Director's Message from Allison Grubbs
Greetings,
Be ready for Broward County Libraries (BCL) to dazzle you with unexpected, imaginative programs in June, July and August! Welcome to our summer!
We’re excited about celebrity guests – they’re coming! I can’t wait to personally interview hilarious Florida Man and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dave Barry on June 16 at Main Library. Be with me when we talk about his first new book in a decade, Swamp Story. Come meet Dave and get a book signed. At Stirling Road Branch in July, the South Florida Hollywood Historical Society brings us Bryan Norcross, Fox News meteorologist and legendary hurricane specialist, to give us The History of Hurricanes in South Florida. Also in July (and early August), stars from the Florida Panthers Summer Reading Tour, including Stanley C. Panther himself, come to select BCL locations to mingle with you.
We’ll be buddying up, learning and feeling good with the 2023 Summer Learning Program theme: “All Together Now,” about kindness, caring and unity in diversity. Adults, children, toddlers and teens – let’s all join together for discovering, exploring, and above all, appreciating one another for our differences.
It all starts at the 18th Annual Children’s BookFest, our Summer Learning Program kick-off event, on June 3rd at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Everyone is invited to the party – bring the family and enjoy a day (11AM-4PM) filled with fun, including a book giveaway, live entertainment, arts & crafts, face painting, activities, costumed characters, local authors, vendors and a virtual reality demo.
From there, let’s dive deep into a feel-good summer in June as we Learn How to Be Kind to Sea Turtles at Southwest Regional Library and become an expert on Sea Turtles of South Florida at the Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch. Want to know What Lurks Beneath? Get a glimpse underwater with Bob from the Future and BCL’s own submarine at Sunrise Dan Pearl Branch in July. Teens and kids are called to become ocean preservationists at two July Pompano Beach Library programs, “Coral in Crisis” and a special field trip to Biscayne Bay.
We love our furry friends as well, coming together to cuddle at the Foster Kitten Workshop at Miramar Branch and at Deerfield Branch for Adopting a Pet in Broward County, both in June. Katie’s Kids Yoga has wonderful classes all summer, including Kindness with Pets at Weston Branch in June. Make this the summer that you enlist pet-therapy pooches who want to be your child’s best pal, confidence builder and reading partner. Turn a child into a champion at Wags & Tales and watch grades rise!
All Together Now is about the library as everyone’s favorite hangout, without regard to ability, identity or ethnicity. Sensory Supportive Music - presented by Whole Vibes Music Therapy in June is a group for children who learn differently and need a sensory-friendly environment.
For those of us who identify as LGBTQ+ or respect those who do, we will be celebrating Pride Month in June with a film series at Sunrise Dan Pearl and a movie with craft at Northwest Regional Library. Join me to discuss my personal selection for the Director's Book Club: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, a graphic novel that succinctly describes the struggle with personal identity and is as riveting as it is vulnerable. I also invite you to visit our Book Sanctuaries at each branch, where many books are on the list because of content that are written by or are about LGBTQ+ or people of color.
We’ve been busy inventing new programs…but we can’t pass up BCL classics! If it’s June it’s time to celebrate Juneteenth and that means our Annual Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival which returns June 17th to Apollo Park, next to Northwest Branch Library. Come for the fun, including amazing live performances, exhibits, professional storytellers, old fashioned games of skill and blue-ribbon food. Find this and other Juneteenth programs on the library events calendar.
In July, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) brings us the 11th installment of the South Florida Book Festival, entitled WORD! Celebrating of 50 Years of Hip-Hop Culture.
It’s no secret that we love to celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month and party, so get ready for a slew of great programs such as National Caribbean American Heritage Month Evening of Entertainment at Margate Branch, Healing & Wellness Summer Sessions at Lauderdale Lakes Branch, "Pieces of Jamaica” art exhibit discussion with talented photographer David I. Muir, Caribbean-American Arts & Crafts Sale at Miramar Branch, Caribbean Heritage Festival at Lauderhill Central Park Library or Cultural Connections Family Event at North Regional/Broward College Library.
View the special summer issue of our Library Magazine to find three months of events for all ages listed by location including arts and crafts, writing workshops, book clubs, health/wellness, career/business and more.
The party starts NOW!
