Broward County Libraries – Imperial Point Branch

Either I am seriously spoiled with awesome experiences at various libraries in Florida and Vermont or the other people reviewing this library have had pretty awful experiences at prior libraries. I had a difficult time finding the library… not even a typical blue library sign pointing the way. After the second pass there was a small green sign suggesting a direction. Parking is limited, once I found it.
My five year old daughter and I signed up for brand spanking new library cards… which were handed over without the slightest bit of welcome, instruction or greeting other than, «here». Superior customer service? Not when signing up for a library card.
We found the sad children’s area all by ourselves. One sad mural covers part of one wall. Some sad posters are taped above the three (four?) kids computers… but the rules are framed and hung on the walls.
After we picked out books we headed in the general direction of what seemed to be a checkout area. I asked if this was where we checked out books and got, «one of the places… what are the last four digits of your phone number.»
The general feel of this library for me? zero customer service, old dirty carpeting, hard to find, sad, depressing, limited parking… I am too depressed to finish this list.
They have books, videos, music. Yay. No one will help you with them… but they have them.

Sort of hidden away and overshadowed by its adjacent Imperial Square shopping center is the Imperial Point Branch of the Broward County Library. It’s located on the second floor above a parking area, so you can only access it by a stairway or an elevator.
As I’m of the belief that reading rots the brain, I confess that I’m not much of a library fan though I frequently avail myself of their services for purposes of research, their interlibrary loan services, and for reading various periodicals either unavailable or only available on the Internet at a subscription charge.
Overall for a branch library and particularly for one of Broward’s branch libraries, Imperial Point is a pretty good one. It’s spacious and has an excellent, knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful staff. Face it, anybody that would put up with the likes me and my requests for uncatalogued loans of manuscripts through the Library of Congress or specialized materials only available through the Institute of Physics, would have be pretty darn patient, knowledgeable and understanding.
Two its best features are it’s out of the way distant from the main library core children’s section and its good lighting, not only electrical but natural through its top second floor large windows.

Broward’s library system has more than three dozen different branches, as you would expect for such a large metropolitan area that includes not just Fort Lauderdale but also Hallandale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Plantation and many other smaller cities. Unfortunately, many of those branches are scheduled closed on apparently random days. So you need to check first before heading out.
As for this library branch, it opens at 10am and with the very limited parking you want to arrive just before that time. Otherwise, you will have to wait for a space to open up. You’re not going to want to park in the nearby shopping center.
Decent selection of books in the usual sections. Several tables and study areas with power outlets. And of course, free wifi. I managed to get some studying done. #winning!

The Imperial Point Branch Library is a small facility next to a shopping center on US1 in Fort Lauderdale. The parking area is small and limited, so you’ll have to wait for a parking space to become available.
The library is spacious and organized, and the staff are nice. It’s sectioned in three areas for adults, children, and teens. There are computers in all sections that allows you to reserve 4 thirty minute sessions. You can check out books of any genre, audio books, DVD’s, and/​or CD’s. If you do not want to check out anything, you have the option to sit down anywhere in the library and read a book, magazine, or newspaper off the shelf; or use the free Wi-​Fi on your device.