By Joyce Moed

The city of Hollywood welcomed a new library on June 8th.

"It replaces the former Hollywood branch library, which is located adjacent to the new library," said Eileen Cobb, assistant director of the Broward County Libraries Division.
The new Hollywood Branch Library, located at 2600 Hollywood Blvd., is part of the $139.9 million bond issue that was approved by Broward County votes in March, 1999, Cobb said.

"One of the projects of the bond issue was to build a new, bigger location," she said.
The previous location was about 13,800 square feet. The new building is 30,000 square feet - more than double the size of the old space. The building consists of two floors, with the second floor consisting of city offices.

"The city paid the additional cost for the second floor, and for the foundation to support the additional floor," Cobb said.

The new library also features two new features: a meeting room and a computer center.
"This library has a meeting room that should see up to 150 people," Cobb said. "The other library did not have that."

The new space will help the library provide many new children's programs. Cobb said.
"There is also a storytelling room, which was a space also not in the old library," she said. There will also be a teen librarian on staff, planning activities designed specifically for teenagers.

Ongoing activities planned for children at the new library include Story Time Fun, for ages 3 to 5, at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday; and Toddler Time, for ages 18 to 36 months, at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. There are also many additional programs planned each month including crafts classes and puppet-making classes.

The computer center will offer many types of instructional classes, Cobb said, including basic computer literacy, e-mail, how to learn Microsoft Office, how to use the Internet, how to use PowerPoint, and a typing software program.

"The staff is very enthusiastic about the new building," Cobb said. The staff members include those of the previous building, and additional staff to help provide for all the services at the new, larger location.

The new building also brings more open hours to the community. The old building was open five days per week. The new library is open seven days, with the hours of: Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.broward.org/library, or call 954-926-2430.