Library
Broward County Library offers books, digital media, research tools, classes, and programs through its branches and online services. This article explains how to get the right library card, borrow or access materials, choose a location, and find services for children and adults. It also points out common mix-ups that can slow down a search or a visit.
What the Library Offers
The Broward County Library website is the main entry point for the library system. Its quick links lead to the catalog and account tools, library card applications, digital materials, locations, events, and other services. Broward County Library operates branches, regional libraries, and reading centers across the county, as well as online resources that customers can access outside branch hours.
A library visit can serve different purposes. You might borrow a print book, use a public computer, attend a class, or ask a librarian for help locating information. Online, you can search the catalog, place holds, renew materials, and access digital collections. The best starting point depends on what you need: a library card for borrowing, the catalog for a specific item, the locations directory for a visit, or the online resources pages for research and digital media.
Choosing a Library Card
Broward County Library describes two principal card options on its library card page. The Instant eCard provides immediate access to the library’s online collection. The All-Access Card covers both physical borrowing and online resources. Choose based on the materials you plan to use, rather than assuming an online card will let you take items home from a branch.
Instant eCard for Online Access
The Instant eCard is for eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming movies and music, eMagazines, research sources, and other online materials. People who currently live, work, or attend school in Broward County, or who are visiting the county, meet the eligibility conditions stated for this card. You can apply online and receive an email containing your new library card number. The library also says Instant eCard holders may visit a library location to use a public computer.
Keep the email with your card number where you can retrieve it when signing in. Having an Instant eCard does not by itself cover taking books, DVDs, or other physical items home; that is the purpose of the All-Access Card.
All-Access Card for Borrowing
The All-Access Card lets customers borrow physical materials, including books, DVDs, CDs, and hotspots. It also provides access to the library’s online resources and public computers. Apply in person at a branch. The library card page directs applicants to review its identification requirements before visiting, so consult those requirements and bring the applicable ID. Applicants can choose a card design at the branch.
If you already have a card, use the account option on the library website to view or update your account instead of beginning with a new application. This is also a useful place to start when your goal is to manage materials you have borrowed.
Catalog Searches and Borrowing
The library homepage provides a “My Account/Catalog” entry point for searching its collection and managing an account. Search for a title or subject when you know what you want, then review the item’s format and availability. A print book, eBook, audiobook, and DVD may appear as different choices. Pay attention to which version you select, especially if you need a physical copy at a branch or a format that works on your device.
Library customers can use online account tools to place holds and renew materials. The library says materials may be picked up or returned at any Broward County Library location and that curbside service is available. If a trip depends on a particular item, confirm its status through the catalog or your account before going. A branch’s general collection description does not establish that an individual title is available there today.
Some searches begin without a title. The library’s eBook information points readers toward regularly updated lists of new and popular titles and tools for discovering books by interest. Librarians can also help you identify a title or format. Describe the subject, intended age group, language, or type of material you want so the search can be narrowed to useful results.
Finding the Right Branch
The library locations directory lets you search by name or address and filter by city. Individual listings provide branch details, directions, and nearby library options. Use the listing for the specific location you intend to visit, since collections and facilities differ. The directory also displays operating status, which is useful to review before traveling.
For example, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center has collections and special materials relating to African, African American, and Caribbean heritage. The Broward County Library Branch in Davie, formerly Young at Art, focuses primarily on children’s materials and has a teen section with a substantial graphic novel collection. Carver Ranches Branch describes Black heritage materials and French, Spanish, and children’s Creole materials. These are reasons to examine a branch listing when your visit has a particular purpose; they are not substitutes for checking an individual item in the catalog.
Other locations serve different needs. Fort Lauderdale Reading Center lists reference services and public computers, while Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center focuses on adult fiction and audiovisual media. Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch lists computers, a scanner, a photocopier, and a multipurpose room. If you need a computer, a particular collection, or space for a program, read the branch’s details before choosing where to go.
The locations directory may include special-use collections with different access arrangements. The Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, located inside Main Library, says viewing its collection is by appointment. Do not treat a special collection listing as a promise that its materials can be viewed during an ordinary walk-in visit.
eBooks, Audio, and Streaming
The library’s eMedia page groups digital books, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, classes, language lessons, and newspapers. It instructs customers to sign in with a Broward County Library card number and a PIN consisting of the last four digits of their phone number. Begin with the type of content you want, then follow the library’s entry point for that resource; the digital collection is spread across several services with different borrowing and viewing features.
Digital Books and Magazines
The eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines page explains how to find reading and listening options for different ages. eBooks can be used on computers and mobile devices, with features such as adjustable text size, bookmarks, highlighting, and search. Loan periods vary, and the library states there are no late fees for these digital loans.
Different Ways to Read
OverDrive offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines; its Libby app can be used to search, download, read, and listen. The library identifies separate OverDrive selections for children and teens. Hoopla includes eBooks and eAudiobooks along with movies, television, music, and comics, with titles available to stream or download for offline use. BiblioBoard includes books by local and national self-published authors. The library says a BiblioBoard account is not required to read online, although a profile can save favorites and bookmarks.
Check the instructions for the particular resource when signing in. For example, the library says Hoopla users create an account with an email address and password. Some resources associated with the NSU-Alvin Sherman Library require an NSU E-Card in addition to a Broward County Library card. That extra step applies to those identified resources; it is not a general requirement for every library eBook.
Movies, Music, and Classes
Digital access goes beyond books. The eMedia page identifies services for streaming films and documentaries, music, online courses, language lessons, and newspapers. Choose the category on the library site first so you reach the access instructions for the material you want. A movie service, a music service, and an online class may each have a different sign-in or viewing process, even though they appear under the same library collection.
For a phone or tablet, the library’s digital pages identify available mobile options for reading, listening, streaming, language learning, and tutoring. If an item does not open as expected, review that resource’s device and account instructions before trying a different format. A title available as an eBook, for instance, does not necessarily appear in the same place as its audiobook edition.
Research and Learning Resources
The online resources directory organizes library materials by subject. Its categories include business and law, education, government, health and science, history and genealogy, jobs and careers, languages, newspapers, and resources in Spanish. It also provides an alphabetical list when you know the name of a resource. Sign in with your library card number and the PIN described on the library page when the resource requests them.
Use the subject categories when a general web search produces too many unrelated results. A student looking for tutoring can begin with the testing and tutoring category; a job seeker can examine jobs and career resources; someone researching a family history can start with history, genealogy, biography, and social studies. The directory points to library research materials, while the catalog is the better starting point for locating a particular book or other collection item.
Branch staff can also provide help. The library describes librarians offering support and computer instruction at many locations, in person, by phone, or through the website. If your question combines a research topic with a practical task, such as finding a source and learning how to access it online, explain both parts when requesting assistance.
Programs for Children and Teens
The library’s youth programs and resources page brings together reading materials, tutoring, college preparation, and events. Children and teens can search and download digital books, and the page highlights reading lists for different interests. Families with younger children can examine the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. The page also points to events for babies, children, and teens.
For schoolwork, the library lists live, interactive tutoring in math, science, social studies, and English. It describes the service as available around the clock and also in Spanish. Students planning for college can look for SAT/ACT preparation classes and college readiness workshops. These are separate offerings, so select the tutoring or class option that matches the student’s immediate need.
Education and Career Help
The adult education resources page covers career support, lifelong learning, literacy, veteran resources, workshops, and tutoring. Its tutoring information includes an Adult Learning Center with GED preparation, U.S. citizenship preparation, Microsoft Office help, and career and résumé resources. The page also identifies JobNow for résumé help, interview coaching, and career assessments.
Someone preparing for a job search may need a workshop, a career resource, and help using a computer at different points. Review the adult resources page for online options, then look at the events calendar for a scheduled class. Library branches also provide computer instruction at many locations. The description of a service on a countywide page does not mean every branch offers the same class at the same time.
Events, Classes, and Exhibits
The library events page covers programs for different ages, including storytimes, author events, writer workshops, career and business events, lectures, arts and crafts, online events, and classes. The events calendar allows a search term and filters for location, age group, event type, and date range. Use those filters to distinguish a nearby in-person program from an online event or one intended for a different age group.
Event pages also highlight the library magazine and recurring programs, but a highlighted item is not a substitute for the event’s own date and location details. Open the event you plan to attend and check its listing before arranging a visit. If you are interested in a particular branch, filter by location first; if your schedule is fixed, set the date range before comparing programs.
Common Library Search Mix-Ups
Several library tools answer different questions. The locations directory tells you where a branch is and what facilities or collections it describes. The catalog helps you locate a particular item and manage holds. The online resources directory organizes research and learning materials by subject. The eMedia pages explain digital books, audio, and streaming content. Starting in the right place can save time when a broad site search returns several similar results.
Need to take an item home? Review the All-Access Card requirements. An Instant eCard is described for online materials and public computer use.
Looking for a particular title? Search the catalog and check the format and availability, rather than relying only on a branch’s collection description.
Planning a visit? Check the individual location listing for its status, details, and directions.
Opening a digital resource? Follow that resource’s account and device instructions. Requirements can differ across digital services.
Attending a program? Read the individual event listing for its date, location, and intended audience.
These distinctions matter most when your plans depend on a specific item, service, or time. A card application, a catalog hold, a digital sign-in, and an event search are separate tasks within the same library system.
Library Offices and Locations
Broward County Libraries Division — 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
African American Research Library & Cultural Center — 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Carver Ranches Branch — 4735 SW 18th Street, West Park, FL 33023
Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch — 1 Park Avenue East, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Fort Lauderdale Reading Center — 1300 E Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Library FAQs
Can I scan a book in a store to see if the library has it?
Yes. The Broward County Library mobile app can scan a book’s ISBN barcode and search the library catalog. Check the result carefully: a matching title may appear in several formats or editions. If the copy you want is unavailable, the app also lets you reserve materials. See the county’s mobile apps page for app details.
What if Broward County Library doesn’t have the title I need?
The library lists interlibrary loan among its services. Search the regular catalog first, including alternate spellings, authors, and editions. If you still cannot find the work, look for the interlibrary loan service and review its instructions before making a request. A request is different from placing a hold on an item already in Broward County Library’s collection, so allow for a separate process.
Will I owe late fines on an older library loan?
Broward County Library says it has eliminated late fines and includes a “No More Late Fines” section on its library card page. If you see a charge or an account restriction, check your account for the specific item and charge type before assuming it is an overdue fine. The statement about late fines does not, by itself, explain every possible account charge.
How can I check for a sudden branch closure?
Check the alerts on the library homepage shortly before leaving. Temporary maintenance closures can appear there even when you have visited the branch before. If your usual location is affected, use the locations listing to find a nearby branch, then check that branch’s current status and hours. For a planned program, also review its event listing for any change.