Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Library

Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library

Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Library

The #DaniaBeach Paul DeMaio Branch #Library is a modern 10,000 square foot building, located next to Dania Beach City Hall. The library is operated by #Broward County and opened at its current location in April 2011. The library has come nearly full circle since its initial incarnation, where it began in 1979 in a small space within Dania Beach City Hall. The new library building achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council. #LEED certification requires that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. It should also be noted that, prior to the County library, the Dania Woman’s Club began the first library in Dania in 1936.

The library namesake, Paul DeMaio, known to his family and friends as, “Mr. Library” was a champion for library services in Dania Beach. He was an enthusiastic supporter, advocate and volunteer for the Dania Beach Library and encouraged everyone to read and continue learning. He was the founder and first president of the library support group, The Friends of the Dania Beach Library. Mr. DeMaio advocated relocating the library from its original location inside Dania Beach City Hall to a much larger space in the Graves Museum Building on Federal Highway (now The Gallery of Amazing Things). Mr. DeMaio was successful with his efforts and the library re-opened in the Graves Museum in June 1995. The larger space allowed for more library materials and better services like PCs for research and writing. Mr. DeMaio passed away on March 26, 1999 at the age of 93 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In November 1999, to recognize Mr. DeMaio and to celebrate his work and vision, the name of the Dania Beach branch library was officially changed to the Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library.

Thanks to funding provided by the 1999 Better Libraries Better Broward bond issue, the library moved to yet a larger location in the ground floor of the Citibank Building at 255 East Dania Beach Boulevard in June 2001. This library was open until January 15, 2011.

In March 2005, thanks in part to advocacy efforts led by then Dania Beach Library Friends President Sandy Mitzel and other members of the Library Friends, Dania Beach citizens voted to approve a bond to build a new library building and parking garage in the city center. In February 2007, Broward County Commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Dania Beach to contribute funds for the library and garage project. Groundbreaking for the new library was held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 and the grand opening for the new library, located at 1 Park Avenue East, next to Dania Beach City Hall, was held on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

The Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library offers has a collection of books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks for adults and children and a small collection of materials in Spanish. It has free Wi-Fi and 25 desktop PCs with internet access for the public to use as well as a scanner and copier. There are a variety of programs for children and adults, such as art classes, a story time for preschoolers, movement classes and many other programs each month.

Anyone who lives, works and attends school in Broward County can get a library card for free and you can use the card to borrow materials and use PCs at all Broward County Library locations. You can also visit the library on the web at www.broward.org/library. From the library’s website you can also use your library card to borrow eBooks, digital Audiobooks, digital magazines, download digital music, take online classes, use the Rosetta Stone language learning program, get homework help and stream movies and music. 

If you have questions about the library or its many resources, call them at 954-357-7073. If you’re interested in supporting the library by becoming a library Friend, join us at our next meeting on the second Monday of the month at 2 p.m. or visit the library and get a library card and pick up a Friends application while you’re visiting. 

Thank you for supporting your local library!

Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library
1 Park Avenue East Dania Beach, FL 33004
#daniabeach #library
broward.org/Library
Dania Beach Library Leed Gold Certified
Dania Beach leed certification levels