BROWARD COUNTY, FL – Broward County Library Community Engagement Manager Roslyn Dean, PhD, was named as one of Library Journal’s 2020 “Movers & Shakers" in the Digital Developers category. Movers & Shakers is an annual list of emerging leaders in the library world selected by the editors of Library Journal.
Dean is featured in the May 2020 issue of Library Journal with this year's other honorees. She was recognized for her work in coordinating two recent Broward County Library initiatives, Virtual AARLCC and Project Welcome.
Virtual AARLCC is Broward County Library’s virtual exhibition of 20 important acquisitions from the Special Collections of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). This specially curated exhibit, which lives online at the Virtual AARLCC website, features 3D models of African masks, carvings, figurines and other unique and significant artifacts. The public is invited to a live, 90-minute tours of Virtual AARLCC at 1PM on Thursday, May 28. The tours are available to all ages but preregistration is required.
Project Welcome is a program that supports English-language learners/newcomers to Broward. It offers targeted library services that support them on their path towards literacy, economic prosperity and a sense of belonging. As part of Project Welcome, Dean coordinated the use of Amazon Echo Dots at library service desks to assist non-English/limited English-speaking customers, a new concept for libraries.
Project Welcome received the Florida Library Association's 2020 Library Innovation Award, which recognizes a Florida library that uses innovative methods, projects, products, or organizational enhancements.
"Roslyn has been instrumental in launching programs that engage our community through the use of innovative and cutting-edge technology," says Broward County Library Director Kelvin Watson. "Her hard work, creative ideas and fearlessness in trying new things makes her a stand-out among library professionals. Her place on this prestigious list is well-deserved."
Dean will be honored at the yet-unscheduled 2020/2021 American Library Association Annual Conference.
About Broward County Libraries Division
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than 7.5 million walk-in customers visiting its 38 locations annually. Broward County Libraries Division provides 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: May 15, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine McElrath
Libraries Division
PHONE: 954-357-7402
EMAIL: cmcelrath@Broward.org