The Museum of Discovery and Science has put a piece of itself into every public library branch in Broward County. Seven regional libraries now hold hands-on Character Corners, all 36 branches hold Book Nooks, and the whole thing gets a ribbon-cutting at the Broward County Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, September 24, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The initiative is built for the age group science museums usually lose: children from birth to six, and the adults carrying them. It grew out of the museum’s new permanent exhibit, Build a Better World: The Future Begins with You, and it is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through the endowment’s Fostering Character in Children’s Museums initiative.
What a Character Corner is
A built activity station inside a library, aimed at four specific skills: curiosity, kindness, motivation and teamwork. The design assumes a caregiver is present and solving the problem alongside the child rather than watching from a bench, which is a meaningful difference from a play area.
The seven Character Corner locations are the Broward County Main Library, the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, and the West, South, Southwest, North and Northwest regional libraries. All seven are open now.
The Book Nooks go wider and lighter. Every one of the 36 branches has one, stocked with titles chosen to land on the same four themes, and Broward County librarians refresh the selections quarterly. The rotation is already set for the year: critical thinking from October through December, caring from January through March, confidence from April through June, and cooperation from July through September.
Why a science museum is doing this at all
“Character Corners take the spirit of discovery beyond the walls of MODS and places meaningful learning experiences directly into neighborhoods throughout Broward County,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of the museum. “Through our partnership with Broward County Library, families can explore together while strengthening curiosity, kindness, motivation and teamwork.”
The practical answer is reach. A museum visit requires a decision, a drive and usually a ticket. A library branch is already the place a family goes on a Tuesday afternoon, and there are 36 of them. Putting the exhibit’s ideas where the foot traffic already is costs a fraction of what it would cost to bring that many families through the front door in Fort Lauderdale.
Allison Grubbs, director of Broward County Library, framed it from the library’s side. “MODS Character Corners and Book Nooks are a welcome and exciting addition to the resources and activities of the library for youth, designed to develop their best qualities,” she said. “We know this partnership will work beautifully towards our common goal: encouraging thoughtful, compassionate future generations.”
Worth noticing
This is the kind of thing that answers a question skeptics actually ask, which is what a museum or a zoo is for besides the animals and the exhibits on its own campus. The answer here is countable: 36 branches, seven build-outs, a quarterly book rotation maintained by county librarians, and a target audience of children too young to read the labels.
Families can also join story times and library programming tied to the corners, and the museum has posted a schedule of upcoming activities.
MODS has been busy on its own campus as well. Its Everglades theater with an AI otter guide opened earlier this year, and the museum says its Deerfield Beach Nature Center is due to open in early 2027.
Source: Museum of Discovery and Science, Museum of Discovery and Science and Broward County Library Bring Character-Building Experiences to 36 Libraries, distributed September 9, 2026.
Quick answers
- Where are the Character Corners?
At seven Broward County libraries: the Main Library, the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, and the West, South, Southwest, North and Northwest regional libraries. All seven are open now.
- What is a Book Nook?
A smaller reading installation at all 36 Broward County Library branches, stocked with titles on curiosity, kindness, motivation and teamwork. County librarians refresh the selections every three months.
- When is the ribbon-cutting?
Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Broward County Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
- Who paid for it?
Lilly Endowment Inc., through the endowment's Fostering Character in Children's Museums initiative, which is how the Museum of Discovery and Science funded the program.
