December 2023 Newsletter from the Broward Public Library Foundation

2024

The Broward Public Library Foundation welcomes New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Victoria Christopher Murray to the 14th annual LitLUNCH! to take place February 9, 2024. Murray’s most recent novel, The First Ladies, co-written with Marie Benedict, is the story of Civil Rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and the singular friendship that surpassed racial barriers to form the foundation of the modern civil rights movement.


LitLUNCH! is the kick-off to Literary Feast, the Broward Public Library Foundation’s annual fundraising event. This year’s event begins at 11:15 a.m. at the Lauderdale Yacht Club, 1725 SE 12th St., Fort Lauderdale. The event includes a multi-course lunch with complimentary wine, a raffle, book sales and signings.


Good Morning America described Murray and Benedict’s first co-written novel, The Personal Librarian, as “Historical fiction at its best…The Personal Librarian spins a complex tale of deceit and allegiance as told through books.”


With over 3 million books in print, Murray is one of the country’s top African American contemporary authors. She is the NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work.


Tickets start at $125 and include a signed copy of The First Ladies. Proceeds support Broward County Library literacy programs and services funded by the Broward Public Library Foundation.


For LitLUNCH! tickets and sponsorship information, visit bplfoundation.org/litlunch or contact Nathan Elias at 954-357-7384.

Books 'n' Bears at the Holidays

This December, through the generosity of donors, more than 3,000 preschool children will receive a new book and stuffed teddy bear to call their own.


Founded 36 years ago by library volunteer Bert Harmon, Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays provides books and bears to children from underserved communities each year. This year’s book is Salina Yoon’s Stormy Night. The children will also be treated to a fun-filled program with storytelling and refreshments at library branches. The Florida Panthers Foundation is again supporting this program to further its mission of inspiring a love of reading throughout the community. 


To donate to Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays: visit bplfoundation.org/booksandbears

A Feast for the Mind Reading Challenge

Are you an avid reader? Do you know other avid readers? Then you should join the Library Foundation’s “A Feast for the Mind Reading Challenge.” Gather your friends or book club members to form a team and participate in our inaugural social media-based contest.


The Reading Challenge is centered around the April 12, 2024 Literary Feast LitLIVE! event, which will feature nationally recognized authors speaking at free panel discussions. The Foundation will announce book titles from January to March to all participating teams. As they are announced, teams will read as many of the books as they can, then post their reviews online with a special hashtag to score points.


Points will be accumulated based on the number of books read per team member, with bonus points awarded for social media engagement! First, second and third place winners will be assigned with special recognition given to the winners at our annual LitLIVE! event. Prizes may include wine and dessert at your next book club meeting, tickets to the Night of Literary Feasts Welcome Reception, and recognition from the stage.


Thank you to Leadership Broward Class XLII for selecting this as one of their class projects. The Community Project Group, the “Book Worms,” will steer the Reading Challenge in the months ahead.


Learn more and register now at bplfoundation.org/reading-challenge

New Scholarships for Career

Online High School

The Broward Public Library Foundation and Broward College are partnering to support the 2023-2024 Career Online High School (COHS) enrollment class. Broward College will sponsor seven new scholarships for students in this life-changing program.


Through Broward County Library, COHS offers adults ages 19 and older the chance to earn an accredited high school diploma and a career certificate. The program is self-paced and 100% online, allowing individuals who are working, parents, or both to find the time needed to achieve their dream of graduating high school and opening up new career pathways for themselves.


In addition to funding the new scholarships, Broward College will also be providing hands-on workshops for all students enrolled in the program. Workshop topics will focus on achieving successful career transitions, mapping a pathway to further education, and how to apply for scholarships and financial aid.


Learn more: 

broward.org/Library/pages/careeronlinehighschool.aspx

SAT/ACT Workshops

Broward County Library is here to help high school students in grades 10-12 prepare for their SAT and ACT tests! These workshops will focus on math, grammar, and reading practice tests, as well as intensive test taking strategies. 


The following dates are for library workshops that still have availability:


  • January 10 – February 7 South Regional/Broward College Library
  • February 12 – March 4 Southwest Regional Library
  • April 15 – May 1 North Regional/Broward College Library


These workshops are sponsored by the Broward Public Library Foundation, and presented by Affordable College Solutions.


For registration details, see the Broward County Library website, broward.org/Library. 

Jefferson Society Luncheon

Miami author Ana Veciana-Suarez spoke about her new novel, Dulcinea, to more than 25 attendees at the annual Jefferson Society luncheon held in October at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach. Jefferson Society members contribute $1,000 or more to support literacy programs at Broward County Library.


To learn more about the Jefferson Society membership level, visit: bplfoundation.org/jefferson-society

Think Ahead, Think of the Library

The last few years have been anything but predictable; while 2023 has seen its fair share of surprises, there is one thing you can always rely on: the library.


Your Broward County Library is a cornerstone of the community, providing access to services, technology, and educational tools, all for free, all year long.


And now, the library needs you. As we approach the end of the year, please keep the library in mind for your philanthropic goals. Your support will ensure the over one million individuals who use and rely on the vast number of library services will continue to have access to what they need, when they need it. From SAT and ACT prep programs for teens and thousands of children’s book giveaways, to Veteran’s services and adult high school diploma classes.


Choose the Broward Public Library Foundation to make a year-end gift and know that you are giving to an organization that makes a difference in the lives of your neighbors.


Donate Now: bplfoundation.org/donate | 954-357-7382

Seeking Silent Auction Donations

Do you—or someone you know—have an item, service, or experience you’d like to donate to the Literary Feast 2024 silent auction? Each year, the silent auction generates more than $40,000 to benefit literacy programs within the Broward County Library system, including Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays and free SAT/ACT workshops for teens. 


Tax-deductible donations come in many forms including gift cards, hotel stays, professional services, physical items, adventures, and more. The silent auction will take place in-person at our signature Literary Feast event on April 13, 2024, and online for five days prior. Those who donate will receive recognition through the OneCause mobile bidding platform, the BPLF website, and signage at the in-person Welcome Reception at Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale Beach.


A silent auction donation form is available at bplfoundation.org/literary-feast-silent-auction. For more information, contact Shannon Severance at 954-357-7382 or email sseverance@bplfoundation.org.

Please remember us in your wills and trusts.

Literary Feast's Lisa Unger's New Book Reviewed in the Sun Sentinel

08 Mar, 2024
Book review from the Sun Sentinel : ‘New Couple in 5B’ a modern haunted house mystery with layers of suspense By Oline Cogdill

October 2023 Newsletter from the Broward Public Library Foundation

11 Oct, 2023
Literary Feast dates and locations, remembering literary legacies, Summer Learning Program recap, Wednesday's Women reading groups, and more news of interest from the Library Foundation.

Conference on Children's Literature 2023 Recap

02 Oct, 2023
The Library Foundation thanks the Children's Services Council of Broward County for their incredible support of the Conference on Children’s Literature! Thank you to everyone to the over 140 people who attended, including authors, educators, librarians, and vendors. It was an outstanding event, and we look forward to next year.

NSU Events at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center

26 Sep, 2023
The Broward Public Library Foundation is happy to be working with our friends at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library to promote and spread the word about their amazing upcoming series of author talks and community events.

Dearest Reader...Author Talk with Julia Quinn

18 Aug, 2023
Celebrate the Bridgerton series with Julia Quinn, best-selling author of historical romance fiction, at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library. Quinn will discuss her newest book, Queen Charlotte, and her writing career.

Library Foundation Featured on Tech Talk Weekly

11 Aug, 2023
Tech Talk Weekly #141 - Look up, practice landings, NASA & wine, Fusion & Super Conductivity

Thank you to Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for reading to children at the Broward County Library!

04 Aug, 2023
On Monday, July 31 , our friends from the Florida Panthers visited the South Regional/Broward College Library to read books to children o n their Summer Reading Tour. The final stop of their tour occured on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs. Panthers radio voice Doug Plagens was the special guest reader. To catch up on the Reading Tour fun, make sure to visit the links to press coverage below: https://www.local10.com/sports/2023/07/31/panthers-defenseman-dmitry-kulikov-reads-to-children-at-summer-reading-tour-event/ https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/31/for-dmitry-kulikov-return-to-florida-panthers-feels-like-it-was-some-unfinished-business/ WSVN Video: https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/1a65390f-a541-439d-9e9a-6f943c9f9de7?token=ce3ce582-18d0-4501-8dfb-704791aa7bfc

Children's BookFest 2023 Video

17 Jul, 2023
Kicking off the Summer Learning Program, the Children’s BookFest is a family fun day with book giveaways, arts and crafts, and engaging entertainers. During the Broward County Library's Summer Learning Program , kids of all ages are invited to compete in reading challenges to win great prizes from local organizations such as the Museum of Discovery and Science, Florida Panthers, Shake Shack and more. The 2023 theme, “All Together Now”, includes big topics such as unity, kindness, mental health, growth mindset, empathy, building community, friendship and more. From June through August, participants log the books they read and join the library for fun, interactive programs that encourage reading, learning, and a better understanding of one another. The Summer Learning Program offers more than 3,500 activities and programs in libraries across Broward County. All are aimed at helping children keep an active mind, read more, and stay engaged in learning activities while out of school. For a list of Summer Learning Program activities visit broward.org/Library/Pages/summer.aspx. Both the Children's BookFest and the Summer Learning Programs are funded in-part through the Broward Public Library Foundation, thanks to the support of community members. You can help ensure the library continues to offer important, education programming all summer long by donating to the Summer Learning Program at bplfoundation.org/summer-learning .

South Florida Book Festival 2023

29 Jun, 2023
Hear from nationally known speakers, explore the roots of hip-hop culture and meet local authors at the 2023 South Florida Book Festival. This year’s theme brings together literature and visual and performing arts, featuring leaders, authors and scholars of Florida's hip-hop community.

Documentary Film Showing at AARLCC

23 Jun, 2023
On behalf of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), Nova Southeastern University and former Broward County Libraries Director Sam Morrison, the Library Foundation is pleased to invite you to a special evening on Thursday, June 29 at 7:00 PM . Join The Windhover Foundation and The Rubin Stacy Studio For Innovation & Education for a premiere night at the AARLCC theater to screen the documentary, The Lynching Of Rubin Stacy , about the death of a field hand in Fort Lauderdale in July 1935. A panel discussion will follow the film with a family member, the filmmaker and AARLCC Regional Manager Dr. Tameka Hobbs.
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