recommended reading list. Check out our recommended reading list below mixed with wide variety of genres —drama, memoirs, young adult fiction.
LawDepot’s extensive library of documents and legal resources delivers easy-to-use assistance with […]
Get your wiggles out with our weekly Storytime every Friday at 11:00. Storytime is a fun early literacy program for children. Join Ms. Trisha for an hour of interactive stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts. The
Grab your costumes and head over to the Key West Public Library […]
The book club selection for September is The Invisible Life of Addie […]
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month
September is library Card Sign-Up Month. Visit you library in person or online to get your very own library card!
August has arrived and that means families are getting ready to go Back-to-School. August is traditionally seen as the Back-to-School month but here at the library we like to see it as National Family Fun Month!
Tuesday August 17th at 10:00 am: Michelle Leonard-Mularz, Environmental Horticulture Agent with […]
Tuesday, August 10th at 10:00 am: Shelly Krueger, Florida Sea Grant Agent […]
Interested in playing DnD? Not sure where to start? Or have you played before and looking for more resources? Never fear for your librarians are here! The library has many books in our collection to help you with you next big adventure.
Pride Month has arrived! While every day is a time to be proud of your identity and orientation, June is that time for boldly celebrating LGBTQIA community. Join libraries across the nation to celebrate June as Rainbow Book Month,
MCPL would like to congratulate all our graduating seniors. From shelving to Storytime, teaching computer classes, and braving the full force of Summer Reading; Our student volunteers joined the Jr. Library Program early on in their middle school days and made it to their Senior year.
We’re here for you with these resources: Get your Virtual library card […]
Among Us is a game that has the player doing normal, astronaut tasks…while there is a murderer, who is also a player, afoot! See if you can figure out who was the imposter in these books similar to Among Us.
Check out new titles for May 2021 in the youth department!
April 2021 is the 25th annual celebration of poets and poetry! We’re also celebrating National Library week April 4-10, 2021.
Although the Monroe County Public Libraries are still closed to in-person visits you can still check out our new YA titles!
Monroe County Public Libraries are hiring across the Keys. View the Monroe […]
After the 100 year milestone passage of the 19th Amendment legally protecting women’s right to vote, women continue to be trailblazers, pioneers, innovators, and leaders in their fields. Join us this month as we honor and observe women’s history.
March is National Reading Month and we’re starting the celebration off with a birthday party! Not just anyone’s birthday party but Dr. Seuss’ birthday!
While libraries are operating contact-free, you can still check out our new YA titles!
Read or listen to a book with us on Saturday Feb 20th in a day of reading! Choose any African-American author of your choice to read or listen to
Join us this month as we celebrate Black History Month 2021. These […]
The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity February 1st – March 1st is […]
Although the Monroe County Public Libraries are still closed to in-person visits you can still check out our new YA titles!
Hello everyone! Welcome to December! What is your favorite part of this […]
Hello everyone! Welcome to November! What is your favorite part of this […]
Although the libraries are still closed to in person visits, your family […]
Hello everyone! Welcome to October! What do you look forward to most […]
Banned Books Week 2020 will be held September 27 – October 3. The theme of this year’s event is “Censorship is a dead end. Find your freedom to read!”
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month
We refilled a bunch of the Little Free Libraries around town and […]
Hello everyone! Welcome to September! It’s officially fall (not that that means […]
Join the Key West Library on the largest site for readers and book lovers. Goodreads helps people find and share books they love.
Library cards empower students and fuel academic success. This year, DC’s Wonder […]
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s website provides access to unemployment and […]
Be counted for your community, your county, your state and your country! It is not too late for you and your family to be counted in the 2020 Census. Results of the Census affect how our tax dollars are spent in our communities.
As you settle down for bed tonight , let’s curl up and listen to a good story. While many may be staying close to home this summer, readers can go anywhere using their imagination!
What do you know about Cinderella? Maybe Disney’s iconic blonde-haired, blue eyed […]
While many may be staying close to home this summer, readers can […]
“Through study in the arts, we learn about and honor others and the worlds in which they live(d).”
An occasional series of chats with Historian Tom Hambright. Produced and filmed […]
This tutorial will teach you how to download and use Libby! Libby […]
Week 2 is here for our New Adult Book Club. A little bit of everything for everyone!
The National Gallery of Art has educational resources for teachers as well […]
Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. … I’ve seen a […]
Dav Pilkey, the children’s author and illustrator behind award-winning and worldwide bestselling […]
The Smithsonian libraries site has lots of interesting stuff. Including online books […]
This is a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up an account […]
Our streaming film partner, Kanopy, has opened unlimited access to the Kanopy […]
Our streaming film partner, Kanopy, has generously put together a collection of […]
Safe. Secure. Significant. Monroe County Public Libraries are ready for Census 2020. […]
A modest 2002 grant started something that grew quite big. This month, […]
The libraries will close at 6pm on Wednesday, then remain closed Thursday […]
Stuck for a new read? Book club been boring lately? Then, please […]
Free with your library card–24/7 access to 70+ languages and ESL courses. […]
Happy #LibraryCardSignup Month! Celebrate by getting your very own library card this […]
Beat the heat with these Best of Summer films, curated by the […]
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program (SSYRA) is a statewide reading […]
Get your happy on with these selected Feel-Good films, curated by the […]
From the charming story of San Francisco’s avian population in THE WILD […]
Monroe County Public Libraries will be closed on Friday, April 19th in […]
In honor of Women’s History Month, Kanopy has carefully curated a collection […]
Improve your job search skills, build math and language skills, become a […]
Prepare for entrance exams, military exams, college admissions tests, and a multitude […]
Herramientas para mejorar sus habilidades en escritura, lectura y matemáticas. Guías y […]