NSU Horizons Fall 2007

horizons 17 A Venue for World-Class Art Glenda Abbate, Circle of Friends president, said that it was the vision of the Circle of Friends to create a venue that would provide exposure to world-class art for the community. The library’s broad user base of students, university faculty members, and Broward County residents now enjoys free access to art that is usually reserved for display in museums. The Alvin Sherman Library sets itself apart from other libraries by serving as a destination for the works of such world renowned artists as Beverly Pepper, Therman Statom, Frank Louissaint, Peter Max, and, most recently, Dale Chihuly. The permanent works of these artists are a gift to the community and a feast for the senses, as they provide a cultural experience of an immeasurable dimension. convince the youngest library patrons that recreational reading, which leads to self-directed learning, is fun. “The arts and early literacy are perfect comple- ments,” said Molly Kinney, Ph.D., executive director of Public Library Services at the Alvin Sherman Library. “Creating an environment that values reading, writing, and language activities naturally includes art disciplines such as illustrations and storytelling through words and pictures.” In addition to individual programs, a variety of fam- ily literacy programs, story-time programs, weekend craft workshops, and reading activities allow parents, caregivers, and siblings to enjoy an environment that provides 30 separate family literacy events each month. “Being able to sit down with my two- and four-year- olds in a single place allows me to meet their growing needs simultaneously in an environment that is just sim- ply inviting. This library was a true find for me,” said Patty Fernandez, Davie resident. Traveling exhibits often find an audience at the the Alvin Sherman Library Gallery. The gallery has also served as a performance space for music recitals, poetry readings, compelling discussions, and other arts and cul- tural events. Over the summer, the gallery hosted the Quilt of Valor exhibit, reception, and workshop designed to inspire a drive for a massive collection of quilts. A Quilt of Valor is a tribute to wounded soldiers, recogniz- ing their service, dedication, and sacrifices made on behalf of our country. After the exhibit, quilts were donated to the Quilt of Valor Foundation and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Miami and dedi- cated to injured soldiers returning from the war. In September, A Prayer in America community forum and film premier, hosted by the Public Broadcasting Company, WLRN, and Channel 2, showcased the docu- mentary of the same name, followed by a compelling forum led by religious leaders from different faiths. A key to the facility’s success is the professional staff and their operation of the Alvin Sherman Library. The staff members are trained to teach skills on how to approach a research project. For example, a student who attends college in Maryland, but resides in Broward County, can use the library as if it was his or her own university library and have the added advantage of receiving one-on-one instruction from a Sherman librarian. There is no doubt that the Alvin Sherman Library is growing in use by both the university and Broward County residents. In 2006, there were more than 25 mil- lion hits on the electronic resources offered by the library. Alvin Sherman librarians answered 40,921 ref- erence questions, with 40 percent of these inquiries coming from Broward County library users. To better serve the public, the library’s Public Library Department visited more than 200 child care centers, senior citizen residences, public and private schools, and cultural and community events to encour- age children, teens, and adults to register for a library card and use the library, either in person or virtually. A Building Block for Family Literacy Research has shown that children who have been exposed to libraries and reading in the early stages of development have an advantage over those who have not. In addition, exposing children to art in the early stages of development stimulates imagination and creativity. A lifelong love of reading, art, and technology often begins for Broward County children through the Alvin Sherman Library’s Family Literacy University. The les- sons learned here are reinforced for preadolescents through reading programs and other literature-based programming held throughout the year. These activities