Miami-Dade County, FL – On March 15th, the Miami-Dade Public Library System officially opened the doors of its Golden Glades Branch Library.

The $2.9 million facility is the first library to be built since 1985 when the new Main Library in downtown Miami first opened its doors in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center which was designed by famed architect, Philip Johnson. The new branch houses a collection of more than 30,000 books, DVDs, audio books and periodicals, 17 computers stations with Internet access and 10 laptops in a Wi-Fi environment.

The Golden Glades Branch Library is the first of 10 libraries to be built under the Library System’s Capital Plan which was approved in 2001 by the Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners. The Plan funds the construction of 10 libraries and the opening of eight, leased storefront facilities by 2011. Under this aggressive plan, six smaller libraries have already opened in the past six years in shopping centers, with two additional ones opening by this summer. Five libraries are currently under construction with an additional four facilities in design and development stages.

	Pictured from left to right: Raymond Santiago, director, Miami-Dade Public Library System; Patrick Noel, branch manager, Golden Glades; Wendi Norris, director, Miami-Dade County General Services Administration; Ana Bustamante, assistant, Assistant County Manager; Bernice Morris, aide, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
	Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez addresses the gathering.
	Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle greets library patron.

Media Contact:
Victoria Galan, Public Affairs Officer
305.375.5180; galanv@mdpls.org

Vinora Hamilton, Public Information Officer
305.375.3327; hamiltonv@mdpls.org