The Broward Public Library Foundation was founded in 1982 to enhance the collections, programs and services of the Broward County Library beyond the means of public funding. The nonprofit Foundation is the catalyst in sparking private funding and endowments to enrich the Broward County Library system.

Recapping“An Eveningwith Carl Hiaasen”

More than 130 guests recently joined the Library Foundation for “An Evening with Carl Hiaasen.” The Broward native and best-selling author of such favorites as Hoot and Double Whammy graciously spoke at this fundraising event and signed copies of his latest book and first foray into the field of teen literature, Skink – No Surrender. The Foundation presented the 2014 National Book Award nominee with the “Broward’s Literary Son” award in appreciation for his contributions to the writing field. The event was sponsored by Nova Southeastern University, Shutts & Bowen LLP and U.S. Trust.

#Giving TuesdayIs December 2

On Tuesday, December 2nd, the Broward Public Library Foundation invites you to take part in a nationwide day of giving to kick off the holiday season. Designed to offset the personal shopping commonly done on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for individuals, families and businesses to come together on one common day to celebrate generosity and give to charity. Please help the Foundation reach its $5,000 goal for Giving Tuesday by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.bplfoundation.org/giving-tuesday.php.

LitLUNCH! Brings First Lady of Food to Fort Lauderdale

LitLUNCH!, the kick-off to Literary Feast 2015, will take place on Friday, February 20th at 11:15 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six’s Pier Top restaurant, which offers stunning views of east Fort Lauderdale’s waterways. The Foundation is delighted to be welcoming Food & Wine magazine Editor-in-Chief

and author Dana Cowin as the guest speaker. Her newly released book is entitled, Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen: Learning to Cook with 65 Great Chefs and Over 100 Delicious Recipes.

Dubbed the “first lady of food,” Cowin’s book is both hilarious and heartwarming and gives those of us who love a good meal but are terrified of preparing it the encouragement and instruction we need to pull it off. According to Publishers Weekly, “Cowin’s culinary education makes for a charming and important book for both would-be and accomplished chefs.”

With capacity for only 200 guests, LitLUNCH! routinely sells

out, so please visit www.bplfoundation.org/luncheon-course-literary-feast.php for sponsorship information or to purchase your non-refundable tickets ($75 per person). Tickets to LitLUNCH! would make a great holiday gift, too!

Please Consider a Year-End GiftAs 2014 comes to a close, please consider a year-end gift to the Broward

Public Library Foundation. With your help, we can continue to fund the programs and services that are so vital to our community: Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays, the Summer Reading Program, computer instruction classes, Storybook Festival, Conference on Children’s Literature, library staff scholarships, and many more. Your support helps us accomplish this!

In order to qualify for a 2014 tax deduction, please mail your check or pay online at www.bplfoundation.org/gift.php so that your gift is received by December 31st.

NOVEMBER 2014

Book With Brunch Continues January 14th

The next Book With Brunch will be held on Wednesday, January 14th beginning at 10:30 a.m. at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale (1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard) and will feature Shirley Press, MD, author of Pressing My Luck: A Doctor’s Lottery Journey. Prior to winning $56 million in the Florida Lottery, Dr. Press was a hardworking pediatric emergency room physician. In her memoir, she gives readers a candid look at her life before and after her windfall, examining the challenges and self-discovery that resulted from her stroke of luck.

Dr. Press will speak, sell and sign her book at this event, which is held as a benefit to Foundation members at the $50 level and above; non-members may attend by paying a $25 non-refundable fee in advance. Please e-mail treilly@bplfoundation.org or call 954.357.7384 to make your reservation. Seating is limited to the first 50 registrants.

“Dreamers & Schemers” at Main Library

Spend an evening at the Main Library with three famous figures from Florida’s history. Presented at 6 p.m. November 19 by the Florida Humanities Council, “Dreamers & Schemers: The Land of Freedom, Opportunity and New Beginnings” will feature monologues by actors representing Native American leader Osceola, African-American educator Mary McLeod Bethune and Francisco Menendez, free black military leader serving the Spanish Crown in 17th century St. Augustine.

For much of its history, Florida was a wild frontier – the perfect place for someone to disappear or start over. Displaced Native Americans and runaway slaves both made Florida their home for just this reason. Osceola, McLeod Bethune and Menendez each knew that Florida offered them a fresh start and the hope of a brighter future.

The program, to be held in the first-floor auditorium, is free. Members of the Library Foundation’s Culture Club are invited to a pre-show reception starting at 5:15 p.m. in the Main Library’s 6th floor Bienes Museum of the Modern Book. The Culture Club is comprised of donors at the Franklin ($250), Carnegie ($500) and Jefferson Society ($1,000) levels, as well as Literary Feast Author’s Circle ($1,000) donors. RSVP to the Culture Club reception at 954.357.7382 by Monday, November 17th.

Receiving our E-mails?If you aren’t already receiving

our e-mails and would like to sign-up to receive timely information from the Broward Public Library Foundation, please call 954.357.7384.

Books and Teddy Bears Bring Holiday Joy

You can make the holidays brighter for more than a thousand needy preschoolers by donating teddy bears or dollars to the annual Books ‘n’ Bears at the Holidays program.

At parties at nine library branches in December, each child will receive a gift of a teddy bear and a new book and be entertained with songs and stories.

Clean, medium-sized (12 inches) new or gently used plush bears are being collected through November 30 at the Youth Services (Children’s) department of any Broward County Library. For further information, contact Youth Services Administration at 954.357.7406.

To contribute to the Books ‘n’ Bears program, visit www.bplfoundation.org/booksandbearsform.php or call 954.357.7382. Your contribution will help us reach even more children this year and provide them with a life-changing experience.

Make the Foundation Your Amazon Smile Beneficiary

Do you shop on Amazon.com? If so, Amazon has a program that lets you designate our Foundation to receive .5% of your qualifying purchases. It’s called AmazonSmile and it only takes a minute to sign up and choose the Broward Public Library Foundation as your “shopping beneficiary.” Just visit www.smile.amazon.com to sign up and then shop as you normally would. We appreciate your support!

Scholarship AppreciationLibrary Foundation donor Elaine Peck, center, recently met Nevin Buyukozturk, left and Loria Hyatt, right, two West Regional Library employees who had received non-tuition scholarships to pursue their undergraduate degrees. Mrs. Peck, a retired New York City school principal, funds this program, and also the Elaine Peck Education Grants for those library employees who are studying for their Master’s of Library Science degrees. “A book,” Mrs. Peck said, “is my best friend.”

StoryBook Festival celebrates “Home, Sweet Home, Florida”

Exciting stories of Florida’s earliest days will be featured at the 13th annual StoryBook Festival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 15 at the Southwest Regional Library (16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines).

With the theme of “Home, Sweet Home, Florida,” storytellers will share traditional Florida stories ranging from Florida Cracker tales to bilingual tales of the Spanish-speaking communities that first settled Florida.

More than 3,500 children and their parents are expected to attend the day-long festival, which is funded through the Broward Public Library Foundation. The children are encouraged to come in costume and join in the StoryBook Parade at 1:15 p.m. A full day of music, dance, storybook characters and children’s performances is planned on four stages. The first 1,000 children arriving to the festival will receive a free book.

Baptist Health South Florida is the festival’s Presenting Sponsor.

100 South Andrews AvenueFort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

954.357.7384www.BPLFoundation.org