Broward Main LIbrary and Cultural Information Center - Ft Lauderdale Guide to the city

East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Las Olas Boulevard

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Broward County Main Library
Location:
100 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-357-7444
Fax: 954-357-7399
Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9 - 9
Friday, Saturday: 9 - 5
Sunday: 12 - 5:30
Website

Broward County Main Library, located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, opened to
the public on April 29, 1984. The eight-story public library is hailed as a symbol of resurgence of
business, government and cultural activity in the downtown area.

The library is built of precast concrete and designed to complement the Florida environment. Windows on three sides of the building are shaded by greenery and set back into walls of keystone, also called Florida limestone, made of coral rock from the Florida Keys.The front of the building on thenorthsideisasteppedfacadeofglass,punctu-ated with landscaped terraces on several levels. A six-story atrium soars upward through the building from a reflecting pool on the first floor. Inside, on the ground level, a courtyard and "interior street" for pedestrians provide access to the Cultural Information Center (CIC), Broward Community Technology Center, Talking Book Library and a 300-seat auditorium.The second floor houses the ArtServe Gallery and Gift Shop, Charcuterie Too! Restaurant, circulation area, and the audio-visual,popular materials and youth services departments.

The third and fourth floors house the reference and circulating book collections. The fifth floor
houses government documents, business and legal materials and the Small Business Resource
Center.

The sixth floor contains gallery six, an art exhibition area, the Bienes Center for the Literary Arts, the Florida Center for the Book,and offices of the Broward County Cultural Affairs Division. Administrative Offices, automation services and meeting rooms are located on the seventh and eighth floors.

More than 600,000 individual visits to the Main Library were recorded in one year. Popular annual events include Literary Feast, the Conference on Children's Literature and the Children's Reading Festival.

The building was designed by Contemporary U.S. architect Robert Gatje who practiced for many years in the firm of renowned Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer. Gatje was a founding partner of a successor firm after Breuer's retirement.

How to get to Las Olas Boulevard:

From I-95:

Take the Broward Boulevard exit east to SE 3rd Avenue.

Make a right (south) onto SE 3rd Ave. and proceed to 2nd light. (Las Olas Blvd)
Make a left (east) onto Las Olas Blvd.

From US1:

Take Broward Boulevard west to SE 3rd Ave.

Turn left on SE 3rd and continue south to Las Olas Blvd (2nd light)

Turn left (east) onto Las Olas Blvd.

Cultural Information Center

Cultural Information Center (CIC)
100 South Andrews Avenue
(954) 357-7979
Website

Located on the first floor of the Broward County Main Library and operated by Broward County Commission's Cultural Affairs Division, the CIC is a one-stop shop for quick and easy cultural information and tickets in South Florida. Includes gift shop, cultural concierge booth, online ticketing system and First Moon Cafe.

Spend a few minutes. Glance through brochures for area attractions before deciding where and what you want to explore.

A feature of the CIC is a Gift Shop with signature merchandise for cultural organizationsfeaturing unique items are just a small sampling of what you will find at local museum gift shops and performing arts venues. You can also choose from many CDs produced by local musicians.

A user-friendly outdoor touch screen kiosk makes it easy for you to find out about cultural events including art galleries, performances and other upcoming entertainment happenings in the tri-county area. View event listings, then use the outdoor ticket outlet to purchase tickets to the event of your choice. Information about bus routes, directions, shopping and dining is also available.