The library system, which has grown to encompass 37 locations, celebrates this milestone with programs and events at all of its branches, which include the flagship Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale, five regional libraries, 29 community libraries and two reading centers spread geographically throughout the county.
In addition to maintaining a physical presence, the library offers an online branch to enable customers to search the catalog online, place holds/renew materials and access free online classes, eBooks, eMagazines, streaming/downloadable movies, TV shows and music. The library will reach approximately 4 million online checkouts for calendar year 2023.
View highlights by year (click image to enlarge)
To commemorate the library's "golden" anniversary, a special, limited-edition library card is now available. The psychedelic swirls of the "Peace, Love, Libraries" card harken back to the distinctive zeitgeist of the 1970s. Demand for this colorful card is expected to send the number of library cards in circulation soaring past the current amount of over 1,400,000 card holders.
Founded in 1974, Broward County Library was first established as part of Broward County government with four small branches: Fort Lauderdale, Riverland, Mizell (Fort Lauderdale) and Hollywood, and a collection of 270,000 books. Going forward, the collection has expanded exponentially and the Division has grown and evolved to become an award-winning leader among public libraries nationwide.
Dedicated to serving all segments of the public and satisfying the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation, the library's mission is to provide convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services accessible in person and online.
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