BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Library is the recipient of a $2,500 Life, Liberty + Libraries grant from Florida Humanities and PBS Books. The grant will be used to purchase democracy and civic-themed books for circulation, and to offer complementary and engaging public humanities programming using these new resources. 

In support of Life, Liberty + Libraries, Broward County Library will also host a series of free, public online events in September and October, 2020. The first two events of the series are:

• Stand Up, Speak Out - Own Your Right to Vote: Voter Suppression
  Learn about voter suppression and how to make your vote count at this online panel discussion with moderator Dr. Monica Elliott of the League of Women Voters of Broward County; Magaly Alvarado of Hispanic Unity; Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, former State House Representative, District 92; and Gloria Battle, retired human rights consultant. 
  August 22, 2PM, Register
• Stand Up, Speak Out - Author Talk: The Woman’s Hour with Elaine Weiss
  Explore the importance of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment and how women’s participation in elections is  critical to nation’s democracy in this online conversation with American journalist and author Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote.
  September 12, 3PM, Register

Dates/times for an online teen art workshop,student essay contest and bilingual storytime, also funded by the Life, Liberty + Libraries grant, will be announced shortly. 

Life, Liberty + Libraries emerged from a unique partnership with the intention of providing libraries with vital funds to purchase democracy and civic-themed books for circulation, and to offer complementary and engaging public humanities programming using these new resources

“We are honored to receive the Life, Liberty + Libraries grant and look forward to offering these much-needed and timely resources to our customers," said Broward County Library Director Kelvin Watson.   

“This partnership with Florida Humanities is an important step in connecting with local communities across the state and bringing them into a vital conversation about democracy and civic engagement,” said Rich Homberg, President and CEO of Detroit Public TV (which manages PBS Books). “Libraries are a perfect place for such discussions to take place, and PBS Books is pleased to help launch this project.”

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About Broward County Libraries Division
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than 7.5 million walk-in customers visiting its 38 locations annually. Broward County Libraries Division provides convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.

DATE: August 18, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine McElrath
Libraries Division
PHONE: 954-357-7402
EMAIL: cmcelrath@Broward.org