Broward County Library has been named the 2026 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, earning top recognition along with two additional statewide awards for intellectual freedom and communications excellence.
The library system also secured the 2026 Intellectual Freedom Award and the 2026 Communications Excellence Award, while the Westside Gazette — nominated by Broward County Library — was honored with the Library Media/Business Partner of the Year Award.
Library Director Allison Grubbs described the recognition as a reflection of the system’s continued commitment to innovation and community engagement.
“Winning Library of the Year and these prestigious honors is a testament to our staff’s dedication to innovation, intellectual freedom, and to providing Broward County residents with a full range of outstanding informational, educational, and recreational library services and resources,” Grubbs said.
Library of the Year Recognition
Broward County Library, which operates 37 branches across the county, was recognized for its partnerships, community-focused programming and investment in technology and staff development.
During fiscal year 2025, the system reported its branches were open a combined 90,000 hours and welcomed more than five million visitors. The library also issued 100,000 new library cards, bringing total membership to approximately 1.4 million cardholders — representing about 70 percent of Broward County’s population.
Intellectual Freedom Award
The 2026 Intellectual Freedom Award went to the Black History Saturday School Communiversity Series, a multi-generational initiative hosted by the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.
The free monthly program offers Black history classes open to all residents and aims to preserve and share diverse historical narratives while promoting open access to information.
Communications Excellence Award
Broward County Library’s Freegal Quest campaign earned the Communications Excellence Award. The three-month marketing effort promoted Freegal, the library’s free music streaming service, through print, social media, digital outreach and in-library programming.
Staff members also served as brand ambassadors — dubbed “Freegal Wizards” — helping drive a 154 percent increase in new users and a 33 percent boost in songs streamed during the campaign.
Community Partnership Honored
The Westside Gazette, recognized as Outstanding Library Media or Business Partner of the Year, has supported Broward County Library since the early 1970s.
Under publisher Bobby Henry Sr., the Black-owned newspaper recently donated 50 years of archival issues for digitization, preservation and public access. The collaboration was highlighted in the February 2026 edition of Broward County Library Magazine and an accompanying video.
Awards Ceremony and Commemorative Card
The awards will be presented at the 2026 Florida Library Association Conference on May 6 in Orlando, Florida.
To mark the milestone, Broward County Library also announced plans to release a commemorative “Library of the Year” library card later this year.
