Bienes Museum of the Modern Book 🇺🇸

Welcome to the Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, a hidden gem for book lovers located inside the Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Opened to the public in 1996, this rare book department offers you a fascinating look into a specialized archive housed in an impressive 8,300-square-foot space designed by architect Donald Singer. As you explore, you will admire its unique architectural features, including a curved wood ceiling, slatted wood walls, and a elegant blend of glass, granite, and ceramic tiles.

You will discover special collections totaling more than 15,000 items, featuring rare books, artifacts, manuscripts, and reference materials. Book enthusiasts can examine treasures from New Deal agencies like the WPA Federal Writers' Project, Florida Fine Press publications, and archives from famous Florida authors. Children's literature fans will be captivated by over 2,000 alphabet items in 28 languages, 500 classic Big Little Books, roughly 2,400 vintage comic books, and the largest public institutional collection in the United States of Czech paper engineer Vojtech Kubasta's pop-up books and designs.

Whether you visit for a lecture in their Ceremonial Room or to view special exhibits, it offers an unmissable literary retreat.

What to see at Bienes Museum of the Modern Book

• More than 15,000 rare books, artifacts, manuscripts, and reference materials.
• Nyr Indictor Collection featuring over 2,000 alphabet items in 28 languages.
• 2,400 vintage comic books and 500 classic Big Little Books from 1932–1970s.
• Largest U.S. public institutional collection of pop-up books by Vojtech Kubasta.
• Striking 8,300-square-foot architectural space with curved wood ceilings.

Visiting tips

If you cannot visit every display in person, you can view large portions of these rare literary collections online through the Broward County Library Digital Archives.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Bienes Museum of the Modern Book is easy to reach on Fort Lauderdale’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and SS Copenhagen (1898). For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Fort Lauderdale travel guide.