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At the School Board Meeting of September 6, 2023, School Board Member Luisa Santos proffered agenda item B-4, recognizing the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS).
Serving the Miami-Dade community for over 100 years, the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) has evolved through time and the public’s demand for use of the library as a destination for community events, educational activities, services, and programs delivered with exceptional customer service. Our local libraries have gone through transformative changes, having become institutions that help us bridge the gap between our community members and the resources that are out there to better serve their needs.
Their innovative work and dedication to the community was recently recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo), founded in 1935 with the purpose of uniting county officials to advocate for county priorities, implement policies, and optimize county and taxpayer resources.
Over the past seven years, MDPLS has received a total of 102 NACo Achievement Awards. Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) excelled this year by winning 15 awards, the second-most of any department in Miami-Dade County. This year’s 2023 award-winning programs granted are: Art at the Library – Synergy and Opportunity led by Oscar Fuentes, A Stone of Hope – Representation Through the Arts led by Rita Mayer and Talia Len; Dancing Through Toddler Time – Challenging Families to Replicate the Experience led by Ellen Book, The Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Mogul Maker Expo led by Marlon Moore, Community ID Program led by Lydia Lopez, Hammocks Community Park Outreach led by Kemi Odulana and Cynthia Saavedra, Intergenerational Coloring Club led by Fatima Centeno, Kendale Lakes Branch Chess Club led by Katherine Moore, Living with Low Vision Seminar led by Doris Albury, Felicia Brown, and Jennifer Shipley, Miami-Dade Obituary Index led by Stephanie Garcia, NASA @ My Library led by Janelle Gonzalez, Athy Fitos, and Gina Menge, STEAM-Off in the Garden led by Cynthia Saavedra and Kemi Odulana, Story Extravaganza – An Inclusive Multi-Sensory Event for Children of All Abilities led by Enrique Cordero and Jennifer Shipley, Storytelling Troupe – Engaging Communities with History, Culture and Humor led by Jennifer Shipley and Bryant Capley; and the Writing Workshop for Tweens and Teens led by Jessica Noble and Yirca Salazar.
Join me in celebrating the 15 awardees for all of their outstanding work to keep our community informed and engaged. From arts and culture, STEAM, inclusivity, and educational support, these initiatives touch every corner of our districts. These NACo Achievement Awards are a testament to the continuing success of the Miami-Dade Public Library System and its enduring mission and vision.
