If you don’t have a Broward County Libraries Division card, you’re missing out on some amazing perks – and I’m not just the real moon rock that the Main Library has on the 6th floor, either.
Check out (literally!) these awesome items from your Broward County Libraries Division:
- Check out over 2,000 free video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, XBox and XBox 360!
- Check out e-readers, including Sony e-Readers, Kindles and Nooks! Patrons who have never used these devices can participate in a 15 minute tutorial with a Library employee.
- Check out acoustic guitars from the Pompano Beach location
Download free movies, audio books, e-books and more!
The Broward County Libraries Division offers access to many different types of software. Some can be checked out for home use; others can be used directly from the Internet!
- Download 5 free songs every week! Use your Broward County library card to login to Freegal. You can keep your downloads forever. They never expire!
- Stream free movies with Hoopla. Use your library card and the last four digits of your phone number to login!
- Access free e-Books like the Chilton auto repair library, Overdrive. One Click Digital, Bibliotheca Cloud Library, Comics Plus, EBSCOhost eBook collection and more.
- Download digital magazines with Flipster and Zinio Digital Magazine Newsstand. There are more than 300 available – and some are enhanced with audio, video and live links!
You’ll have access to other online resources, too!
Enjoy free, unlimited, no-credit courses from Universal Class. There are over 500 classes to choose from. You’ll learn at your own pace while working with a real instructor. From Algebra to Yoga, there’s something for everyone!
Learn a language with Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Transparent Language, Transparent Language KidSpeak.
Job Coaching is available online between 2pm and 11:55pm every day. You’ll get live one-on-one coaching for everything from resume assistance, interview skills and career resources.
Tutoring from Brainfuse is available between 2pm and 11:55pm every day! Students in K12, college and even adult classes can receive assistance. These live, online tutors can assist with test prep, English, language arts, Foreign Languages, writing, math (up to calculus), science and social studies. Tutoring is also available in Spanish.
Get a scholarship and earn an accredited high school diploma through the Broward County Library’s Career Online High School. Applicants must be Broward County residents ages 19 and up who have a library card in good standing. You must have completed at least one year of high school to enroll.
The Creation Station Lab is our absolute favorite part of BCLD.
I’m in absolute love with the Creation Station Labs offered by the Broward County Library Division. The library system offers three free community creativity centers: one at the Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, one at Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs and one at the Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library in Pompano Beach.
At the Creation Station Lab, you’ll find some amazing high-tech creation equipment, including:
- 3D Printers (and 3D design)
- Gadget labs
- Audio/video production
- Electronics kits
- Computer programming equipment
- Sound room*
- Engineering booth*
- Electronic keyboards, guitars and drum kits*
- Microphones*
- Acoustic guitars (available for check-out!)*
*Items denoted with an asterisk are available at Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library’s Creation Station, which focuses on music production.
Invent something awesome? The Main Library in Fort Lauderdale is an officially designated Federal Documents Repository, State of Florida Depository Library and a Patents and Trademark Resource Center. Specifically trained staff is available to help you with your patent!
Got kids? They’ll love these the Broward County Libraries Division!
Read to a therapy dog with the Wags & Tales program! Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 can participate in this reading practice program.
Just call a phone number and listen to a story! The Broward County Libraries Division offers a Dial-a-Story program that is available 24/7. Four different, professionally recorded stories are read at a time with new stories offered every week. Just call (954) 357-7777 to listen!
Learn to read with Ultimate Phonics Reading Program!
Teens have access to special library resources, too.
Free SAT preparation classes are available for high school sophomores and juniors. Workshops on financial aid and college prep are also available.
Disabled patrons have special privileges.
Take home a specialized telephone! If you are deaf, blind, speech impaired or hard of hearing, you may be able to obtain a FREE specialized telephone from Florida Telecommunications Relay Inc. The Broward County libraries work with agencies to help you get these phones. Visit the library or call (954) 357-8686 for more information.
Hearing impaired patrons can obtain special listening devices for use within the library. The devices help block background noise while amplifying the sounds you want to hear.
Homebound patrons can receive Books by Mail. The library will send standard books, large print books,videos or other materials to anyone who is homebound or unable to visit the library due to a physical disability.
Patrons who are blind or physically unable to use printed materials may qualify for the Talking Book Library program. Under this program, you’ll have access to the library’s collection of Braille books, books on tape and other materials. The library will even mail you the books!
Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may participate in a Signing Stories program. These special ASL story times are held on select Saturdays throughout the year.
Learn a new skill with on-site classes!
The Small Business Resource Center is located on the second floor of the Broward County African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. Here, you can obtain assistance with business plans, marketing, finances and more. The center is open from 10am to 6pm every day except Mondays and Wednesdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the center is open from 12pm to 8pm.
Computer skills classes are available for seniors through the OASIS program.
Citizenship classes and English classes are availalble to help immigrants become more accustomed to the English language and American culture.
Literacy services are also available to help youth and young adults who are struggling with reading and writing.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.