Florida's Bureau of Library Development

10/14/2026

Print out this wonderful coloring book produced by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services from our collection. https://bit.ly/4jWI48Y You can learn a lot about the wildflowers of Florida while you color.

10/02/2026

The construction of the Castillo de San Marcos began in 1672.

The Castillo has served as a protector and landmark of City of St. Augustine - Government for centuries, and played a role in the American Revolution, when Christopher Gadsden, Thomas Heyward Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge were imprisoned there.

All from South Carolina, Heyward, Middleton and Rutledge signed the Declaration of Independence while Gadsden was a politician and Colonel.

Learn more about the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument as well as dozens of other historic and heritage sites, at https://america250fl.com/historic-and-heritage-sites/.

Image Credit- State Archives of Florida (Image Number – 161480)

09/11/2026

The St. Marks Lighthouse is one of Florida’s oldest lighthouses. Completed in 1831, the lighthouse has withstood erosion, relocation, the Seminole Wars, hurricanes, and the Civil War. Today, the St. Marks Lighthouse is a part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors to the property can see alligators, bald eagles and many migratory birds. The area is also known as a stop along the migratory path for thousands of monarch butterflies.

Learn more about this historic lighthouse by reading this Historical Marker: https://markers.flheritage.com/home/details/345

Photo: Parks, Richard. Aerial view of the St. Marks Lighthouse. 1967. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

08/20/2026

Florida has long celebrated our military veterans and their contributions to our state. In 2024, the Florida Legislature created the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program, FLVeteransHistory, which collects, preserves, and shares the stories and sacrifices that veterans have made for our great state. If you are a veteran that is interested in participating, or would like to learn more about the program, visit https://dos.fl.gov/cultural/programs/florida-folklife-program/florida-veterans-history-program/

08/20/2026

Florida library staff who are interested in adult literacy and ESOL are invited to join us for monthly online discussions with adult literacy program coordinators and staff across Florida’s libraries.
These discussions focus on:
• Sharing best practices.
• Supporting adult literacy and ESOL programs in Florida libraries.
• Building a new literacy program.
• Coaching volunteers and staff.

Thursday, August 20, 2026
3 - 4 p.m. Eastern

To register, please visit our Online Webinars page:

The Division manages the State Library and Archives, supports public libraries, directs records management services, and is the designated information resource provider for the state of Florida.

08/19/2026

Celebrate National Coloring Book Day by downloading the Florida Symbols Coloring Book! Learn about Florida state animals like the Florida Panther and Florida Cracker Horse along with other icons that make The Sunshine State feel like home! Get your free download here: https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/kids/

08/03/2026

08/03/2026

Sebastian Inlet State Park sits on a historic stretch of Florida’s barrier islands, a shoreline shaped for centuries by Indigenous communities, early coastal settlers and the dramatic story of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet.
Today, visitors can explore this rich past through the park’s two museums: the McLarty Treasure Museum, which tells the story of the shipwrecked fleet and the survivors who reached these shores, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum, which highlights the history of local fishing families and the development of the inlet as a working waterfront.
Together, they bring the island’s cultural and maritime history to life, offering a deeper understanding of the land Florida State Parks protects.
***
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Photo: Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives of Florida
Plan your adventure at FloridaStateParks.org. Before you visit, check the KNOW BEFORE YOU GO section on the park’s webpage for real-time updates and helpful information.

07/30/2026

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created in 1958. Florida's Bureau of Library Development compiled a list of STEM and space activities for space lovers from elementary to high school and beyond. Learn how to build your own rocket or make a bedroom planetarium. Read about solar flares and explore information about planets and stars. This free resource is great for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers: https://dos.fl.gov/library-archives/library-development/programs/florida-library-youth-program/programming-and-collections/stem/

07/21/2026

The FLYP Side May 2026 is now available on our YouTube Channel!

Transcript: https://files.floridados.gov/media/711213/the-flyp-side...