My name is Eileen Fischlschweiger. I’ve worked at the Fort Lauderdale PTRC at the Broward County Main Library in the capacity of Patent and Trademark Librarian for 21 years, and have been the PTRC Representative Librarian for 19 years. I have been a librarian with the Broward County Library System for over 27 years. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in both Chemistry and Physics (double major), a Master’s degree in Communications, a considerable amount of graduate level coursework in Education, and a second Master’s degree in Library Science.
The Fort Lauderdale PTRC has been located at the Broward County Main Library in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since its designation on November 1st, 1984. During 1984 – 1996 it was a part of the Government Documents Department, later it became a part of the Business, Law, and Government (BLG) Section (November 1996 – January 2010), and it is currently a part of the Reference Section.
2015-2016 Highlights
• At the end of March 2015, Helene Palmer retired as the Main Library Reference Section Supervisor. Her successor is Devon Holland, who comes to us from DC.
• In May 2015, the Broward County Library received three prestigious awards from the Florida Library Association (FLA): FLA Library of the Year, FLA’s Libraries Mean Business Award for the campaign “Broward County Libraries Mean Business,” and the Betty Davis Miller Youth Services Award for the “Show Us Your Bookface” Contest and Exhibition. In celebration of the Library of the Year award, Broward County Library issued a special, limited edition library card commemorating the honor.
• Also In May 2015, Eileen created National Inventors’ Month and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) book displays on three floors of the Main Library, highlighting reference, nonfiction, and international language materials in those areas, using images of inventors and scientists to increase the attractiveness of the display. The display was held over through June 2015.
• In June 2015, five Broward County Libraries Division programs/events were named as 2015 “Innovations Initiatives” by the Urban Library Council (ULC). In addition, Broward County Libraries’ Creation Station received a 2015 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
• Eileen created a presentation titled Finding Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Information on the Web: Broward County Library Science and Technology Databases and Other Online STEM Resources, which was scheduled for 6/30/2015.
• Roving takes over at the Main Library! Throughout the year the Main Library underwent the initial steps toward a transition to a new service model which will eventually extend to all of the libraries in our system, enabling an increase in library hours at most locations. Goodbye to the desks on the third and fourth floors of the Main Library. Hello to the new hybrid laptops (mobile devices with the functionality of a computer but in the form of a tablet) and mobile librarianship. Reduced-in-size public service desks on the second and fifth floors maintain a touch of the traditional for many reference and circulation functions. More changes in the reorganization of the public service floors are taking place, including the move of the audiovisual materials, best seller fiction and nonfiction, and young adult materials from the second floor to the third floor, and the expansion of the youth services area into the vacated area on the second floor, with more expected in the near future.