Public Library Facilities Master Plan for Metropolitan Dade County: Fid-Bau Portal

Public Library Facilities Master Plan for Metropolitan Dade County

The study reviews the current status of public library service in Metropolitan Dade County, Florida, with particular reference to: the governing structure of the existing public library agencies; the sources and levels of their financial support; the available library facilities, resources and personnel; the services that are provided; the uses made of these libraries by their patrons; and the patrons' attitudes toward these agencies. The study recommends a library facilities master plan that calls for the establishment of a county library system. This system would be operated by Dade County and would initially serve all of the unincorporated areas, those municipalities without libraries, municipalities whose libraries are operated under contract with the City of Miami or with Dade County, and the City of Miami itself. Other independent libraries within Dade County would have the opportunity to voluntarily affiliate with the county system. The existing Miami Public Library would function as the headquarters library of the proposed system. The master plan suggests a capital construction program which includes the provision of a new headquarters facility in Miami, the building of four regional libraries in various parts of the county, the establishment of new branch facilities, the expansion of certain existing facilities and the closing of others. (Author)