The Broward County Library is a public library system in Broward County, Florida, in the United States. The system contains 38 branch locations and circulates over 10.5 million items annually. The system includes the Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, five regional libraries, and numerous branches.
Video Broward County Library
History
From 1963 to 1972, library activists Barbara Cooper, Joyce Gardner, Dr. Clint Hamilton, Robbie Kuland, with the support of the League of Women Voters, worked together to establish a library subcommittee to improve library service in Broward County under the leadership of Mary Rose Lawson. The report generated by the committee received wide media attention and was supported by County Commissioner Robert Hubener. As a result of the committee's work, on January 9, 1973, the Broward County Commission approved the establishment of a county library system. County Administrator Robert Kauth was put in charge of hiring a County Library Director. It was recommended by consultant F. William Summers to establish a large central library facility with smaller neighborhood branches.
Stephen Whitney was appointed as the first Library Director. The system began issuing borrower cards on June 17, 1974 for 270,000 items. There were four branches: Fort Lauderdale, Riverland, Mizell, and Hollywood. During the first year, the city libraries in Lauderdale Lakes, Coral Springs, and Miramar joined the county system. Also that year the Friends of the Broward County Library were formed. Over the following three decades, many of the municipalities in Broward County elected to join the county library system. These included Lauderhill, Hallandale, Dania Beach, Margate, Sunrise, Deerfield Beach, North Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach.
Stephen Whitney resigned from the library director's position effective January 1, 1977, and was replaced by Cecil P. Beach, who was previously Florida's State Librarian. Beach oversaw the 1978 Bond Issue which provided $256 million for capital construction projects, including $32 million for 12 new and expanded libraries. Beach actively oversaw the planning and construction of the system's flagship branch, Main Library.
In 1982, the Broward Public Library Foundation was established as a 501(c) 3 charitable organization committed to enhancing the collections, programs and services of the Broward County Library system. It is a nonprofit foundation engaged in securing private funding and endowments for Broward County Libraries.
In 1983, the South Regional Library located on the South Campus of Broward Community College became the first joint-use public-college library in the State of Florida.
In April 1984, the new 260,000-square-foot $49 million Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida opened. Also in 1984, the Florida Center for the Book was founded. This was the first state-level Center for the Book, modeled after the Library of Congress's Center for the Book.
In 1989, Cecil P. Beach resigned as library director. Samuel F. Morrison became BCL's third library director in 1990, having served as assistant director of Chicago Public Library from 1974 to 1987 before being named chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library. His many accomplishments included the creation and construction of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Following Morrison's 2002 retirement, he was succeeded in 2003 by Broward County Library's fourth director, Robert Cannon, former Executive Director of the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library in North Carolina.
The Broward County Library was named "Library of the Year" in 1996 by Library Journal and Gale Research. At that time in its history, the library operated on a budget in excess of $60 million, held more than three million items, and had over 10 million visitors a year.
Ongoing construction, including that funded by a $139.9 million bond issue approved by voters in 1999, has yielded the current total of 38 branch libraries and the eight-story Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Main Library houses a Patent and Trademark Depository, the Florida Center for the Book, the Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, and Gallery Six, and a public fine arts exhibition center.
On February 1, 2007, Broward County Library opened the first green building in Broward County, the South Regional/BC Library. An innovative library building, "the structure's engineers adhered to a rigorous set of environmental standards which include energy efficiency and water conservation". A unique feature of the library is that it "serves as Broward Colleges' principal research facility, while also meeting the specific needs of Broward County's local seniors, adults, teens and children." "When opened, the library became one of the first joint-use facilities in Florida and the nation".
Skye Patrick served as the Director of the Broward County Libraries Division from April 29, 2013 to February 9, 2016. She previously served as Assistant Director at the Queens Public Library, where she managed 20 branch locations in that system. Under her leadership, Broward County Libraries Division won three 2015 Florida Library Association Awards for: Library of the Year, the Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award for Teen Programming, and the Libraries Mean Business Award. The Broward County Library won the Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award for Teen Programming because of their "Show Us Your Bookface" program. The "Show Us Your Bookface" program gave teens an opportunity to be creative and use hide or change any part of their bodies with a book cover. Teenagers were able to create the illusion that they "merged" themselves with their favorite book. The teens then submitted their photos to the library as contest entries. This program was spearheaded by a team of dedicated teen librarians. This program gained recognition by the Florida Library Association because it engaged teenagers by encouraging and recognizing their creativity in regards to books and literacy, allowed teens to become stakeholders in the library as a whole, raised community awareness of the library's services to teens, and involved teens in one of the division's largest celebrations of the year. This program resulted in a generation of library users with a new perspective on the power of books, libraries, creativity, and the role these elements play in the present and the future.
The year 2014 commemorated the Broward County Library's 40th year of operation. During 2014, Broward County Libraries coordinated and produced a system-wide campaign, "Broward County Libraries Mean Business!" The purpose was to create programming to assist small business and entrepreneurial enterprises as well as raise awareness of the many business-related resources offered by the library. It was launched in conjunction with Broward County Mayor Barara Sharief's 2014 leadership theme, "Broward Means Business."
At the 2015 annual Florida Library Association Awards, the Broward County Library was awarded the Library of the Year award. The Broward County Library emphasized innovation, creation, and dedication with an increasing emphasis on technology, with programs, events and services such as S.T.E.M. (science/technology/engineering/math) literacy programs, a Maker's Movement and Do It Yourself (DIY) programs. The Broward County Library gets members of the community involved by providing top-notch services that address the changing needs of a tech-savvy society.
In 2015, Broward County Libraries Division received eight national Awards of Excellence from the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) for information projects that exhibit expertise in communications. The competition honors a variety of projects that include public relations campaigns, brochures and publications, articles and press releases, videos and internet/electronic innovations. In 2015 Broward County has won a total of 28 awards, more than any other locality in the country.
Skye Patrick resigned as Director of the Broward County Public Library System on December 28, 2015 to take the position as the top librarian for the Los Angeles County Library. When she resigned, Laura Connors, who had served as Assistant Director under Patrick, served as Acting Director until Kelvin Watson was appointed as Director on February 26, 2017.
Kelvin Watson, current Director of the Broward County Libraries, previously worked as the Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President for Queens Library in New York City. Watson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Military Science from Lincoln University. He earned his Master's degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. Under his leadership, Broward County Libraries is at the forefront of technology available for public use with its Creation Stations (makerspace labs), Teen Studio and numerous programs that integrate advanced technology with library services, such as Digital Direct Library Cards, Veterans Connect Hotspots, GoChips (BCL is the first library in Florida, the first in the Southeast and one of the first 12 libraries nationwide currently offering the GoChip), and Freegal downloadable music interface with public transportation and parks.
Maps Broward County Library
Locations
- African-American Research Library & Cultural Center - 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
- Beach Branch - 3250 NE 2nd Street, Pompano Beach
- Bienes Museum of the Modern Book (at Main Library) - 100 S Andrews Avenue, 6th floor, Fort Lauderdale
- Broward County Law Library - County Court House, 201 SE 6th Street, Room 1800 - North Wing Fort Lauderdale
- Carver Ranches - 4735 SW 18 Street, West Park
- Century Plaza - 1856-A W Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach
- Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library - 2800 NW 9 Court, Pompano Beach
- Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch - 1 Park Avenue East, Dania Beach
- Davie/Cooper City Branch - 4600 SW 82 Ave, Davie
- Deerfield Beach Percy White Branch - 837 E Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach
- Fort Lauderdale Reading Center - 1300 E Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
- Foster Park Community Center Micro-Library - 609 NW 6th Avenue, Hallandale Beach
- Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center - 3403 Galt Ocean Drive, Fort Lauderdale
- Hallandale Beach Branch - 300 S Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach
- Hollywood Beach Bernice P. Oster Branch - 1301 S Ocean Drive, Hollywood
- Hollywood Branch - 2600 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
- Imperial Point Branch - 5985 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
- Lauderdale Lakes Library/Educational and Cultural Center - 3580 W Oakland Park Boulevard, Lauderdale Lakes
- Lauderhill Central Park Library - 3810 NW 11 Place, Lauderhill
- Lauderhill Towne Centre Library - 6399 W Oakland Park Boulevard, Lauderhill
- Main Library - 100 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
- Margate Catharine Young Branch - 5810 Park Drive, Margate
- Miramar Branch Library & Education Center - 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar
- North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch - 6901 Kimberly Boulevard, North Lauderdale
- North Regional/Broward College Library - 1100 Coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek
- Northwest Branch - 1580 NW 3 Avenue, Pompano Beach
- Northwest Regional Library - 3151 N University Drive, Coral Springs
- Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center - 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
- Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center - 955 NW 129 Avenue, Pembroke Pines
- Pompano Beach Library and Cultural Center - 50 W Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach
- Riverland Branch - 2710 W Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
- South Regional/Broward College Library - 7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines
- Southwest Regional Library - 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines
- Stirling Road Branch - 3151 Stirling Road, Hollywood
- Sunrise Dan Pearl Branch - 10500 W Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise
- Tamarac Branch - 8701 W Commercial Boulevard, Tamarac
- Tyrone Bryant Branch - 2230 NW 21 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
- West Regional Library - 8601 W Broward Boulevard, Plantation
- Weston Branch - 4205 Bonaventure Boulevard, Weston
- Young at Art Museum/Broward County Library - 751 SW 121 Avenue, Davie
African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
On October 26, 2002, Broward County Library opened the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) facility has a 300-seat auditorium, 5,000-square-foot art gallery, and Small Business Resource Center. Since its opening, the Center has hosted more than 38 major exhibits and served more than 895,000 customers. It is the sixth largest library in the Broward County Library System and the third of its kind in the nation.
In 2012, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center commemorated 10 years of the Ashley Bryan Art series. Dr.Henrietta M. Smith, Professor Emerita at the University of South Florida, School of Information, worked with Bryan to establish a children's book author and illustrator art series. "The series began with Ashley Bryan submitting eight original art pieces to the library to serve as core of the art collection." It became "a children's book author and illustrator series which has brought Coretta Scott King Award winning authors and illustrators whose work reflected African culture to the library". "The Ashley Bryan Art series has had a long-lasting cultural effect upon the community, bringing children and families into the library and engaging youth with children's book art and illustrations."
One of the hugely successful programs offered at this branch includes the Destination Fridays events to celebrate different cultures through dance, music, and traditional foods. Previous destination themes have included Jamaica, Hawaii, Argentina, Bahamas, etc. Destination Fridays events are after-hours events, and attract on average about 300+ participants per event.
History
Samuel F. Morrison, while director of the Broward County Libraries Division, was inspired to build an ethnically focused library after a visit to the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. At that time, the Auburn Avenue Research Library and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, were the only two research libraries in African-American culture in the nation. Morrison, however, was determined to "build a library in the African-American area, with county funds."
Funding
Between 1990 and 1995, Morrison engaged in numerous conversations and negotiations with county officials on the construction of the library. Funds had already been saved to replace the smaller Von D. Mizell Branch Library in Fort Lauderdale. The Broward County Commission had provided the land and $5 million towards the new library. Morrison, however, had plans for a much larger library and research facility and needed and additional $7 million to complete his vision.
The remaining funds were received largely through fundraising. A $600,000 grant was issued by the National Endowment for the Humanities and was matched by other organizations and philanthropists, such as the Sun-Sentinel, Blockbuster Entertainment Group, and Dianne and Michael Bienes. $50,000 was donated by The Links and $250,000 donated by Publix Charities. Businessman, Wayne Huizenga donated $1 million towards the library. Additional funds were raised from churches, clubs, and other interested organizations.
Construction
The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on October 23, 1999. After additional fundraising, construction of the building began in April 2001. PAWA Complex International - the largest African-American owned architectural company in Florida - created the architectural design of the facility. Cecil Hayes - the first African American listed in Architectural Digest's top 100 - created the building's interior design and the artistic designer was Gary Moore. According to Morrison, over 50 percent of the construction contracts were done by African-American corporations. On October 26, 2002, construction of the AARLCC was complete and finally opened to the public.
Collections
The African American Research Library's Special Collections houses over one million items, including rare books, artifacts, artwork, manuscripts, and reference materials focusing on the history and culture of people of African, African-American and Caribbean descent.
Alex Haley Collection - Contains the works of Alex Haley, photos from the Roots television show, photos of West Africa, and eight unfinished manuscripts by Haley. Portions of this collection are available on the Broward County Library website in its Digital Archives.
Daniel Johnson Collection - Contains over 5,000 items pertaining to "African-American, Caribbean, Oceania and African Books and Ephemera." These include writings in a variety of topics such as, slavery, civil rights, sports, politics, and the arts.
Dorothy Porter Wesley Collection - Contains items pertaining to art, history, women's studies and other materials related to Africans in the United States.
Sixto Compano Collection - Contains 1,000 pieces of sheet music dating from the mid nineteenth century to World War II documenting the history of African-Americans in theatre.
Kitty Oliver Oral Histories - Contains printed transcripts, photographs and videos of over 100 interviews from individuals discussing race relations in Broward and Palm Beach Counties during the 1960s and 1970s. Portions of this collection are available on the Broward County Library website in its Digital Archives.
Hewitt Haitian Art Collection - One of the largest collections in the AARLCC, it contains numerous pieces of art. It is recognized as one of the most significant collections of Haitian art in the nation.
Dania Beach Branch Library
The Dania Beach Branch Library opened on Saturday, April 9, 2011.
Broward County Library Without Walls
On November 8, 2011, Broward County Library became "BCL WoW," which stands for "Broward County Library Without Walls". The Library re-branded itself to include the use of technology to promote library services. The library's objective is to "lead the way, telling their customers what's new and what's coming, and not the other way around." Among other features, the WoW mobile app offers a virtual library card.
Digital Services
The Broward County Library system offers multiple digital services for its patrons. Along with the traditional paper copies of books and magazines, Broward County also offers access to eBooks and Audio books suitable for download to patrons' electronic devices. The library also offers a BCL Wow (Broward County Library Without Walls) Mobile App for Apple and Android devices, which allows patrons to search the catalog, place holds, and renew items on their phones. The app also includes features such as linked branch locations, reader's advisory lists based on individual preferences, and links to the library's Facebook and Twitter pages. Digital download classes are offered continuously to encourage use.
Broward County Library system's large and varied collection of music CDs is supplemented with free music downloads. Unlike the eBooks, which revert to the library, music downloads are available to the patrons permanently with a limit of six songs per week. This music program also has a downloadable app administered by the Freegal Music Service and not the Broward County Library system itself.
Creation Station
The Creation Station at the Main Library represents the democratization of design, engineering, fabrication and education for all residents of Broward County.The Main Library Creation Station makerspace is a community center with tools that enable individuals to design, prototype and make 3D items. Activities at the flag ship Creation Station at Main Library also include digital design with Adobe Creative Cloud, other specialized computer programs, audio/video production, electronic kits, arts and crafts, open work spaces and more. The Creation Station offers the public to try out Virtual Reality gear such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the Microsoft Hololens, becoming the first and only public library to offer Hololens technology. Currently the Creation Station is at the Main Library, Northwest Regional Library and the Collier City Library. There are Creation Station Portals at the West Regional, North Regional, South Regional, Southwest Regional libraries and the Pompano Beach Branch and Cultural Center. Each Creation Station provides their own unique inventive opportunities. Typical Creation Station facilities include access to video and photography gear as well as a selection of musical instruments.
Initiatives in 2018 involved instructing the public on the use of voice-assisted technology and offering courses in writing code for voice-assisted programs such as Siri and Alexa.
References
External links
- Broward County Libraries
- Broward County Catalog Search
- Digital Services
- Freegal Music Service for Libraries
Source of the article : Wikipedia