Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Broward County Library
Submitted by: Eileen Fischlschweiger

Library functions generally returned to normal; mask and social distancing mandates updated as needed following Broward County policy; Curbside assistance has become a staple service.
In-person library programs and outreach were cancelled, briefly resumed, then canceled again due to COVID-19 spikes. Broward County Libraries turned to online and recorded programs to deliver content to customers. The active online programming remains strong. Recorded programs are posted on the Broward County Libraries’ YouTube Channel.
In May 2021, Eileen created a book display for National Inventors’ Month.
Eileen updated PTRC webpages, which remain at the same level of use.
Work on the Main Library’s terraces, a major attractive feature of the building architecture. Re-carpeting of the building is in progress and the plaza area in front of the building will be upgraded.
Creation Station Business (CSB) librarian, Frank Pennettiis coordinating with the USPTO Eastern Regional Outreach Office to provide virtual programming for the CSB.
CSB offered many online programs -several were part of Built in Broward, a year-long program to break the barrier to affordable technical training and business development for underrepresented minorities in Broward County. This was a project that was part of the Making Entrepreneurship in Tech Accessible (META) initiative funded by a grant of nearly $123,000 that the Broward County Library received from Google through ALA’s Libraries Build Business Grant to expand programming to small businesses and entrepreneurs from low-income and underrepresented groups.
Built in Broward programs offered during the year included Code in One Day: HTML & CSS Bootcamp, SQL Bootcamp, Python Coding Bootcamp, and other classes. Frank also presented “Python and More: Free Online Resources for Coding and Web Design.”