Warm Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year from all of us at the Miami-Dade Public Library System
HOLIDAY HOURS
In observance of Christmas and New Year's, please note the following holiday service hours:
- All library locations will be closed Saturday, December 24 through Monday, December 26 and Saturday, December 31 through Monday, January 2.
- The Bay Harbor Islands Branch Library will be open for curbside service only on Friday, December 23 and 30.
- MDPLS Homework Help & Tutoring Program sessions will not be available from Wednesday, December 21 through Saturday, January 14. The program will resume its regular service hours beginning Wednesday, January 18.
If you would like to watch a holiday movie, listen to a great eAudiobook or need a last minute recipe, remember our online library is always open! We encourage you to visit www.mdpls.org to check out eBooks, digital magazines, movies, music and much more, free with your library card. Don't have one? Sign up for an eCard (electronic card) and get immediate access to our online library.
If you need assistance during the holiday break, our Customer Care team will be available via email at customercare@mdpls.org December 24 through December 26 and December 31 through January 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thank you for being a library user!
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Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announcing the launch of Virtual Strive305 at the Arva Parks McCabe Auditorium at Main Library in downtown Miami on December 7.
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Miami-Dade County Launches Virtual Strive305 Learning Platform to Help Local Small Businesses Thrive
Looking to grow your small business? Miami-Dade County's new Virtual Strive305 online learning platform is now available to help you realize your entrepreneurial dreams.
From marketing and sales to operations, finance and more, Virtual Strive305 is a growing library of free online courses that will allow entrepreneurs and small business owners gain the knowledge and skills they need to grow their small businesses.
Watch the Miami-Dade Minute on the Virtual Strive305 Launch.
Click here for more information about the County's Strive305 Initiative.
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Community Resource
Miami-Dade County Expands its Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Need help paying your rent? In an effort to help more working individuals and families deal with rent increases and remain in their homes, Miami-Dade County has expanded the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to include residents earning up to 140% of the area median annual income (AMI). Single individuals earning less than $95,620, couples making less than $109,200, families of three earning less than $122,920 and families of four earning less than $136,500 can now qualify for rental assistance.
ERAP can help renters with issues such as past due rent, utility payments, some relocation assistance and increases in rent of up to 30 percent for a period of three months.
Click here for more information and to download an application.
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support Biscayne Bay
Give the Gift of Biscayne Bay with a Specialty License Plate
Show your love of Biscayne Bay this holiday season by reserving a “Protect Biscayne Bay” specialty license plate!
You can help get the license plate into statewide circulation by pre-purchasing in person at the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector office or any private auto tag agency, online or by mail. Plate sales will help support bay education and provide funding to preserve and restore Biscayne Bay.
Click here for more information and to reserve your "Protect Biscayne Bay" license plate.
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MDPLS Author Series
Count Down to the Holidays
with Author Tameka Fryer Brown
Join author Tameka Fryer Brown for a reading of her picture book Twelve Dinging Doorbells, a festive every-holiday carol written to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Ages 4 years and up.
Thursday, December 22, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
California Club Branch Library
For more information and to register, please contact the branch.
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Employee Spotlight
Love of History is Bryant Capley's Storytelling Touchstone
Bryant Capley's love of storytelling, teaching and leadership stretches back to his days playing Dungeons & Dragons as a teen and working his way up to become a Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout.
Storytelling is a key component of his work as manager of the Miami Beach Regional Library. His weekly children's storytimes incorporate everything from traditional folktales to encounters with his tortoises Jocko and Pebble.
What is your favorite online library resource? I really enjoy hoopla Digital because it has some very good eAudiobooks, especially in the category of history like The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson, which strips away the glamor of Ancient Egypt a bit by likening it to a modern totalitarian regime and provides a lot of information on otherwise obscure parts of its history.
What is the last book you read and what did you think of it? The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis, a mystery set in Ancient Rome during the reign of Vespasian, where the ancient equivalent of a private detective has to go to the Rhine frontier to investigate key information. I thought the book was pretty good overall and it has a lot of comedy in it.
What was your favorite subject in school? My favorite was social studies. I ended up majoring in history in college, which is like a degree in leadership because you can learn from the good and bad choices past leaders have made and find a leadership style that works for you.
What inspired you to pursue a library career? I was originally going to be a history teacher, but I realized I was much happier and could do a lot more for people at the library. It all started with my mother Betty Capley, who was a teacher and school library media specialist with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for four decades. I practically grew up in a school library, coming in on teacher workdays and in the summer. I learned from my mother how to take care of everyone who came in. My brother Brent Capley learned the same – he’s the branch manager at the West Flagler Branch Library. We both feel fortunate to work for the Miami-Dade Public Library System.
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Express Your Creativity During the 2023 All Kids Included Student Art Competition
Calling all young artists! The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs is now accepting submissions for the 2023 All Kids Included Student Art Competition.
All Miami-Dade students in grades pre-K to 12 are invited to submit original works of art depicting this year's competition theme inspired by the book You Matter by Christian Robinson. Entries may be submitted at any Miami-Dade Public Library System location.
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
For more information, contest rules and instructions, click here.
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Virtual Reality
This is Not a Ceremony: An Immersive Virtual Reality Experience
Join us for a presentation of the experimental documentary This is Not a Ceremony, a virtual exploration of two Indigenous stories from Canada that was featured in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier Section. Participants will use virtual reality headsets while seated to view this 20-minute film.
Contains content for mature audiences.
Ages 17 years and up.
Presented by O Cinema on the Go.
Saturday, January 7, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Model City Branch Library
Saturday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
North Dade Regional Library
Saturday, February 18, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Westchester Regional Library
Saturday, March 18, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Naranja Branch Library
Showtimes every 30 minutes. Maximum of four participants per showing.
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Get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the season by checking out our collection of festive eBook and eAudiobook titles for all ages – available for free with your library card on OverDrive and the Libby, by OverDrive App!
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From holiday melodies to magical stories and so much more, there's always something exciting happening at your Miami-Dade Public Libraries!
In addition to the programs highlighted here, you can also browse our online Calendar of Events at www.mdpls.org/events to explore even more of what's happening at your local library. To find an event, simply select a date and filter your search by event type, keyword, age range and/or library location to get started.
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Merry Melodies with Wholesome Harmonies (In-Person Event)
Join us for a holiday celebration! Sing and create music during this festive and interactive program led by a board-certified music therapist.
Thursday, December 22, 4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Lakes of the Meadow Branch Library
All ages
Holiday Family Movie Marathon (In-Person Event)
Enjoy winter break at the library with a holiday movie marathon for the whole family.
Tuesday, December 27,
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Palm Springs North Branch Library
All ages
Winter STEAM Camp (In-Person Event)
Join us for a special holiday STEAM workshop and engage in hands-on, interactive learning activities.
Wednesday, December 28, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Miami Lakes Branch Library
Ages 8 - 12 years
Mission: Snowflake Hunt
(In-Person Event)
Snowflakes are hidden throughout the library and it's up to you to find them! Follow the clues and win a prize for completing the mission.
Wednesday, December 28, 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Edison Center Branch Library
Ages 6 - 12 years
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