Winter Wonderland returns Dec. 12; learn how you can get tickets

Winter Wonderland picMayor Don Guardian and the City of Atlantic City will continue a holiday tradition by holding a Winter Wonderland celebration for children Saturday, Dec. 12, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Bass Pro Shops at Tanger Outlets The Walk (30 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard in Atlantic City). Tickets are free and required to gain admission.
This fifth annual holiday event is for Atlantic City children ages 3 to 12. The event will feature fun activities outside and inside the store, including rides, magic shows, games, and arts and crafts. Children will also have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus.
Tickets are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed at City Hall, located at 1301 Bacharach Blvd., at the following dates and times: Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Dec. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Tickets will be distributed only to adults, who must show a proof of Atlantic City residency and photo ID. Each adult can receive a maximum of one adult ticket and three children’s tickets.
The Atlantic City Winter Wonderland is presented by the City of Atlantic City, and sponsored by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), Atlantic City Free Public Library and Atlantic County Toys for Kids Program. Also, 95.1 WAYV will have giveaways.
For more information, please call the City of Atlantic City Division of Recreation at (609) 347-5643.

Local leaders, public attend Richmond Branch ceremony

Grand opening ceremony 04.14.2013The Atlantic City Free Public Library held a ceremonial ribbon cutting for its new Richmond Branch Library on Wednesday, April 17. The ceremony coincided with National Library Week (April 14-20).
A short ceremony included remarks by Mayor Lorenzo T. Langford, Library Director Maureen Sherr Frank, board members Curene Clark Ervin and Donna Haye, and former long-time Richmond Branch Library coordinator Theda Bradley.

Make appointment for assistance with tax return

Volunteers from the Tax Aide Program of AARP will be at the Atlantic City Free Public Library to assist the community with their tax returns. This program is for seniors and low-income residents of Atlantic County.

Hurricane Sandy assistance available

Those impacted by Hurricane Sandy may be eligible to receive financial assistance from FEMA. Whether applying online from your computer or smartphone, or over the phone through a FEMA call center, you should have a pen and paper and the following information ready:

Atlantic City Library Express now closed

RichmondThe Atlantic City Library Express – located at 3001 Atlantic Avenue has closed to prepare for the transition to the new Richmond Branch Library (pictured to the left), scheduled to open in early 2013.
Those who need to return items to the Atlantic City Library Express book drop can do so through Nov. 24. All library items, including DVDs, can be placed in there. After Nov. 24, all library items should be returned to the Main Library at One North Tennessee Ave.
The Atlantic City Free Public Library opened Express as a temporary location while the new Richmond Branch Library, which will be located inside the new Richmond Avenue School, was under construction.

Atlantic City Experience Museum Feasibility Study presentation Oct. 22

ACX logoThe Atlantic City Experience® Museum Feasibility Study – prepared for the Atlantic City Free Public Library – will be presented to the public 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in Atlantic City Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 1301 Bacharach Blvd.
The Atlantic City Experience® is the library’s proposed world-class museum and research center dedicated to preserving the city’s rich history and multicultural heritage. See the program flyer.

Most Nooks compatible with OverDrive Media Console app

nook with overdrive

Borrowing eBooks and audiobooks from the Atlantic City Free Public Library just got a whole lot easier for users of the NOOK HD, NOOK HD+, NOOK Tablet™ and NOOK Color™. Barnes & Noble added the free OverDrive Media Console app to the NOOK Apps™ storefront. This NOOK app enables users to wirelessly borrow eBooks and MP3 audiobooks from the Atlantic City Free Public Library's eBook lending site.

Learn about the very first Atlantic City airshow in 1910

Atlantic City Aero Meet 1910The 10th Atlantic City Airshow “Thunder Over The Boardwalk” – one of the best airshows in the country – is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 17. Did you know that Atlantic City also hosted one of the nation’s very first airshows?
In 1910, when airplanes were a novelty and most Americans had never seen man fly, a series of "aero meets" were sponsored across the United States to showcase the great fliers of the day. Atlantic City and Asbury Park were two stages for these meets. Learn some of the history and check out photos from this historic airshow.
The 1910 Atlantic City Aero Meet was held beachside between the Ocean Pier at Tennessee Avenue and the Million Dollar Pier at Arkansas Avenue. It was estimated that more than 100,000 spectators watched the events. Crowds were sometimes so dense that bodies filled the space between the Boardwalk and the ocean, allowing only a narrow runway for planes to land and take-off. While exact flight times were not designated – flying the aircraft was contingent upon factors such as opportune weather and wind conditions – the flights were announced, half an hour in advance, by cannon shots set off at the ends of the piers. Patterned flags were raised to signal the events, who was flying and what records were being attempted.

Philadelphia Eagles Book Mobile popping in on Aug. 2 for special story time

Phila Eagles Book Mobile visit2 on 08.02.2011The Philadelphia Eagles Book Mobile will be stopping by the Atlantic City Free Public Library for a special story time at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. The story time will be held at the Main Library, located at One North Tennessee Ave.
The Eagles’ Storybook Man will read a book to the children. Each child will have the opportunity to pick out a free book to keep following the reading. The program is scheduled to run 30-45 minutes.
PHOTO: The Eagles Book Mobile and Storybook Man appeared at the library in 2011 during the library's Summer Reading Program.

Explore controversial issues with Gale Opposing Viewpoints

Gale Opposing Viewpoints is a great resource for finding out about all sides of an issue, and current “hot topics.” For example, now that President Obama has announced his support for same-sex marriage, and this may become an issue in the 2012 Presidential campaign. To find out about same-sex marriage and other timely topics, try out one of Atlantic City Free Public Library’s Premium eResources, Gale Opposing Viewpoints.
Opposing Viewpoints covers thousands of pro and con articles including primary documents, journal and newspaper articles, statistical tables, charts, graphs, podcasts, web sites and images.

A.C. Library International Night Series concludes fifth season

Music and dance from around the globe was once again featured on the Atlantic City Boardwalk this summer as part of the Fifth annual Atlantic City Library International Night Series. Watch videos from some of this year's performances. The weekly series, co-sponsored by the library and City of Atlantic City and funded in part by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, featured 90-minute live performances at Kennedy Plaza, located on the Boardwalk between Mississippi and Georgia avenues.

Join in on Summer Reading Program fun before it's too late

Dream Big ReadThe Atlantic City Free Public Library encourages children and teenagers to “Dream Big – Read!” as part of the library’s annual Summer Reading Program. You can view and print the entire Summer Reading Program schedule and program info here. (Scroll down to see both pages).
Children and teenagers ages 0-17 are eligible to participate in the program, which will include a variety of fun and educational events. Children nine and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult in order to attend. All programs will be held at the Main Library unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. It’s best to reserve a spot by calling (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050.

Asian-Pacific newspapers, statistics available to you

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Did you know that the Atlantic City Free Public Library offers a great eResource called Library Press Display that gives you access to current newspapers from around the world in their original language, including publications from China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand?
Library Press Display features more than 1,700 newspapers from 92 countries and in 48 languages. Atlantic City Free Public Library cardholders can access Library Press Display 24 hours a day from any device that has an Internet connection.

Main Library is closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 17

The Atlantic City Free Public Library's Main Library location (One North Tennessee Avenue) is closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, due to a utilities issue. The Main Library is scheduled to reopen to the public at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 18. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.
The Atlantic City Library Express location (3001 Atlantic Avenue) will remain open until 6 p.m. Thursday.

Join us for Library Day at the Aquarium on May 12

ocean themed craftThe Atlantic City Free Public Library will present its Third annual Library Day at the Atlantic City Aquarium on Saturday, May 12.
A day of crafts, face painting, diving and animal shows, and storytelling is planned for Library Day at the Aquarium.
Those interested in attending can request two free admission tickets at the Main Library Youth Services Department. Library cardholders also have the option of requesting their two tickets at Atlantic City Library Express.
Free admission tickets are limited. Those who don’t receive free tickets but wish to participate can pay for admission at the aquarium. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children ages 4-12. Children under three are free. Children 12 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
PHOTO: Ocean-themed crafts, plus facepainting and storytelling, will be offered on Library Day at the Aquarium.
The Library Day at the Aquarium schedule is:

Library marks Cinco de Mayo with celebration, teen craft

The City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Free Public Library held a Cinco de Mayo celebration Friday, May 4, in Police and Firemen’s Memorial Plaza, located between City Hall and the Main Library. The celebration included festive music by Ricky y Sus Mariachis and a dance performance by Organizacion Carnaval Putleco (Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township high school students.) Milton F. Ramirez served as the Master of Ceremonies.
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Great environmental resources offered at library

Looking to learn more about Earth Day and the environment? The Atlantic City Free Public Library can help.
The Reference Department has compiled a comprehensive online guide with environmental-related resources here at the Atlantic City Free Public Library. The guide features library books, eResources, DVDs and audiobooks about the environment, global warming, alternative & clean energy, and green living. The guide also includes a list of websites related to various environmental topics. If you have any questions about these resources, please visit the Main Library Help Desk or email reflib@acfpl.org

National Library Week to include creative writing workshop, Food for Fines

NLW 2012The arrival of April is special to many people for different reasons —for some it signifies spring time, while for others it marks the beginning of baseball season.
April is also a big month for libraries. National Library Week (April 8-14) and National Poetry Month are both recognized during that month. Whether you are a job seeker looking for resources to land a new job, a parent looking for free activities for children or a student searching for your next favorite book, you belong at your library.
Today’s libraries help level the playing field by making both print and digital information affordable, available and accessible to all people. Libraries provide cultural heritage and genealogical collections, materials in print and electronic formats, job seeking resources, English as a second language and citizenship classes and many other creative and resourceful programs.

Online resource offers look at important female educators

March is Women’s History Month. Since 2012 is the 40th anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which mandated equal opportunity for women in all federally funded public educational institutions, we are featuring some pioneering women educators. To find more information on these pioneers in education, please look at our fantastic ebook, Women in world history: a biographical encyclopedia, which is part of the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Gale Virtual Reference Library available 24/7 to library card holders

galeAtlantic City Public Library card holders have 24/7 access to the Gale Virtual Reference Library, which is available from any device with an Internet connection.
The Gale Virtual Reference Library provides access to eBooks covering thousands of topics, including: biography, business, education, environment, history, religion and science. These eBooks are a great place to start your research, since they offer well-researched and detailed information.