The Atlantic County Library System is excited to launch the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. The goal of this program is to promote literacy and instill a life-long love of reading in your child. The concept is simple: read 1,000 books (any books) to your infant, toddler, or preschooler before she/he starts kindergarten. 

How it works:

• Start: Register your child, ages 0-5, at any Atlantic County Library System branch to receive instructions and a reading log.
• Read: Any book -- new books or repeat books. If you read just 1 book a night to your child, they will have heard approximately 365 books in one year, 730 books in two years, and 1,095 books in three years.
• Track: Each time you read a book with your child, record it in the reading log or app. All books count, even ACLS storytime titles.
• Celebrate: Mark each milestone. Upon completion, your child will be presented with a certificate.

For more information about the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and reading suggestions, talk to any ACLS staff member.
Printable Instructions

Still looking for a summer read? The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon was having that same problem and decided to start the first ever “The Tonight Show Summer Reads.”

Jimmy did the research – looked at the cover, read the inner flap, studied the reviews - and picked 5 titles for a viewer vote which was announced on his show, June 29. The winner was: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.¹ This summer, use your library card to "walk around with that book everyone’s got" and read the others while you wait or when you're done.

The 4 contenders were:

• The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong
• The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
• IQ by Joe Ide
• Providence by Caroline Kepness

Follow and interact with Jimmy Fallon and the Atlantic County Library System
on Instagram by posting pictures of yourself reading and your comments on the books
using #TonightShowSummerReads and #ACLSReadsWithJimmy.

¹ eBook and audiobook formats also available in our Overdrive and Axis 360 digital collections.

During National Library Week, the Atlantic County Library System joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries lead their communities through the transformative services, programs and expertise they offer.

The Atlantic County Library System is more than a quiet place to study and check out books. Whether it is internet access, job training and resumé writing workshops for the unemployed, or programs to engage the next generation, our library is a modern community center that provides for the needs of every member of our community. It is a place where lives are transformed every day.

This week make it a point to stop in and peruse our catalog or shelves to find books, music and magazines, use our computers or join one of our programs or events. Some of the programs we offer include storytimes, book clubs, computer skills workshops, chess clubs, knitting groups, concerts, informative talks, and health & fitness workshops. Checkout our events calendar or ask our staff to discover what's going on in our branches. If you can't come by, you can access our online resources which are available 24/7. Download a book, music or magazines and use our databases to learn a language, do research, get homework help or just to learn something new.

Libraries also recognize their viability relies on patron and community use and support.
Help us celebrate by visiting your library and showing your support on social media
with the #NationalLibraryWeek & #LibrariesLead.