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Press Release Index 2024

May

Media Contacts
Leila Khalil
khalill@mdpls.org
305-375-5291

Miami-Dade Public Library System named 2024 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association

Wins FLA Awards for Excellence in Marketing and Public Relations and Outstanding New Librarian

MIAMI-DADE (May 17, 2024) — The Miami-Dade County Public Library System (Library) is proud to announce that it has been named the 2024 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association (FLA). This prestigious award recognizes the Library’s outstanding contributions to the community and commitment to excellence, leadership and innovation in serving the diverse needs of Miami-Dade County residents.
 
“Congratulations to the Miami-Dade Public Library System team on this remarkable achievement! This recognition by the Florida Library Association is a testament to their dedication, innovation and hard work,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “The Library plays such a vital role in our community, where residents can access information, resources such as social services and internet connectivity, cultural enrichment and gather for community events. Our libraries are safe spaces where residents can engage and thrive.”

In addition to being named Florida Library of the Year, the Miami-Dade Public Library System has also been honored with two other 2024 FLA Awards:

Excellence in Marketing and Public Relations for effectively and successfully communicating the value of the Library to the community through its multi-faceted Library Card Sign-up Month campaign in September 2023. The campaign resulted in a 21 percent increase in new cardholders over the previous year, a record achievement for the Library as the highest number of new sign-ups in a single month.

Outstanding New Librarian recognizing Daniel Jones for exhibiting exceptional resourcefulness, creativity, leadership and dedication in serving the community at the Naranja Branch Library. Since October 2022, he has made significant contributions to the Library and librarianship by identifying the diverse needs of patrons and providing opportunities for STEAM education, as well as providing assistance with accessing social services and health and wellness resources and establishing successful programs for tweens and teens.

"We are honored and proud to receive these prestigious awards from the Florida Library Association," said Ray Baker, Director of the Miami-Dade Public Library System. "We are committed to providing innovative library services and programs that meet the evolving needs of our community. These awards are a recognition of our team's dedication to excellence and our ongoing commitment to serving the residents of Miami-Dade County."

For more information about the Florida Library Association Award winners, visit https://fla.memberclicks.net/2024-award-winners.

For more information about the Miami-Dade Public Library System and its award-winning programs and services, visit www.mdpls.org.

The 2024 Florida Library Association Awards were presented during a ceremony on May 17 at the FLA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Miami-Dade Public Library System (Library) provides extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities. The Library is recognized as an  Autism Friendly Partner by the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The Library was also named a finalist for the prestigious IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2022 and 2023 and has been honored with several awards, including 102 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards over the past seven years, an Urban Libraries Council 2020 Innovation Award, and seven Florida Library Association (FLA) Awards for Excellence and Innovation from 2018 – 2024, including being named Library of the Year in 2024. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.

About the Florida Library Association
The Florida Library Association is a statewide organization that promotes excellence in Florida libraries by advocating strongly for libraries and providing high-quality professional and leadership development for a diverse community of library staff, volunteers and supporters. Learn more at www.flalib.org.

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To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Public Library System-sponsored program or meeting, please call Monica Martinez at 305-375-5094 or email programs@mdpls.org five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Miami-Dade Public Library System

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Media Contacts
Leila Khalil
khalill@mdpls.org
305-375-5291

Miami-Dade Public Library employees receive national recognition for innovation, technology and dedication to providing accessible and inclusive services

MIAMI-DADE (May 15, 2024) — The Miami-Dade County Public Library System (Library) is pleased to announce that two Miami-Dade Public Library employees have been honored with national awards: the Library Journal’s 2024 Movers & Shakers Award for Innovators and the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) 2024 Emerging Technology Section (ETS) Best Emerging Technology Application Award. These accolades recognize their innovative use of technology and commitment to making library programs and services accessible for all residents of Miami-Dade County.
 
“Providing inclusive access to community services, resources and experiences is essential,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are so proud of the exemplary work demonstrated by our County employees. As trusted community spaces, our library system truly sets the bar as they continue to innovate and deliver accessible programming that benefits and enriches the lives of all of our residents.”
 
The Library employees recognized, along with their award-winning accomplishments are as follows:
 
Marlon Moore, Community Engagement Coordinator for Outreach and Mobile Services, has been honored with a Library Journal 2024 Movers & Shakers Award in the Innovators category. The award recognizes his work in creating opportunities to actively engage residents of all ages with the latest technology through the Library’s Technobus, a mobile computer lab on wheels, and for his role in helping develop the Mogul Maker Expo, a series of one-day conferences at the Library presented in collaboration with the Miami-Dade County Office of Innovation and Economic Development. The program aligns with the Mayor’s STRIVE305 Initiative aimed at supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs by making resources and information easily accessible to help them thrive.
 
Jennifer Shipley, Library Operations Manager, whose area of oversight includes the Library’s Braille and Talking Books service, won RUSA’s ETS Best Emerging Technology Application Award, which includes a $3,000 cash prize, after spearheading two innovative interactive exhibitions for people with vision and hearing disabilities that incorporated the use of QR codes. The POP-UP Storywalk™ combined Braille and QR codes, allowing participants to use their phones to hear narrated stories, while a tactile-friendly, multi-sensory POP-UP art exhibition designed for individuals with low vision encouraged touching the art and hearing descriptions through QR codes. The award recognizes individuals or groups who develop or significantly modify original technology for novel uses that directly benefit library users. The awarded cash prize will be used to fund additional inclusive Library programming for the community.
 
"We are proud and honored to receive recognition from both the Reference and User Services Association and Library Journal acknowledging our team's dedication to accessibility and innovation," said Ray Baker, Director of the Miami-Dade Public Library System. "These awards not only celebrate the exceptional efforts of our employees but also highlight Miami-Dade County's commitment to innovation and its impact on our community. Congratulations to Jennifer and Marlon for exemplifying the best of public service!"
 
For more information about the awards, click on the links below.
Marlon Moore | Movers & Shakers 2024—Innovators | Library Journal.
2024 ETS Best Emerging Technology Application Award – RUSA Update
 

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Miami-Dade Public Library System (Library) provides extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities. The Library is recognized as an  Autism Friendly Partner by the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The Library was also named a finalist for the prestigious IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2022 and 2023 and has been honored with several awards, including 102 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards over the past seven years, an Urban Libraries Council 2020 Innovation Award, and seven Florida Library Association (FLA) Awards for Excellence and Innovation from 2018 – 2024, including being named Library of the Year in 2024. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.

About Library Journal
Founded in 1876, Library Journal is a trade publication serving librarians and library workers. Sharing important news and perspectives that shape the field, surfacing best practices and innovations to invest in, identifying emerging leaders, guiding purchasing decisions, and acting as an advocate for librarians and libraries, Library Journal has been leading the field through the great changes and innovations required to keep libraries strong for nearly 150 years.
 
About the Reference and User Services Association
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a division of the American Library Association. RUSA serves all types of libraries in reference, user services, adult readers advisory and collection development as well as resource sharing, genealogy and archives, business reference and reference technology.

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To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Public Library System-sponsored program or meeting, please call Monica Martinez at 305-375-5094 or email programs@mdpls.org five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Connect with us:

Download our app: