About Us

History

Throughout the past century, Miamians have watched their public libraries grow from a reading room in Lemon City to 50 libraries spanning the county’s southernmost point in Naranja to its northern reaches in Northeast Dade. The library system has not only grown, but also dramatically evolved in the way services are provided — all in an effort to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the residents of Miami‑Dade County.

A Look Back

Public libraries in Miami have a long, rich history — a history that traces back to the late 19th century. The Library System as we know it today began with the Lemon City Reading Room in 1894, followed soon after by the Cocoanut Grove Reading Room (original spelling) in 1895. The earliest libraries in Miami were founded through the efforts of local women’s clubs, resulting in the construction of the Coconut Grove Library in 1901 and the purchase of a storefront in 1902 that became the Lemon City Library. The first bookmobile for traveling library service began in January of 1928, and Miami residents were so proud of the bookmobile that they put it in the Orange Bowl Parade (then known as the Palm Fete).

In 1942, these libraries were brought together to form the City of Miami Public Library System. In 1971, city and county libraries joined forces and formed the Miami‑Dade Public Library System. Almost immediately, the new library system experienced an unprecedented boost in its growth. This expansion was a result of the 1972 Decade of Progress Bond Program — a $553 million initiative that made many important local projects possible, including the construction of 13 new libraries. Through the Decade of Progress Bond Program, regional libraries were constructed in South Dade, West Dade and North Dade, as well as branches in Northeast Dade, Model City, Kendall, Miami Lakes, South Miami, Homestead, Coral Reef and Key Biscayne. In 1985, at the newly constructed Cultural Plaza in downtown Miami, a new Main  Library opened.

This period of growth was followed in 1990 with the opening of two additional libraries in the areas of North Central and West Kendall. In 1992, the world’s first library on an elevated transit system opened at the Metrorail’s Civic Center Station (now UHealth | Jackson Station). Over the next eight years, no further expansion of the system was funded, and no new libraries opened. It wasn’t until the fall of 2001, when the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners voted to increase the library system’s budget, which provided funding for capital improvement initiatives, making way for the opening of 18 new libraries by the year 2011.

Today

When the Board of County Commissioners approved the library system’s Capital Plan in 2001, it was the first time in nearly a decade that the department had resources to open new libraries. The plan called for the immediate opening of a new wave of smaller libraries and the subsequent construction of 10 new libraries. These smaller libraries were fashioned after a homework center in the City of Doral and became the model for storefront libraries that were located in shopping centers throughout the County. In rapid succession, the library system successfully opened storefront libraries in Country Walk, Hialeah Gardens, Tamiami, Naranja, Lakes of the Meadow, Concord, California Club, Doral, Palm Springs North, Opa‑locka, and Sunset.

Since 2001, nine newly‑constructed libraries have opened. These include Arcola Lakes, Golden Glades, International Mall, Kendale Lakes, Naranja, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Virrick Park and a  stand-alone replacement Hialeah Gardens Branch. In addition, four branches have been relocated to larger facilities and major renovations have taken place at six branches.

In the more than 100 years of serving the community, the library system has experienced tremendous change and growth, all the while remaining committed to being “the compelling community destination, by providing a five‑star customer service experience.”

Miami‑Dade Library District

The Miami-Dade County Library District (Library District) includes most of Miami-Dade County with the exception of the municipalities of Bal Harbour and Surfside that do not participate in the Library District and do not operate a municipal library, as well as the municipalities of Hialeah, Homestead, Miami Shores, North Miami, and North Miami Beach, who also do not participate in the Library District but do operate municipal libraries. Miami-Dade Public Library System maintains reciprocal borrowing relationships with each of the municipalities that operate municipal libraries.

General Information

Full legal name (as cited in creation document)
Miami-Dade County Library District

Public Purpose
Library Services

Boundaries/Service Area
The Library District boundaries are the geographic boundaries of Miami-Dade County, excluding the municipalities of Bal Harbour, Hialeah, Homestead, Miami Shores, North Miami, North Miami Beach, and Surfside.

Library District Map

Services Provided
The service provided by the District shall include library services reflecting informational, educational, and recreational needs of our community.

Charter/Creation Document
County Ordinance 66-56

Statute or statutes under which the special district operates
Chapter 189, Florida Statutes—Uniform Special District Accountability Act and Chapter 257, Florida Statutes—Public Libraries and State Archives

Chapter 257, Florida Statutes - Public Libraries and State Archives

Date established
October 18, 1966

Establishing entity
Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners

Contact Information

Registered agent
Lydia Lopez

Mailing address
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130

Email
director@mdpls.org

Telephone number
305-375-5026

Governing Board Members

• District 1—Oliver G. Gilbert, III  (Elected term: 2024-2028)
• District 2—Marleine Bastien  (Elected term: 2022-2026)
• District 3—Keon Hardemon (Elected term: 2024-2028)
• District 4—Micky Steinberg  (Elected term: 2022-2026)
• District 5—Vicki L. Lopez  (Appointed term: 2025-2026)
• District 6—Natalie Milian Orbis  (Appointed term: 2025-2026)
• District 7—Raquel A. Regalado (Elected term: 2024-2028)
• District 8—Danielle Cohen Higgins (Elected term: 2022-2026)
• District 9—Kionne L. McGhee (Elected term: 2024-2028)
• District 10—Anthony Rodriguez  (Elected term: 2022-2026)
• District 11—Roberto J. Gonzalez (Elected term: 2024-2028)
• District 11—Roberto J. Gonzalez (Elected term: 2016‑2020)
• District 12—Juan Carlos Bermudez  (Elected term: 2022-2026)
• District 13—René Garcia (Elected term: 2024-2028)

Revenue Information

Taxes, fees, assessments, or charges imposed and collected
Ad Valorem Taxes

Rates or amounts for the current fiscal year
The millage rate for FY 2025-26 is 0.2812.

Statutory authority for the levy of the tax, fee, assessment, or charge
Section 189.02, Florida Statutes

General Financial Information

Fiscal year period
October 1 - September 30

Tentative budget
Proposed FY 2025-26 Budget

Final adopted budget
Adopted FY 2025-26 Budget

Budget amendments, if applicable

The final complete audit report for the most recent completed fiscal year
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) FY 2023‑2024
(NOTE: Financial information of the MDLD has been blended with the Miami‑Dade County primary government, and is included in the Public Library Special Revenue Fund in the Supplemental Information schedules.)