Best of 2012 

During the past six years, the Broward County Libraries Division has endured ongoing budget reductions and a significant loss of positions, But our adaptive, highly efficient library staff continues to deliver state-of-the art services to thousands of library users every day, earning a 92% customer satisfaction rating in its 2012 public service evaluation.

During the last fiscal year, 8.7 million users entered one of our libraries; over 500,000 attended a library program or used a meeting room; 10.5 million library items were checked out and over 87,000 new library cards were issued. In 2012, tens of thousands of books and music titles were downloaded from the library’s web pages and over 75,000 volunteer hours were contributed.

The new 55,000 sq. ft. Young at Art Museum/Broward County Library opened last May and “Cyber-Commons,” Main Library’s second computer lab, opened in October. Two “micro-libraries” opened – the Little Green Library on Sistrunk Boulevard (NW 6th Street), named for its special collections related to sustainable and “green” living, opened in partnership with the Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority and the Foster Park Community Center Micro-Library opened in cooperation with the City of Hallandale Beach.

The BCL WoW (Broward County Library Without Walls) rebranding campaign was launched. Our mobile app, extensive online reference and real-time one-on-one services for customer use and an expanded number of titles available for downloading was announced and enhanced throughout 2012.

QR Code technology was used, linking library services and materials to customers directly via smart phones.

eReaders are now available at many libraries throughout Broward County thanks to the Broward Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library.

The Foundation and the Friends support the programs and collections of the library, contributing a tremendous amount of time and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars for library collections, programs and equipment.

The library published three eBooks and the volunteer program was expanded and improved.

The library also added online credit card payments for library fines.

Non-County publicly funded or private grants allowed the library to provide literacy improvement programs. The library continued its After-School @ Your Library program at 11 libraries, funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. The State of Florida provided funds for eight adult and youth literacy and jobs programs and the City of Sunrise, the Ann Jacobs Trust and the Jim Moran Foundation provided three other programs.

The Libraries Division received five awards from the National Association of County Information Officers, the “Best Web Site Award” from the Florida Library Association and the “2012 Achievement Award” from the National Association of Counties for the library’s “BCL WoW – Broward County Library Without Walls” program.

Library Director Bob Cannon will be retiring in January 2013. During his tenure, he saw both rapid growth in facilities, services and technological advancements, but at the same time, severe and continuing financial and personnel reductions.

Cannon says in summary, “These past years have truly been a challenging time for the staff, policy makers, administrators and the public alike. But the Broward County Library, through its employees, has clearly demonstrated that it continues to not only cope with these difficult times but excels in finding creative solutions to the issues it faces. The Broward County Library continues to innovate, pursue and meet the information technology changes of the future, as well as meet library customer service needs well beyond expectations.”

Holiday Celebrations for Everyone  (back to top)

Traditions and Fun from Around the World – Celebrate the Season
@ the Library! 

December 1 - Holiday Bazaar, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., South Regional/Broward College Library
December 3 - Holiday Crafts for Adults, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Pembroke Pines Library
December 5 - Multicultural Holiday Music Concert with Amazonia Ensemble, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Weston Library
December 8 - The Sippy Cups: Rock Concert for Kids, all ages, 2 to 3 p.m. Tickets are required.
For your FREE tickets, call 954-262-5477, Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center
December 8 - Friends of the Tamarac Library Book Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tamarac Library
December 8 - Literary Cinema: The Preacher’s Wife, 2 to 4 p.m., Imperial Point Library
December 8 - Free Concert: Violin, Cello, Viola, 3 to 4 p.m.; Violin “Petting Zoo” with Q & A on children’s violins and lessons, 4 to 4:30 p.m., West Regional Library
December 10 - Holiday Movie Classic Night for the whole family! 6 to 7:30 p.m., refreshments served. Pre-registration required: 954-968-3820, Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library
December 10 - Winter Around the World! Evening Family Story Time, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., Pembroke Pines Library
December 11 - Cinema presentation of Pocketful of Miracles starring Bette Davis and Glenn Ford, 2 to 4 p.m., Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center
December 13 - January 19 - Running Holiday Model Trains, ongoing, West Regional Library
December 13 - Trixie the Holiday Pixie, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Imperial Point Library
December 13 - Holiday Open House, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Main Library
December 15 - Holiday Open House, 1 to 2:30 p.m., West Regional Library
December 15 - Holiday Celebration: Polar Express Story Time. Holiday stories, craft, music and giveaways. For children with their parents or tutors, 2 to 3 p.m., Hollywood Library
December 15 - Blue Grass Holiday with the Shade Tree Pickers, 2 to 4 p.m., Southwest Regional Library
December 17 - Holiday Craft! All ages. Pre-register, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library
December 19 - Winter Holiday Fun: Stories, Music & Crafts for All Ages, 4 to 5 p.m., Tamarac Library
December 19 - Conductor Bill Reads The Polar Express, 6 to 7 p.m., Pompano Beach Library
December 20 - Multicultural Holiday Story Time: Christmas, 5 to 6 p.m., Tyrone Bryant Library
December 26 - Kwanzaa Celebration, noon, all ages, African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
December 29 - Kwanzaa UJAMAA Celebration, 2 to 5 p.m., South Regional/Broward College Library
December 1-31: Celebrations Around the World Exhibit, North Regional/Broward College and Northwest Regional Library; Multicultural Holidays Book Display, Stirling Road Library
December 1-January 30: Holiday Crafts by Coral Spring Craft Guild, West Regional Library

Cultural Diversity Month  (back to top)

January 5 – Momentum Dance Company: Carnival of Animals: Animal stories brought to life through the art of modern dance and the music of classical composer Camille Saint-Saëns, all ages, 2 to 3 p.m. 2nd floor, Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery, Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center
January 16 – Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs, 2 p.m., Northwest Regional Library
January 17 - Brown Bag Historical Lunch Program Celebrating Cultural Diversity Month. Attorney W. George Allen, speaking from his book, Where the Bus Stops, noon, Historical Commission
January 17 – Giuseppe Albanese: The Music of Giuseppe Verdi, 2 p.m., North Regional/Broward College Library
January 19 – Atlantic Coast Theatre: Pied Bag-Piper of Hamelin: Classic German folktale brought to life through the art of musical theatre, all ages, 2 to 3 p.m. 2nd floor, Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery, Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center
January 26 – Dream Board Workshop: Combine pictures and words to help set and reach your goals. Materials provided. Adults, 1 to 3 p.m. 4th floor, Room 4009, Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center
January 30 - Books-In-Action, 3 p.m. Join us for our programs as we bring books to life through fun, exciting, learning activities. Today’s book is Grandfather Tang’s Stories by Ann Tompert, Ages 6-12, 3 to 4 p.m., Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library
January 30 - Celebrate Cultural Diversity - Family Evening Story & Craft, 6:30 to 7:10 p.m., Pembroke Pines Library
January 1-30: Cultural Diversity Book Display, Stirling Road Library
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Brown Bag Historical Lunch Program Celebrating Cultural Diversity Month – January 17 at Noon
Historical Commission, 301 Harmon (S.W. 13) Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-357-5553
Attorney W. George Allen, will be speaking from his autobiographical book, Where the Bus Stops.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  (back to top)
 
"I have a dream...
that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 9 - Art Contest! Draw your interpretation of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and your entry could win a prize, ages 6-12, 3 to 4 p.m., Drawing held on January 31, 2013 at 3:30 p.m., Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library
January 15 - Eyes on the Prize: PBS Documentary, 12 noon to 2 p.m., North Regional/Broward College Library
January 16 - “King: Look Beyond the Dream to Discover the Man,” Civil Rights program, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Preregister: 954-968-3820, Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library
January 19 - Martin Luther King Junior Day: His Life and Impact on History, all ages, 10 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
January 1-30: Martin Luther King: I Have a Dream Display, Tyrone Bryant Library; Information
Table, West Regional Library  

Top 100 Artifacts: The Special Collections of Broward County Library  (back to top)

Download Broward County Library’s latest eBook at broward.org/library/digital.

Become a Broward County Library Super Fan!  (back to top)

Do you love your library? Do you have a fantastic Broward County Library story to share? Are you a Broward County Library Super Fan? Tell us! We will select a few favorites to share with the world!

Email your story and a photo of yourself to marketing@browardlibrary.org. Be sure to include “Library Super Fan” in the subject line. Here’s what some of our “Super Fans” are saying about Broward County Library:

“I’m a Broward County Library card holder and have received my first Wowbrary email. How COOL is this?! All the new stuff in one place that’s easy to find, easy to read about and easy to reserve. And not just the books, but CDs and DVDs along with a non-fiction section that’s broken down in popular topics. Broward County Library does such a good job and everyone should take every opportunity to use all the features available to them.” ~ Sara W.

“Thank you very much for the Summer Reading Program. Our six-year-old daughter is still reading thanks to the Summer Reading Program.” ~ Edith O.

“The library has become a huge part of my life as well as all my friends. The programs are wonderful, the staff is wonderful and the location is wonderful. I appreciate the help that the staff gives me.” ~ Carol G.

“The staff at this library helped me with my every need. Keep up the terrific work!” ~ James O.

“The staff were helpful, pleasant and wonderful. I enjoyed my visit to the library.” ~ Cheryl T.

Books ‘n’ Bears Bring Holiday Joy  (back to top)

Throughout December, more than 1,000 excited preschool children stream through the doors of Broward County Libraries to be part of a cherished tradition, Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays. Begun in 1991 by library volunteer Bert Harmon, Books ‘n’ Bears has been enjoyed by thousands of Broward County’s neediest children.

These children, who are enrolled in local child care centers in disadvantaged neighborhoods, enjoy a program of storytelling, entertainment and refreshments. The children return home with a gift of a toy bear and a new book, often the first book they can call their own. This early introduction to learning and the library fosters a love of reading that can last a lifetime.

The Library Foundation supports Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays with the help of Foundation members, friends and the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which sends cheerleaders and TD the mascot to the parties. Please visit www.BPLFoundation.org or call 954-357-7382 to make your donation today.

Local Authors Join Literary Feast 2013

Randy Friedman and Linda Webb are the authors of The Athletic Mindset: Three Tools for Success. The book helps readers find their passion, their purpose and their integrity in everything they do.

Newspaper publisher Patrick Mascola’s novel, Hell on East Rock: A Love Mystery, was described in its Amazon.com review as “a vivid, sensual and immensely satisfying work of love, suspense and redemption.”

All of the Literary Feast authors participate in the Night of Literary Feasts’ fundraising cocktail reception and dinners on Saturday, March 16; LitLIVE!, a free day of author talks for the community on Sunday, March 17; and Novel Day for Students, an opportunity for Broward high school students to meet these talented writers, on Monday, March 18.

Also attending Feast are nationally known authors Ace Atkins, The Lost Ones (A Quinn Colson Novel); Tess Gerritsen, Last to Die: A Rizzoli and Isles Novel; Francesca Segal, The Innocents; and Bob Spitz, Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child.

Information on Literary Feast 2013 is at www.literaryfeastonline.org
or www.facebook.com/bplfoundation.

Food for Thought  (back to top)

Every time you go grocery shopping at the Whole Foods Market, 2000 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale in December, you can be a supporter of the Broward Public Library Foundation. Through the end of December, the Library Foundation is the recipient of Whole Foods Market’s “Donate Your Dime” program.

Bring a reusable non-plastic shopping bag to the store and be given a choice to receive a cash refund of 10 cents per bag, or donate the cash back to support Library Foundation-funded literacy programs.

“We are thrilled that Whole Foods Market is helping the Library Foundation in its mission to provide private funding for programs and services at Broward County Library,” said Dorothy Klein, executive director of the Broward Public Library Foundation. “Those dimes will add up, and make it possible for us to do even more for the children and adults who use the library.”

This promotion is valid only at this Whole Foods Market store location.