One of the hottest thing in libraries today is a Little Library. They are being built across the county as community-based engagement projects designed to spark greater interest in reading, while bringing neighbors closer to neighbors.

Little Libraries play an important role in producing adults that view reading as part of lifelong education. Academically, children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books. One of the most successful ways to improve the reading achievement of children is to increase their access to books, especially at home.

Did you know that here in Broward County 61 percent of low-income families do not have any age-appropriate books for their kids at home? Little Libraries play an essential role by providing free, 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. 

Broadview Park

For its 2019 community project, Broward County Academy alumni decided to create a Little Library in the unincorporated Broward Municipal Services District.

Broadview Park is a community of nearly 7,000 residents in a one-square-mile area. It is a very diverse and connected community, with a vibrant mix of English-, Spanish-, and Creole-speaking residents. Located in the central portion of the County, the area has two parks and one elementary school. The community is bordered on the north by Peters Road, on the east by US-441/State Road 7, on the south by Interstate 595/State Road 84 and on the west by SW 52nd Avenue and Florida’s Turnpike. The City of Plantation abuts the northern and western boundary of the neighborhood, the City of Fort Lauderdale lies to the east and the Town of Davie to the south.

Sunview Park is a neighborhood park, and a center for recreational activity in the community. It is named after the Sunset and Broadview Park Little Leagues. Programming at the park includes classes, club and association meetings, and free After-School, Summer Recreation and Teen programs.

The Academy graduates surveyed Broadview Park residents to better understand the “flavor” of the neighborhood in order to create a Little Library that truly represented the community. They also engaged with the Neighborhood Civic Association and nearby Meadowbrook Elementary School, to better understand the community’s history and uniqueness. Some common themes developed: diversity, community and butterflies, which frequent the park.

About the Artist

Artist Peggie “Batia” Lowenberg steered the participants through a creative process that would bring the project to life. To bring a sense for the generational commitment to encourage all age groups to learn to read, the group decided to establish a Little Library for adults, and another for children. A book drive brought in hundreds of books to be stored at the libraries and replenished with new books on a regular basis by Sunview Park staff.

Lowenberg is a painter, public artist and community arts educator. Born in New York City, she relocated to South Florida in 2015 after living and working in Tel Aviv, Israel for over 18 years.  Lowenberg studied at Cornell University and the School of Visual Arts, among others. She has exhibited her artwork and designed public art installations here and abroad, and served as an art juror for several arts panels.

Lowenberg was the 2016 recipient of the Dina Baker Fund, Cultural Council of Palm Beach County ($10,000 Grant). She was also a finalist for the Heritage Public Art Project for the City of Delray Beach in 2016. She was selected for both the 2017 and 2018 SIP Public Art Installations by the City of West Palm Beach. For their 2018 project, she incorporated paintings by clients and students of the Palm Beach Habilitation Center which was featured in the Boca/Delray Newspaper.

In 2019, Lowenberg participated in the inaugural Off the Wall Live Murals through the Arts Council of Martin County. As a teaching artist, she has also completed a large variety of art projects with the young members of the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, and participated in live art events in Delray Beach.

Lowenberg’s solo art exhibitions include the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, Daggerwing Nature Center and F.A.T. Village in Fort Lauderdale. Her artwork is in public and private collections in the US, Israel, Europe, and Asia. Several of her projects and painting series can be seen at www.batialowenberg.com and instagram.com/batialowenberg/. Email her at batiaartist@gmail.com.

Project Participants

This project was coordinated by Broward County’s Office of Public Communications and Cultural Division. Thank you to the following  Broward County Academy alumni for their interest and participation in the Little Libraries Project: