Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library

The Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library offers its customers popular books, videos, fiction and nonfiction DVDs, music CDs, cd-roms, International languages and large print collections, and computers galore, but this library-located in the midst of a disadvantaged community-also offers hope for a better life. The bright, colorful building is located west of Powerline Road between Atlantic Boulevard and Hammondville Road at 2800 NW 9th Court, Pompano Beach.

Having opened in 1980, Collier City Library found its mission in 1989 when a Knight Foundation Grant provided staff with intense training in community literacy education. This led to a big bonus for the branch. Ten years ago, when African-American poet Maya Angelou came to the library branch to visit with the community, Jan Moran was one of 10,000 people who heard her speak.  Jan, the wife of the late Jim Moran , followed the poet into the library following the event. She listened to Angelou greeting the children and the adults who had received literacy education and she heard the testimonies of transformed lives.  Jan Moran wanted to help; through JM Family Enterprises, Inc., she brought in funding to renovate and enlarge the library. In December 2003, a joyous ribbon cutting for the enhanced facility took place.

On entering the Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library you will find yourself in a lobby with a checkout desk. To the side is a blood pressure testing machine, donated by Holy Cross Hospital. From the lobby you can go left into the youth wing or go right into the adult section of the library. Straight ahead is a room now being used as a gallery for student artwork and a place for teen meetings. This room will eventually become a gift shop for the Friends of the Library. The Friends group is continually seeking new members.

  The young people's wing features a folk art quilt on the wall, a colorful piece of public art created by four neighborhood women who made a patchwork vision of their community. There are lots of windows in this section, including two big bay windows with cushioned seating around them. There are book shelves at heights the children can reach, and lots of computers. One section of computers is for younger children, and on the far side of the room, another section of computers is reserved for teenagers. There are 23 computers in the youth wing, with an additional 12 in a classroom workshop area.

Children at this branch library receive after school homework assistance in basic skills as a part of the daily Peer Power After School program. They learn through the use of games, activities and children's literature. There is a big programming circle pattern on the floor near one of the bay windows, and tables on wheels can be pulled into the Magic Circle for children's activities. There is an outside patio between the bay windows with picnic benches where children can eat snacks as part of their after school activities. An elementary school is right across the street from the library and brings in a lot of children.  Specialized children's and teen's software enhances their skills in reading, writing, math, science, music, keyboarding, and creativity.

Teenagers at the library have an advisory club where they plan activities for their age group, and several teens volunteer their time at the library-helping out where they are needed (more volunteers are always welcome).

 

The adult side of the library features an enormous mural across one wall that illustrates the African-American experience of Diaspora-telling the story of a people being scattered and separated from their roots. Under the mural is another bank of public computers. This section of the library has a reference book reading area-a bit of floor with some chairs surrounded by book cases of reference works. There's a rocking chair inside this area for parents with babies. Parents are strongly encouraged to read stories to their children at this library as this library places special emphasis on providing family literacy services.

In the adult section there are popular books to check out, and an assortment of DVDs and musical CDs. In the back of this room is a doorway with access to staff offices and an auditorium that seats 114 people and hosts community events and the Crossroads Café English classes.

The adult side of the library also features a workforce computer lab. This is a place where adults can go for classes led by an instructor using PowerPoint presentations or where teens and grown-ups can access literacy-building tutorials and a variety of software programs. They can learn to be better readers, writers, typists, and how to repair their credit and gain job skills to be more employable. Software programs for adults, ages 16 and up, enhance their knowledge and skills in reading, math, and science.  Helping adults study and pass the GED exam and helping college bound students study and pass the college entrance exams, the SAT and/or the ACT, is a part of the daily services offered in the Workforce Literacy Computer Lab.

The Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library considers itself the People's University because people come to learn freely based on their own desire for knowledge and self-improvement and not because they are mandated to do so as in compulsory education. The hope of this branch is to create a future of readers in the community and enhance the quality of life.

This library is part of the North Regional cluster of library branches, and partners with other libraries and community organizations on some programs and events, including book discussions and a Readers' Theater.