Miami, Florida – The Miami-Dade County Public Library System (Library) has garnered the prestigious 2024 Library of the Year award from the Florida Library Association (FLA). This honor is a recognition of the Library’s significant contributions to community service and its commitment to excellence, leadership, and innovation in catering to the diverse needs of Miami-Dade County residents.
A Testament to Community Service and Innovation
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her congratulations to the team at the Miami-Dade Public Library System, highlighting the award as a testament to their dedication, innovation, and hard work.
“The Library plays such a vital role in our community, where residents can access information, resources such as social services and internet connectivity, cultural enrichment, and gather for community events. Our libraries are safe spaces where residents can engage and thrive,” said Mayor Levine Cava.
In addition to winning the Florida Library of the Year, the Miami-Dade Public Library System was also recognized with two other FLA Awards for 2024. These include the Excellence in Marketing and Public Relations Award, which was given for the Library’s effective communication of its value to the community through a robust Library Card Sign-up Month campaign in September 2023. This campaign notably resulted in a 21 percent increase in new cardholders over the previous year, marking the highest number of new sign-ups in a single month for the Library.
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Recognizing Individual Excellence and Innovation
The Library’s achievements also extended to individual recognition, with Daniel Jones being honored as the Outstanding New Librarian of the year. Jones has been instrumental in enhancing the services at the Naranja Branch Library since October 2022. His efforts in identifying the diverse needs of patrons and providing opportunities for STEAM education have been pivotal.
Furthermore, he has excelled in offering assistance with accessing social services, health, and wellness resources, and has established successful programs for tweens and teens, thereby enriching the community engagement manifold.
Ray Baker, Director of the Miami-Dade Public Library System, expressed pride in receiving these accolades, reaffirming the Library’s commitment to innovation and community service.
“We are committed to providing innovative library services and programs that meet the evolving needs of our community. These awards are a recognition of our team’s dedication to excellence and our ongoing commitment to serving the residents of Miami-Dade County,” stated Baker.
The awards were presented during a ceremony on May 17 at the FLA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The recognition not only underscores the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s role as a cornerstone of community enrichment and education but also celebrates its continued efforts to adapt and respond to the educational and informational needs of its patrons.
For those interested in learning more about the award-winning programs and initiatives of the Miami-Dade Public Library System or the details of the 2024 Florida Library Association awards, further information can be found on the FLA’s awards page at https://fla.memberclicks.net/2024-award-winners and the Library’s official website at www.mdpls.org.
