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Broward County Library Receives Grant to Empower Broward's Unemployed
  
- Funds awarded to make public job-ready -
  

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Library (BCL) is the recipient of a prestigious $126,294 Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) CARES Act Grant. The grant, one of 89 awarded from more than 1700 applications, will fund specific BCL services directed towards optimizing the employability of local job seekers.

The Library's "BCL to Go - Workforce Ready" grant will support multiple strategies for providing skill-building resources for job-readiness. Many Broward residents lack broadband access, are without access to computers, or are lacking up-to-date technology training needed to advance in the workforce.

"Broward County Library is constantly exploring the frontiers of what equitable access to resources means to Broward residents," said Broward County Library Director Allison Grubbs. "This grant will allow us to more effectively respond to the needs of those residents who are suffering due to the current economic downturn and who have access to the fewest resources. This is a time of unparalleled need in our community and the Library is here to help."

As a result of this grant, BCL will enhance the Workforce Ready initiative rolled out earlier this year. The initiative will include resources such as 110 mobile workstations that provide the vitally necessary technology, including 50 Chromebook kits with Wi-Fi hotspots to provide internet access. Furthermore, BCL intends to expand the initiative in May 2022 to include 60 Samsung tablets with internet data plans. Participants can check out the Chromebook kits or Samsung tablets for up to two months at a time.  

Additionally, each mobile workstation is loaded with workforce development and educational applications which will help users conduct job searches, prepare resumes, engage in online interviews and attend educational webinars to increase their employment opportunities.

For more information about the services and resources offered by Broward County Library to help with job readiness, please contact Michael Bryant, Adult Services Coordinator, at mdbryant@broward.org or 954-357-7435.

Participating libraries include Carver Ranches, Davie/Cooper City, Jan Moran Collier City, Lauderhill Central Park, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale Saraniero, Pompano Beach, Tyrone Bryant, and Riverland. Library addresses, phone numbers and service hours can be found on our Library Locations webpage

Additional funding for the BCL to Go Workforce Ready initiative has been provided by the Broward Public Library Foundation and Comcast.

About Broward County Libraries

Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is one of the largest and busiest library system in Florida. Broward County Libraries Division 38 locations provide convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.

DATE: November 2, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: 
Catherine McElrath
Libraries Division
PHONE: 
954-357-7402
EMAIL: 
cmcelrath@Broward.org