(MIAMI, September 25, 2008) –West Kendall residents turned out in large numbers on Thursday, September 25, to witness the ribbon-cutting for the eagerly awaited Kendale Lakes Branch Library at 15205 S.W. 88 Street. Joining in the celebration, with Library Director Raymond Santiago and staff, were Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe A. Martinez; Florida State Representative Juan C. Zapata, District 119; Laura Fatovic, regional director, office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; Yaima Vega, aide to Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL); community council members and officials of District 11, and members of the Library Advisory Board, Board of Trustees, and the Friends of the Library.

Kendale Lakes is the 45th branch in the Miami-Dade Public Library System, and the third to be built as part of an aggressive capital expansion plan, which calls for the construction and opening of 10 libraries by 2012. The 15,000-square-foot facility holds more than 37,000 books and materials and provides 32 computer terminals and 20 portable laptops with free Wi-Fi. The branch also features four express self-checkout machines, a state-of-the-art meeting room, expansive children and teen areas, and an art gallery.

Operating hours are Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 12:30 - 9 p.m.

The Library System will open two additional branches in Pinecrest and in Coconut Grove’s Virrick Park in October, and plans to open two more branches in Naranja and Palmetto Bay in 2009.

For more information call 305-388-0326.