Atlantic County has weathered hurricanes, derechos and blizzards in the past and, unfortunately, will do so in the future. In times of crisis, the Atlantic County Library System has proven to be a safe haven and support center for our community.  During Superstorm Sandy, residents and visitors used our resources for technological support, such as public computers and Wi-Fi access to contact relatives, start insurance claims, and apply for available help. Our branches also fulfilled the need for emotional and practical support by being a central place to meet, get current information and charge devices.

Smartphones, laptops and tablets have become part of the fabric of our everyday lives and having the ability to charge them, not only in emergency situations but every day, is something we have all come to appreciate. Recognizing this, along with an incentive to help local libraries help their communities, LibraryLinkNJ (LLNJ), has awarded contracts for 14 secure public device fast charging stations. The Atlantic County Library System is honored to be a recipient of one of these stations.

A Kwikboost 9300 Charging Locker is now available free to the public at our Mays Landing Branch and will be connected to the emergency generator. It provides 16 charging connectors (including Apple Lightning, Micro USB, USB Type-C) and a single power outlet throughout 8 lockers. Each charging locker is ADA compliant and lock individually to allow users to confidently leave their devices charging while they use library resources.

Funding for this Powering Up: Library Charging Stations initiative is provided by LibraryLinkNJ, The New Jersey Library Cooperative whose services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion, and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.

OverDrive launches Libby,
a new app for enjoying eBooks and Audiobooks!

With its streamlined, mobile-friendly interface, the Libby app is perfect for new users. Current users can continue to use the original OverDrive app, which will remain available and supported or they may want to try out the new Libby App as well. Both apps give users access to the same eBook and audiobook titles.

At this time, the Libby app is only compatible with Android and iOS devices. By default, the Libby app automatically downloads digital titles under 20 mb in the OverDrive Read or OverDrive Listen format but users have control over download size, method (WiFi, data or streaming) and format in their Download Settings. Read our OverDrive eBooks & Audiobooks page for more information.

With the goal of making a difference and promoting awareness of mental health issues in our community, the Atlantic/Cape May National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has donated 16 informational titles to the Atlantic County Library System. Multiple copies of these titles are available and can be placed on hold for checkout at any of our branches:

♦Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
♦Reasons to Stay Alive
♦Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy
♦Hi, Anxiety: Life With a Bad Case of Nerves
♦The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery and Growth
♦Two Bipolar Chicks Guide to Survival: Tips for Living With Bipolar Disorder
♦Parenting Children With ADHD: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach
♦Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew
♦A Parents' Guide to High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
♦Helping Your Anxious Teen
♦Depression: A Teen's Guide to Survive and Thrive
♦Treatments on Sleep Disorder, Schizophrenia, Panic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Self-Injury Disorder from the Young Adult series "Understanding Mental Disorders."

Representatives from the Atlantic and Cape May County division of NAMI joined ACLS' Director, Gair Helfrich, Assistant Director, Regina Bell, and Branch Services Manager, Ellen Eisen (not pictured), on Monday, June 5, 2017 to prepare the books for our patrons.We thank NAMI for their advocacy and support and look forward to continuing this partnership.