During the month of February, you can experience Black History Month, download and print your own bookmarks, attend the Night of Literary Feasts, find your IRS tax forms, go to the dedication ceremony for the new Weston Branch Library, or view the art and poetry winners of Teen Read Week. There is always something to do at your Broward County Library!

Click here to download a .pdf version of our monthly magazine, Bookings. Read about Black History Month, Literary Feast 2006, BookFest and the new Weston Branch Library. You can also view our programs and events or find a computer class at a library near you.

Bring the library home and print your own bookmarks for your favorite programs and events. Click on the link below then any of the bookmark images, print out and trim to size. You can use plain paper, card stock or even photo paper.

Experience black history this month and visit the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. The $14 million, two-story facility is an outstanding library as well as a research and cultural center that hosts a wide range of educational and entertaining programs. Click here to download a map, view hours, or read about the unique Special Collections.

Read the poetry or view the artwork of the Teen Read Week 2005 Winners. With the theme of Get Real: Movin' On @ your library, students submitted exceptional entries. Five winners were chosen in each category.

Online Story Time

Watch story telling come to life online -- Broward County Library now offers the opportunity for anyone to view a story at work, school or home. The second feature for Online Story Time is Senõr Cat's Romance and Other Favorite Latin American Stories by Lucía M. González, Broward County Library's Associate Director for Youth Services.

Click here to watch and listen to Online Story Time.

Florida Electronic Library

The Florida Electronic Library has a new look worth checking out! Visit the site online and you'll find lots of useful information including:

Join us to be part of the Dedication Ceremony for the new Weston Branch Library on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at 4205 Bonaventure Blvd. in Weston. The ceremony will include special performances, ribbon cutting and giveaways.

The new library is a two-story building with 50,000 square feet. The first floor consists of a 30,000 square feet library that has a 100-seat multipurpose room, 75 public use computers, including a 24-seat computer lab. Additional features include a story room for children's programs, a young adult area, four tutoring rooms, a quiet study room, a conference room and an outside drive-up book drop. The Broward Community College Center will reside on the second floor with 10 classrooms, offices and conference rooms. The new Weston Branch Library will provide 320 parking spaces.

The new Weston Branch Library is part of the $139.9 million bond issue that was approved by Broward County voters in March, 1999.

The 19th annual Literary Feast will be held on February 24 and 25, featuring more than 20 authors who will meet the public in a series of events. On Friday, February 24, the Night of Literary Feasts will kick-off with a cocktail reception at the Main Library and then continue with elegant dinners in homes throughout Broward County.

On Saturday, February 25, attend the free Day of Literary Lectures at the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center at Nova Southeastern University.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Night of Literary Feasts, call the Literary Feast Hotline at 954-357-5954.

Get a jump on tax time and download your 1040 form, find a link to check the status of your refund or scroll though a list of frequently asked questions. It's all online and available at www.broward.org/library. Click here for more information.

Find the latest award winning books for children and adults, author reviews and reader advisory lists on everything from jobs and careers to romance.

Click here to view a webpage with downloadable lists of the newest movies, audiobooks and music in our collection.

Click here to view a list of new releases coming soon to Broward County Library!

Mark your calendar to celebrate BookFest. The week-long series of events include authors, performances and free book giveaways. Events include:

Saturday, April 22nd
Kick Off Bash
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
North Regional/BCC Library, South Regional/BCC Library and the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center

Friday, April 28th
Conference on Children's Literature
Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center at Nova Southeastern University

Saturday, April 29th
Children's Day Celebration: Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Northwest Regional Library and the new Weston Branch Library

Saturday, April 29th
Grand Finale: Moonlight Tales
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Main Library

Be a part of the 2006 Pan African Bookfest and Cultural Conference: "A Place Where Writers and Readers Explore the World." This event will be held at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale from April 12 - 22.

In its fourth year, the Pan African Bookfest and Cultural Conference is an event that highlights authors and cultural programs. The events include State of the Race, Living History, Literature and Identity panel presentations, local, national and international authors, spoken word performances, art exhibitions and an on-site bookmaking program by children.

For more information, please call the Pan African Bookfest Hotline at 954-357-7455.

Check www.broward.org/library for information that will soon appear about The Big Read. This year's book is Ray Bradbury's classic, Fahrenheit 451.

Mark your calendar's for The Big Read Launch Party on Thursday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library located at 100 South Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

This month's spotlight is the Tamarac Branch Library. Located in west Broward, the Tamarac Branch Library is a beautiful library filled with library materials, computers and great programs. Take the time to stop by this library and see for yourself!

Tamarac Branch Library

Click here to view a slideshow of the photographs of the branch.

Address: 8701 West Commercial Boulevard, Tamarac, FL 33351

Telephone Number: 954-720-2282

Directions: (From I-95) Exit at Commercial Boulevard and head west. The library is between University Drive and Pine Island Road (closer to Pine Island Road) next to the Tamarac Community Center.

Hours:
Sunday: Closed
Monday and Thursday: 12 noon - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bus Route: 55, 57 and 88

Building Information:
The Tamarac Branch Library, a $6.4 million, one-story building with 30,000 square feet, opened in 2003. It was designed by the architecture firm Cartaya and Associates and the construction firm Centex Rooney, Inc.

Volunteers:
For volunteer opportunities, please call 954-720-2282.

Art in Public Places: Raymond Olivero, 2 fresco glass murals with ceramic tile borders, "From Whence We Come" and "To Whence We Go"

Important Telephone Numbers and Web Addresses (Please click on the blue links to access the corresponding web pages)

Did you know that over 240 librarians who work for Broward County Library have a master of library science degree? That's the second highest number of professional staff for all U.S. libraries serving between one and two million residents.

Click here to search the catalog for a book, DVD, audio book, or anything else in the Library's collection.