Broward County Library’s African American Research Center (AARLCC) welcomed Elaina Norlin as its new Director. As a nationally known lecturer, author and consultant, Norlin has extensive experience in numerous areas of library service and has held prestigious positions with the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) and the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), where she honed her experience in online library services, programming, outreach services, grant development and Web usability. She is the co-author of the books Usability Testing for Library Web Sites; A Hands-On Guide as well as E-Learning and Business Plans: National and International Case Studies, and has been a workshop presenter and keynote speaker on library issues, particularly regarding libraries and computers.

Norlin earned her M.S. degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, then went on to join the faculty of the University of Arizona Library in Tucson, Ariz., as an Associate Librarian. While there, she co-authored her first book on Web site usability and had local, national and international conference presentation experience which includes Computers in Libraries, Internet Librarian, Minority University Space Interdisciplinary Network and Internet Librarian Inter-national. As a project team member of Access 2000, she helped redesign the University of Arizona’s Web site through usability testing and delivered national and local presentations on effectively utilizing usability testing efficiently and in-ex-pensively.

In 2003, she joined the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as a Senior Program Officer. The IMLS provides leadership and funding for U.S. museums and libraries and to assist them in fulfilling their mission as centers of learning.

Most recently she was the Manager for New Initiatives and Outreach (Eastern territory) for the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), a non-profit, membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to furthering access to the world’s information. While there, Norlin developed new programs in the areas of digital and preservation services, and managed member outreach services through new partnerships and professional collaborations.

The African American Research Library and Cultural Center opened on historic Sistrunk Blvd. in downtown Fort Lauderdale in Oct., 2002. As an integral part of the community, AARLCC provides a wide range of cultural, literary and educational programs, exhibits and seminars. Its Special Collections contains artifacts and books, many of them rare and valuable, from Africa, the Caribbean and North America. AARLCC also offers a Small Business Resource Center, a Career Information Resource Area, an auditorium for performances and programs and a 5,000 square-foot museum.