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Johann Fust Community Library building

Darrell Hartman – “Battle of Ink and Ice”

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 4 pm, in the library loggia and courtyard, the Johann Fust Library Foundation presented Darrell Hartman, who spoke about his book Battle of Ink and Ice. This beautifully written history follows two threaded dramas during the Gilded Age. It is 1909 – a time when explorers were heroes and newspapers were dropped on doorsteps every morning and every evening.

The book follows two Arctic explorers, Robert Peary and Frederick Cook, and the two newspapers that championed them, the New York Times and the New York Herald.

View Photos & Video

Poetry in the Garden 2025

On April 10, 2025, at 4 pm, the Live Poets’ Society of Boca Grande, in collaboration with the Johann Fust Library Foundation, presented “Poetry in the Garden.”  Alice Bingham Gorman launched her poetry collection, “Daffodils in December: Poems from an Unexpected Life.” The other poets who read their original work are Simonetta Balzer, Patricia Christakos, George Cochran, Lindsay Major, Bobbie Marquis, Julia Pierce, John Thomas, and Nancy White. Harpist Harpist Christian Bell played before and after the event and during a musical interlude. Music was sponsored by The Carol Stewart Group.

Watch Video and View Photos

Hampton Sides in Conversation with Tom McGuane

When Hampton Sides, author of The Wide Wide Sea, came to Boca Grande for Literature in the Courtyard 2025, he was joined in conversation by Tom McGuane. Listening to these two acclaimed literary talents was a memorable event. If you missed it, you can now see why so many people said it was an experience they would not forget. If you were there, enjoy it again. This video was beautifully produced by Rick Montgomery of Island TV. Click to Watch Video

 

From Writer to Reader – Watch It Now

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 4 pm, in the library loggia and courtyard, the Johann Fust Library Foundation hosted a panel discussion on the art, craft, and business of publishing a book, how that is changing, and what it means for both readers and writers. 

The panel included editor and author Rosemary Ahern, author and publisher Nan Doyal, and authors Candice Shy Hooper and David Sparks.

Enjoy the event now. Click to watch video

2024-2025 Season Gallery & Videos

Explore the gallery of photos and videos taken at our literary series events this year. 

 

Explore Photos & Videos

Did you get your copy of Island Booknotes?

Island Booknotes 2024-2025 is out, and people are enjoying the original writing of local authors and the in-depth articles about the impressive authors featured in this year’s Literary Series. If you have not received your copy, you can view it online or call our office at (941) 964-0211 and request a paper copy.

2024-2025 Island Booknotes (Online Version)

Virtual Program: Author Jodi Picoult “Wordsmith and Wonder”

The Johann Fust Library Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of the Lee County Library System’s Virtual Author Series. Join Bestselling author Jodi Picoult as she speaks about her newest novel. Told in intertwining narratives, By Any Other Name is a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire that asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten.

ONLINE EVENT Wednesday, April 2nd at 7:00 PM EDT
Register now to join the wondrous conversation!  

Register

Lee County Library System Online Author Program

In an online author event series each month, the Lee County Library System features bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors worldwide. The Johann Fust Library Foundation is one of the series sponsors. Although the events are offered live, they are recorded and can be viewed later. If you attend the live online presentations, Lee County Library System staff suggests that you come prepared to ask questions and interact with presenters as they cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. The events are offered at no charge, but registration is required.
 

Register to Watch Future or Past Author Events

Welcome to the Johann Fust Library Foundation.

Johann Fust Library Foundation

The mission of the Johann Fust Library Foundation is to maintain and preserve the buildings and gardens of the library while providing a literary and cultural center for the residents and visitors of Boca Grande. 

Visit Our Beautiful Facility
If you have not visited our beautiful facility, you must definitely find the time to do so. This historic architectural masterpiece was built in 1950 and renovated in 2013. Seibert Architects received an award from the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects. The architectural features of the building are many, but perhaps the most exciting is the original Bermuda roof. The design of the roof feeds rainwater to the cistern, which waters the gardens.

Massive cypress doors and original exposed cypress beams are awe-inspiring reminders of the passion and attention to detail that the founders brought to their project seventy years ago. Visitors wander through the garden and courtyard as they explore the excellent library services Lee County offers. The loggia offers a shady outdoor respite from the midday sun.

Library GardenAbout Our Library Grounds Learn More
artifactsAbout Our Foundation Learn More
PresentationSupport Our Mission Learn More
Book of Death and Gutenberg Bible

Our Rare Books

Original pages from the Book of the Dead and the Gutenberg and Fust Bibles.

Learn More Interesting Facts About the Library

Sailor's Valentine

Our Famous Shell Collections

See a Catalog of the Shell Collections

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Library Services including the Media Library and Children's Library

Library: (941) 964-2488

Hours

Tuesday through Thursday
10 am to 6 pm

Friday & Saturday
9 am - 5 pm

Boca Grande Library

1040 West 10th St.
P.O. Box 309
Boca Grande, FL 33921-0309

The Johann Fust Library Foundation

Foundation: (941) 964-0211

Hours

Monday through Friday
9 am to 4 pm

E-Mail: JFLibraryFoundation@comcast.net

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