BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Library's Stirling Road Branch Library, located at 3151 Stirling Road, Hollywood, FL 33312, has been renamed the Marta-Beth Friedman Stirling Road Branch Library in honor of a longtime Broward County Library advocate and volunteer.

The name change was announced during the Broward County Commission meeting on September 5, 2024. Bernard Friedman, Marta-Beth's spouse, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke in support of renaming the library, and it was approved unanimously by the Board of Broward County Commissioners.  

For over 20 years, Friedman was an active member of the Broward County Library Advisory Board. She played a key role in establishing two new branch libraries in her hometown of Hollywood. A champion for children's programming, Friedman, who passed away earlier this year from pancreatic cancer, worked to build bridges between public libraries and educational institutions to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children after school, enabling them to continue their learning and benefit from library resources. 

"She was a highly respected member of our community. Numerous beautiful letters came in, stating that this library would not exist without Marta Beth. Her dedication, kindness, and generosity have left an indelible mark on all of us. This Commission fully supports renaming this library to honor her work and legacy," said Mayor Nan Rich.

"Marta-Beth Friedman's passion for libraries and her invaluable contributions to our community make her the perfect namesake for this library," says Broward County Library Director Allison Grubbs. "It is an honor for Broward County Library to recognize her legacy." 

A free, public dedication/renaming ceremony will be scheduled for a later date. 

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 systems in Florida. Broward County Libraries Division's 37 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 X.