Expanding Our System

Dedication Ceremony of the New West Regional Library

On October 26, West Regional Library opened in Plantation amid fanfare, fun, and a packed house of customer, local officials, and library supporters. Over 450 people attended the ceremony at the new 72,000 square foot facility, which was built to replace an older library at the same site. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included speeches from Plantation Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong and Broward County Vice Mayor Lois Wexler as well as entertainment from the Gold Coast Jazz Society.

The new library is open seven days a week; customers can take advantage of the thousands of books, magazines and movies as well as public-use computers. West Regional Library also features a multipurpose room, three group study rooms, five tutoring rooms and a conference room. There are also rooms exclusively for Youth Service activities and free wireless access throughout the building.

The library also features public artwork, Written Words, by artists Steve Gillman and Katherine Keefer, which was commissioned by the Broward County Commission's Cultural Division.


Groundbreaking of Lauderdale Lakes Library and Community Educational and Cultural Center

On March 22, 2008, Broward County Library held a groundbreaking event for the new Lauderdale Lakes Library and Community Educational and Cultural Center. The new, almost 20,000 square foot library complex is the result of a partnership between Broward County and the Lauderdale Lakes Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), with the $6 million cost equally funded by the County's 1999 Library Bond Issue and the CRA.

The two-story complex, slated to open in mid-2009, will be the centerpiece of the new Bella Vista mixed-use complex that is being developed at Oakland Park Boulevard and N.W. 37th Terrace. The new library's first floor will house the 10,000 square foot library, a group study room, a Youth Services area, an A/V section, lounge seating, and a computer area with 19 public-use computers and a multi-purpose room for programs and meetings. Wireless access will be available as well for customers who bring their own laptop. The second floor of the building will be occupied by the City of Lauderdale Lakes' new Community Education and Cultural Center.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at 10 a.m., featured opening and closing remarks by Robert E. Cannon, Director of Broward County Libraries Division. Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Samuel Brown, as well as Lauderdale Lakes commissioners and members of the CRA were also on hand to speak to the crowd of library supporters gathered to commemorate this event. 

New Tyrone Bryant Branch Opens in Fort Lauderdale

Broward County Library opened its newest Fort Lauderdale location on September 4, 2008. The Dedication Ceremony for the new Tyrone Bryant Branch Library, located at 2231 N.W. 21 Avenue, was well attended by BCL staff and administration, Broward County officials, library supporters, and members of the City of Fort Lauderdale administration. The 10:00 a.m. ceremony began with opening remarks from Robert E. Cannon, and included brief speeches by local notaries such as Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., City of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Carlton B. Moore, Library Advisory Board Chair Barbara J. Till and Friends of the Broward County Libraries President Evelyn Grooms. Entertainment was provided by musician Walter Williams

The new 10,000 square foot library, which replaced an older, 28-year-old facility that closed in July 2008, has a 40,000 item collection of books, periodicals, DVDs, audio books, CDs and computer software. It also has a multipurpose room with a 75-person capacity, a private tutoring room, 21 public computers with Internet access, and wireless Internet connectivity throughout the entire building.

The Tyrone Bryant Branch originally opened in 1980 as the Rock Island Library, and was officially renamed the Tyrone Bryant Branch in 1998. Tyrone Bryant, a Broward County librarian since 1976, was a strong advocate for the disadvantaged and helped mobilize communities to build libraries in areas where they were most needed. At the time of his death in 1988, Bryant had been instrumental in the development of the Rock Island Library as well as other BCL locations in Collier City, Carver Ranches, and Dania. He also initiated programs that brought books to homebound residents and provided transportation to libraries for those unable to get to one on their own.
The ceremony also included the dedication of a small wooden plaque at the library that summarized Bryant's philosophy:

"Sometimes just one book at the right time in the right place can change a life - and history as well."  - Tyrone Bryant

Miramar Library and Education Center Opening Ceremony

On September 25, 2008, Broward County officially opened the doors to the new Miramar Library and Education Center, located next to Miramar City Hall at 2050 Civic Center Place. A special Dedication Ceremony marked this event, which brought the first county library facility to this fast-growing, family-oriented community.

The Miramar Library and Education Center's three-story building features the library on the first floor; the second and third floor, constructed at the expense of the City of Miramar, is leased to BCL's educational partners, Broward College and Nova Southeastern University.

The new library offers a collection of 65,000 items with room for 100,000, a multi-purpose room, a conference room, a children's storytelling and program room, tutoring areas, and quiet study spaces. There are also 61 for public use, including 24 computer stations located in a separate area devoted to computer classes and instruction. Additionally, there's a dedicated space for the Friends of the Library as well as a convenient drive-up book return. Portland-based public artist Robert Calvo created a unique three-part mural for the library that recognizes Miramar Branch Library and Education Center's contribution to the Miramar community.

Designed by architects Cartaya & Associates and built by Centex Rooney, Miramar Branch Library features a flowing, airy design filled with natural light. A curved seating section for reading or studying has floor-to-ceiling windows and a sweeping view of the lake located right outside the library's doors.

The ceremony was led by Robert E. Cannon, Director of Broward County Libraries Division. The Miramar Color Guard gave the Presentation of Colors, which was followed by brief remarks by community leaders including Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, City of Miramar Mayor Lori C. Moseley, Broward College President J. David Armstrong, Jr., and Broward County Construction Management Division Director Ed Maurice.

After the ribbon was officially cut, guests enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Balfour Beatty Construction and a musical performance by Stacy Berkley.