Celebrate the grand reopening of the newly renovated Allapattah Branch Library

MIAMI, FL, December 11, 2018-The Miami-Dade Public Library System's (MDPLS) newly renovated Allapattah Branch is about to reopen. On behalf of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Commission Vice Chairwoman and District 3 Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson and the Board of County Commissioners, the public is invited to attend the Grand Reopening Open House Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the newly renovated and improved Allapattah Branch Library, located at 1799 NW 35 Street, Miami, FL 33142, on Thursday, December 13, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Renovations include new flooring and furniture, interior and exterior painting, improved landscaping, a coworking area, a multi-purpose area for classes and workshops, and improved technology through the addition of new public computers and interactive learning devices. Patrons will also enjoy a new collection of books, DVDs and audiobooks, as well as a new air conditioning system, roof, and light fixtures.

The renovation and rehabilitation project was funded in part by the Miami-Dade County Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program.

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The mission of the Miami-Dade Public Library System is to provide extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.

Miami-Dade County provides equal access and equal opportunity in employment and services and does not discriminate on the basis of a disability. If you need an accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or material in an alternate format, contact the branch manager at least seven business days in advance. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Miami-Dade Public Library System awarded grant funding from The Children's Trust to enhance STEAM-based programming and the Library's Homework Help and Tutoring Program

(Miami, FL - December 6, 2018) The Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) is pleased to announce it has received a $125,000 grant from The Children's Trust. The funds will support enhancement of MDPLS's Homework Help and Tutoring Program and Technobus digital literacy programming.

MDPLS's Homework Help and Tutoring Program, which launched earlier this year, provides students grades K-12 with free tutoring from certified teachers at 18 library locations. To date, approximately 800 students are being served by this program each week.
"With this support from The Children's Trust we will be able to provide additional tutoring hours to meet the strong demand for this program and improve tutor-to-student ratios," said Library Director Ray Baker.

The grant will also support enhancement of MDPLS Technobus services. The mobile digital lab provides instructor-led STEAM and digital literacy programming to children and youth in underserved communities. "Nearly 80 percent of all available jobs in the next 10 years will require technology skills, so increasing youth access to STEAM and digital services is critical," said James Haj, President and CEO of The Children's Trust. "We're very pleased to make this collaboration with MDPLS possible."

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The mission of the Miami-Dade Public Library System is to provide extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.

Miami-Dade County provides equal access and equal opportunity in employment and services and does not discriminate on the basis of a disability. If you need an accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or material in an alternate format, contact the branch manager at least seven business days in advance. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Miami-Dade Public Library System receives Library Services and Technology Act grant funding from the State of Florida, Division of Library and Information Services

(Miami, FL- November 9, 2018) The Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) has been awarded $310,531 in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funding from the State of Florida, Division of Library and Information Services (State Library).

The awarded projects include $210,217 for a new YOUmedia Miami digital media center at the Lemon City Branch Library and $100,314 for Year 2 of MDPLS's Digitization Project.

The YOUmedia Miami digital media center at the Lemon City Branch Library will be MDPLS's third YOUmedia Miami location. YOUmedia Miami focuses on providing instructor-based digital learning opportunities in subjects such as podcasting, 3D printing, digital design and robotics. The project is expected to be complete and ready for use by the public in spring 2019. To learn more about YOUmedia Miami and the current locations at the North Dade and South Dade Regional Libraries, please visit https://www.mdpls.org/teens/youmedia.asp.

Year 2 of the MDPLS Digitization Project will continue to expand the digitization, preservation and archiving of several different collections of historical and cultural significance to South Florida, including scrapbooks, photographs, travel guides and related materials. To date, MDPLS has digitized approximately 15,000 items that are available for public viewing online at www.mdpls.org/digitalcollections. Additionally, MDPLS was recently notified that its digital collections will be harvested as part of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) through its collaboration with the Sunshine State Digital Network (SSDN).

"We would like to thank the State Library and the LSTA grant panel for recognizing the ingenuity of our library staff," said MDPLS Director Ray Baker. "We also would like to thank the Institute of Museum and Library Services for continuing to make LSTA grant funding available that encourages libraries to expand the availability of and access to technology for the public."

More information about the LSTA and the Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services can be found here..

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The mission of the Miami-Dade Public Library System is to provide extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.

Miami-Dade County provides equal access and equal opportunity in employment and services and does not discriminate on the basis of a disability. If you need an accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or material in an alternate format, contact the branch manager at least seven business days in advance. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).