During the month of March, you can celebrate Women's History Month, download and print your own certificates, attend the Carver Ranches dedication ceremony, find IRS tax forms, spend an afternoon with Zora Neale Hurston, find out why water matters in Broward County, or mark your calendar for three incredible events in April. 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 the new Weston Branch Library, the wide array of programs and services available at your Broward County Library, YogaKids, programs for Portuguese speakers and more. You can also view our programs and events or find a computer class at a library near you.

Take the time this month to celebrate the accomplishments of women this March. In 1987, Congress declared March as Women's History Month. Broward County Library offers a wide array of programs throughout the month to recognize women and their accomplishments.

Click here to view a list of programs or download a .pdf version of the brochure.

Broward County's Main Library will feature a special exhibit of watercolor paintings from local women artists from March 4 - March 28 in gallery six. The opening celebration for XII + Voices Speaking for Art: Visual Expressions from Women Artists will take place on March 10 at 6:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, please call 954-357-7443.

Click here to view free online resources including a list of women biographies, a quick quiz, and a timeline of Women's History. You can also download a Women's History Month calendar.

Make your child's day special by rewarding him or her with a certificate from Broward County Library for attending story time, checking out a book, using Broward etutor and more. Click on any of the certificate images to download a high quality .pdf file and print on paper or card stock. You can reward your child while recognizing their accomplishments.

Mark your calendar for the Dedication Ceremony for the Carver Ranches Branch Library on March 30 at 10:00 a.m. Located in the City of West Park, the Carver Ranches Branch has 10,000 square feet with room for a collection size of 40,000 library materials.

The painting above, "Five Flags/Florida," by artist Xavier Cortada, was created in celebration of Florida Heritage Month 2006. Miami-based Cortada was inspired by the natural beauty of Florida, utilizing the Florida coastline to depict its rich heritage.

Click here to access the official website for Florida Heritage Month.

Click here to find out more about the painting "Five Flags/Florida."

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:

Click here to view a slideshow of photographs from the Dedication Ceremony of the new Weston Branch Library on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Almost 6,500 people used the new library in just the first week!

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.

Be a part of the 4th Annual Water Matters Day on Saturday, March 11 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Tree Tops Park in Davie. The annual water conservation event includes live music, educational workshops and free plant and tree giveaways. Find out more by clicking here.

Broward County Library's African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), one of the only three libraries of its kind in the United States, welcomed its one millionth customer in February.

AARLCC, which opened in late 2002, is home to one of the most extensive collections of African-American books, historical documents, and other items celebrating the African Diaspora as well as African-American history, culture, arts and literature. In addition, AARLCC offers traditional library services including a full range of programs for all ages, tax assistance, computer classes and more.

So take the time to see what a million people have discovered. Click here to view information about AARLCC including hours as well as a downloadable map and make plans to check it out today.

If you haven't already done your taxes, what are you waiting for? The April 17 deadline is getting closer and closer and Broward County Library is here to help you find all of the forms and information you need online at www.broward.org/library. Click here for more information.

You can also check the March issue of Bookings to find out about free tax preparation assistance at select Broward County Library locations.

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

Spend an afternoon with author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston as portrayed by Phyllis McEwen pictured above as she tells the stories and sings the songs that she collected with her work in Florida in the 1920s and 1930s .

March 25 at 3:00 p.m. at the Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 West Commercial Boulevard in Tamarac

March 26 at 12:30 p.m. at the Stirling Road Branch Library, 3151 Stirling Road in Hollywood

March 26 at 3:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 100 South Andrews Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale

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!

Children's BookFest is coming up soon - mark your calendar and head to the library for this week-long series of events that celebrate reading, books and children. There'll be visiting authors, dance and music, storytelling, free book giveaways and more.

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 - 21.

In its fourth year, the Pan African Bookfest and Cultural Conference is an event that highlights authors and cultural programs. The events include panel presentations on State of the Race, Living History, Literature and Identity, 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.

Be a part of The Big Read. This year's book is Ray Bradbury's classic, Fahrenheit 451.

The Big Read Launch Party will occur on Thursday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library located at 100 South Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

This spring, Broward County Library, the American Library Association and Woman's Day magazine want to know how the library has changed the lives of the people in our community. From now until May 10, anyone who has a story to tell about how the library has changed his or her life can send it to womansday@ala.org. Four of the stories will be featured in an upcoming issue of Woman's Day. The story must be 700 words or less.

The initiative is part of a program sponsored by the American Library Association and Woman's Day magazine called "Put it in Writing @ your library," a part of The Campaign for America's Libraries. The Campaign is a multi-year public awareness and advocacy campaign designed to promote the value of public, school, academic and special libraries and librarians in the 21st century.

This month's spotlight is the Hollywood Bernice P. Oster Reading Center. Located in southeast Broward, this library filled with informative materials and great programs. Take the time to stop by this library and see for yourself!

Hollywood Bernice P. Oster Reading Center

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

Address: 1301 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, FL 33351

Telephone Number: 954-926-2437

Directions: Heading South or North on I-95 - Take Hollywood Blvd. exit and head east to A1A (South Ocean Drive.) Go South on South Ocean Drive approximately ½ mile. Reading Center is housed in the Hollywood Beach Culture & Community Center on the east side of A1A.

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Bus Route: 4 and 28

Volunteers:
For volunteer opportunities, please call 954-926-2437.

Art in Public Places:
Artist: Lisa Houck - Oil enamel on wood titled, A Watery World, With Reef Residents.

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

Did you know you can put a hold or any item in the collection and have that hold sent to the library you want for pick up?

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