Published 5/11/26

The United States Semiquincentennial — or 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — will be celebrated on July 4, 2026. The library has planned a program series to mark this anniversary.

Atlantic City’s First Inhabitants on Wednesday, May 13, at 5 p.m. — This program will focus on the Lenni Lenape people. Ty "Dancing Wolf" Ellis will lead the program. He will discuss the history of the Lenni Lenape People in Atlantic City and across New Jersey, along with insights into the tribe’s present-day initiatives and activities. The discussion will include time for audience questions and interactive dialogue throughout the hour-long presentation. Refreshments will be served.

Jeremiah Leeds on Wednesday, June 17, at 4 p.m. — Archivist Danielle Osakwe will discuss the life of Jeremiah Leeds, the first settler in Atlantic City. Learn about his military experience in the Revolutionary War, where he built the first house in Atlantic City and where he is buried locally, and his family's history - including the legend of the Jersey Devil. Refreshments will be served. 

History of Atlantic City on Wednesday, July 15, at 4 p.m. — Archivist Danielle Osakwe will discuss the history of Atlantic City. Refreshments will be served.

The programs will be at the William K. Cheatham Building (Main Library), located at 1 North Tennessee Ave.

Published 4/29/26

The library will kick off a monthly Atlantic City Book Talk Series in May. The programs will be held at the William K. Cheatham Building (Main Library). The programs are free.

JOSH CUTLER
The Seventy Shuls: Synagogue Life & Yiddishkeit from the Pine Barrens to the Boardwalk
Wednedsay, May 27, at 2 p.m.

About the book: Hidden among South Jersey’s farmlands and deep within the Pine Barrens, faint echoes of a once-thriving Jewish world still whisper in the wind. Follow the old train tracks that cut through the fields and forests, past forgotten stations and beyond the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and you’ll find traces of that world waiting to be rediscovered. The Seventy Shuls: Synagogue Life & Yiddishkeit from the Pine Barrens to the Boardwalk is a journey through time, memory, and faith, an exploration of how Jewish life flourished in the Garden State and what remains today.

About the author: Josh Cutler is a Ph.D. student in Holocaust Studies at Gratz College and holds an M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Stockton University and a B.S. from Virginia Tech. Josh has served as Program Director at the Marjorie & Lewis Katz Jewish Community Center, Camp Director of JCC Camp By the Sea, and Executive Director of the Board of Jewish Education of Atlantic & Cape May Counties.

JANET ROBINSON BODOFF AND LEESA TOSCANO
Speaking of Atlantic City: Recollections & Memories
Wednesday, June 24, at 2 p.m.

About the book: Memories of Atlantic City’s past remained etched in the hearts of millions of visitors and locals alike who sought out the bright lights and sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore. Floats festooned with blooming flowers paraded down the boardwalk carrying Miss America contestants during the annual pageant, drawing huge crowds for decades. Streetcars ran the length of Atlantic Avenue until 1955, and the call of the motorman announcing each stop can still be heard in the dreams of past vacationers and residents. The burgers and birch beer slung from the lunch counter of Hi-Hat Joe’s attracted thousands of teenagers from near and far in the 1950s and ’60s. Mobsters, politicians and entertainers such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin frequented the bustling midcentury 500 Club. Writers and editors Janet Bodoff and Leesa Toscano curate a collection of nostalgic stories and poems about Atlantic City’s past.

About the authors: Janet Robinson Bodoff is a retired newspaper reporter and graphic designer from Ventnor City. Her work has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Bulletin, and Philadelphia Journal. Rolling Stone, Concert Magazine, and more. Her poetry has appeared in several poetry anthologies. Janet has directed many arts organizations and served on the board of directors for others.  Janet is an author, artist, and arts teacher. In 2022, Bodoff co-authored "Speaking of Atlantic City: Recollections and Memories". (published by Arcadia Publishing/The History Press) with her friend Leesa Toscano. Today, Janet continues to be an essential part of the DownBeach creative scene, often taking part in local literary events and arts programs across Absecon Island.

Leesa Toscano is an author, actress, and comedian whose work blends sharp wit with heartfelt storytelling and a deep appreciation for the people and places that shape our community.  A native of Atlantic City, Leesa has extensive experience working in casinos and hotels. She currently works for Atlantic County Government.  She has been published in poetry anthologies, written a children's book called Eat Your Vegetables, and co-written Speaking of Atlantic City: Recollections & Memories.  A natural performer, Toscano has appeared in local films and plays. She is a member of Players and Playwrights, South Jersey Players, and Jersey Devil Comedy’s Comedy Improv Troupe. Her stand-up comedy canbe seen in NJ and NYC.

CALVIN STOVALL, JR.
Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era
Wednesday, July 29, at 2 p.m.

About the book: Throughout America's history of slavery and segregation, Black travelers faced not just unwelcoming environments but the challenge of finding safe places to rest and recharge. In response to this basic human need, courageous Black entrepreneurs carved out spaces within the dominant culture, creating a network of Black-owned hotels, motels, and resorts that offered comfort and safety for Black travelers.Calvin Stovall, a seasoned hospitality professional with nearly thirty years of experience, brings this overlooked history to light. In Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotels, Motels, and Resorts from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era, Stovall shares the inspiring stories of these pioneers. He highlights the immense challenges they faced and the enduring impact of their establishments, showing how these spaces became vibrant hubs of Black culture, where people could gather, find joy, and be their true selves.

About the author: Calvin Stovall is the Chief Experience Officer of ICONIC Presentations, LLC. He specializes in delivering dynamic customer experience and leadership keynote presentations and workshops for organizations nationwide. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality and non-profit service industries. Today, he leverages his life experiences as a business leader and his passion for music to engage and connect with his audiences nationwide. Calvin is a native Chicagoan and began his hospitality career as a front desk clerk at the Holiday Inn City Centre. During his hospitality career as vice president of brand marketing with Hilton Worldwide, he was responsible for the marketing and public relations efforts for more than 150 Homewood Suites hotels. While under his leadership, the Homewood Suites brand was recognized four times by J.D. Power and Associates. Calvin formerly served as CEO of The Soulsville Foundation, a non-profit based in Memphis, TN. He also worked as a brand marketing strategist with ALSAC, the brand awareness and fundraising arm for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In addition to running his own business venture, Calvin serves as Director of Executive Programs at The Advanced Leadership Institute, based in Pittsburgh, PA. TALI’s mission is to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities by cultivating leadership through world-class executive education programs tailored to support, develop, and retain Black leaders and their allies.For two consecutive years, Calvin was voted one of the 50 Most Inspirational People in Travel/Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute. Calvin is also the author of the recently released NAACP Image Award-nominated book, Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era.

PATRICIA CHAPPINE
New Jersey Women During World War II: On the Home Front and Abroad
Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m.

About the book: During World War II, the need for the women to step into roles long closed off to them set off an unprecedented wave of participation. Women joined the defense industry. They volunteered for the Red Cross and the USO. They joined the military in women's branches of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines and flew as civilian pilots working with the Army Air Forces (AAF). This program will focus on the unique challenges New Jersey women faced as they navigated both the home front and abroad during WWII.

About the author: Patty Chappine is an adjunct professor at Stockton University where she has been teaching since 2014. Her classes include undergraduate courses in the Holocaust and Genocide studies minor, historical studies, general studies, and the American Studies graduate program. She is also working as the Rudnick Fellow for the Alliance Heritage Center at Stockton University. She earned a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Stockton University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in History and Culture from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Her recent book New Jersey Women during World War II: On the Home Front and Abroad was published by Lexington Books in 2024.

Published 4/24/26

The late William K. Cheatham left an indelible mark on the Atlantic City Free Public Library – and now his name has a permanent place at the library.

The library’s facility at 1 North Tennessee Ave. has officially been named the William K. Cheatham Building. Library and city officials, family and friends remembered Cheatham at a special ceremony April 22 revealing a new sign that bears his name. The sign is located above the public entrance on the Tennessee Avenue side of the building.

Extremely active in the community and an advocate for Atlantic City, Cheatham was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 2005. He became the board’s president in 2008 and held that position until his death in 2021.

“Mr. Cheatham played an important role in shaping this library and the community it serves,” Library Director Jacqueline Silver-Morillo said. “It’s a privilege to carry forward his legacy in a building dedicated to him.”During Cheatham’s time as board president, the library experienced tremendous growth and many accomplishments that have benefitted the Atlantic City community:

• Built and opened the new Richmond Branch Library
• Opened the Atlantic City Experience at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, and the Learning Center for Computer Literacy, Education and Career Advancement, Teen Space and Makerspace at the Main Library
• Assumed operation of the Atlantic City Historical Museum at Garden Pier
• Introduced Career Connections, Communications Skills for the 21st Century, Fresh Start @ Your Library and Fade to Books programs
• Offered new events such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Read-in, International Night Concert Series and Third Thursday Concert Series while seeing long-running programs such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and the Summer Reading Program grow in popularity

His daughter Gail Cheatham Merrell was one of the ceremony’s guest speakers.

“I thank you for this great honor on behalf of my father, William K. Cheatham, and the Cheatham family,” she said. “I’m sure, as mentioned before, my father is smiling today because this (library) was something he loved so much. This was the one position, one organization that he spoke about continuously.”

In addition to his work as the Library’s Board of Trustees president, Cheatham served many other organizations, including Big Brothers Association, United Way of Atlantic County and Atlantic County Board of Public Transportation, Municipal Utilities Authority Board and Atlantic City Shade Tree Committee.

The City of Atlantic City recognized him in 2019 for his dedication to the city by officially designating the corner of Atlantic and Maryland avenues “William K. Cheatham’s Block.” He lived on the block for more than 50 years.

“You know you made it when you get a street named after you, but it’s definitely another level when you get a building named after you – a building that he loved so much,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said during the ceremony. “He always talked about the Atlantic City Library being a jewel.”

Published April 20, 2026

Joy isn’t one size fits all, especially when it comes to your library. National Library Week is April 19-25, and it’s a perfect time to remember that joy comes in many shapes and forms.

For some, it’s losing track of time in a stack of graphic novels. For others, it’s the spark of confidence from a polished résumé, the excitement of a packed author talk or concert, the simple relief of having free Wi-Fi when it’s needed most or the satisfaction from taking a class that helps one learn a language, understand new technology or find a hobby.

This week at the Atlantic City Free Public Library:

• There will be free giveaways each day.
• Those who borrow materials this week can be entered into a drawing for a library basket that will include a book, water bottle, mug and other goodies. Each time you check out materials, put your receipt in the box at the Circulation Desk to enter. 
• We are having a book sale. Purchase a library bag for $2 and fill it with as many items as you want from our book sale carts.
• We are holding a special ceremony scheduled for April 22 at Main Library. It's open to the public.

National Library Week is a celebration of all the ways libraries bring joy to our lives. Find your joy. It’s waiting for you at the library. No barriers, no cover charge, no secret password. Just walk in.