2025 SUMMER READING PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS THURSDAY, JUNE 26
Children, teens and adults are invited to visit the Main Library – located at 1 North Tennessee Ave. – on Thursday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m. to register for our 2025 Summer Reading Program. The theme of this year's program is Color Our World. Since the Main Library is temporarily closed due to our water emergency project, registration will take place outside of the library on the Tennessee Avenue side of the building. In the event of inclement weather, signups will take place indoors at our Richmond Branch Library, located at 4115 Ventnor Ave.

There will be goodie bags (while supplies last), light refreshments, games and more at the registration. Adults who participate in the Summer Reading Program will have a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card – given to the top reader – or a gift basket at the end of the summer. Once again, Steel Pier is a sponsor for our children/teen Summer Reading Program. Children and teens will have a chance to earn a day of free rides at Steel Pier in August as part of an end-of-summer celebration. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information

The schedule for the Summer Reading Program for children and teens is listed below.
It is subject to change. (Please note that the date the Main Library reopens could affect whether a program will take place.)

(June 27 update: In-person programs scheduled for June 30-July 5 at Main Library are cancelled since the building will be closed.)

MAIN LIBRARY
Toddler Storytime
Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26
Toddlers will enjoy action-oriented books, fingerplays, songs and rhymes, plus fun arts and craft activities.

Craft Day for Kids
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 2 and Aug. 6
It’s crafting time! Designed for kids, we will do different projects every week. For ages 8-12.

Anime Night
Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.
July 3, 10. 24, 31 and Aug. 7, 14
It’s anime time! Watch anime with others who love anime or want to learn more about it. Please make sure to come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For children and teens.

Breakfast @ the Library
Saturday, July 5, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Enjoy some breakfast in the library with everybody. We will be serving waffles.

Chalk Our Walk
Tuesdays from 12-2 p.m.
July 8 and Aug. 26
We will block the side road around the Library and let kids and teens draw with chalks! For children and teens.

Craft Day for Teens
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 9 and Aug. 6
It’s crafting time! Targeted for teens, we will do different projects every week. For ages 13-18.

Meet the Author/Illustrator Program
Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m.
Award-winning author and illustrator Julia Mills will discuss her work and how to create picture books.

Makers Day 2.0
Thursday, July 17, from 1-4 p.m.
For those who were asking for more of Makers Day, we hear you! Makers Day 2.0 is here! Use the library’s tools and technology, and your imagination, to make and create in the teen Makerspace. For children and teens.

Paint and Sip
Saturday, July 19, from 2-4 p.m.
What’s better than painting while having some good juice? Kids and teens will be painting their own creation on canvas while drinking juice.

Rizzo’s Wildlife
Tuesday, July 22, from 2-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 1-2 p.m.
This interactive presentation will feature live animals! Widlife educators will guide you through interactions with a few of their friends. Ages. 3-18.

Movie Watch Along
Saturdays from 2-4 p.m.
July 26 and Aug. 30
Join us for our movie watch along where we watch great movies, enjoy popcorn and drinks and chill. Come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For the entire family.

Art Exhibition
Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6-7 p.m.
The library will showcase the art work created by those who participated in the Saturday art programs held earlier in the month.

Art with Live2Serve
Saturdays, time TBD
Improve your 2D visual art kills by trying out different techniques and medias. Reservation needed since space is limited. Visit or call the Youth Services desk at (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050. For ages 7-18.

RICHMOND BRANCH LIBRARY
Movie Watch Along
Saturday, June 28, from 2-4 p.m.
Join us for our movie watch along where we watch great movies, enjoy popcorn and drinks and chill. Come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For the entire family.

Zoophoria
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 16 and Aug. 13
The Zoophoria team will come to the library with their reptiles and animals! Lots of fun for the whole family!

Paint and Sip
Wednesday, July 23, from 2-4 p.m.
What’s better than painting while having some good juice? Kids and teens will be painting their own creation on canvas while drinking juice.

Toddler Storytime
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 30 and Aug. 20
Toddlers will enjoy action-oriented books, fingerplays, songs and rhymes, plus fun arts and craft activities.

Crafty Wednesday
Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m.
It’s crafting time! We will have fun making a variety of projects every week. For children and teens.

JIM WHELAN BOARDWALK HALL
History Hunts: Look, Locate, and Win!
Friday, Aug. 8, from 2-4 p.m.
Answer questions based on the exhibits at The Atlantic City Experience – located in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall lobby. Prizes will be awarded. Open to children and teens. Call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3066, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Main Library Help Desk to register.

STEEL PIER
Steel Pier Day: End-of-Summer Celebration
Thursday, Aug. 21
Children and teens can celebrate the end of our summer program with a day of free rides at Steel Pier. Certain Summer Reading Program participation levels must be met to qualify, and registration is required. Please visit the Main Library Youth Services desk or call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050, for more information.

Monday, July 7, 2025
The Main Library will be closed the week of July 7 due to our water emergency project, with one exception. The Main Library Youth Services Department will open Saturday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. for our Breakfast and Story Spectacular program. Children and teens are invited to enjoy a waffle breakfast followed by a visit by author Julia Mills. Please note the Youth Services Department will be open only for the program. No other library services will be available. Email jfactor(at)acfpl.org for more information.

Our Richmond Branch Library will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday this week.

Also this week, we will be holding a "History Hunts: Look, Locate, and Win" scavenger hunt for adults at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on Friday, July 11, from 2-4 p.m. Participants will receive a list of questions to answer based on the library's Atlantic City Experience exhibits, located in the Boardwalk Hall lobby. The top three places will win Visa gift cards and other prizes. Registration is required. Call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3066, or email jmorillo(at)acfpl.org to register. Free parking will be available at Boardwalk Hall for participants.

Friday, June 27, 2025
The Main Library will be closed the week of June 30 as flooring installation continues as part of our water emergency project. Our Richmond Branch Library will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. that week. It will be closed Friday for the July 4 holiday.

Monday, June 23, 2025
The Main Library will again be closed this week as the result of our ongoing water emergency project. Extended hours will be offered at our Richmond Branch Library. Richmond will be open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS THURSDAY, JUNE 26
Children, teens and adults are invited to visit the Main Library – located at 1 North Tennessee Ave. – on Thursday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m. to register for our Summer Reading Program. The theme of this year's program is Color Our World. Since the Main Library is temporarily closed due to our water emergency project, registration will take place outside of the library on the Tennessee Avenue side of the building. In the event of inclement weather, signups will take place indoors at our Richmond Branch Library, located at 4115 Ventnor Ave.

There will be goodie bags (while supplies last), light refreshments, games and more at the registration.Adults who participate in the Summer Reading Program will have a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card – given to the top reader – or a gift basket at the end of the summer.Once again, Steel Pier is a sponsor for our children/teen Summer Reading Program. Children and teens will have a chance to earn a day of free rides at Steel Pier in August as part of an end-of-summer celebration. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information

The schedule for the Summer Reading Program for children and teens is listed below.
It is subject to change. (Please note that the date the Main Library reopens could affect whether a program will take place)

(June 27 update: In-person programs scheduled for June 30-July 5 at Main Library are cancelled since the building will be closed.)

MAIN LIBRARY
Toddler Storytime
Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26
Toddlers will enjoy action-oriented books, fingerplays, songs and rhymes, plus fun arts and craft activities.

Craft Day for Kids
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 2 and Aug. 6
It’s crafting time! Designed for kids, we will do different projects every week. For ages 8-12.

Anime Night
Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.
July 3, 10. 24, 31 and Aug. 7, 14
It’s anime time! Watch anime with others who love anime or want to learn more about it. Please make sure to come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For children and teens.

Breakfast @ the Library
Saturday, July 5, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Enjoy some breakfast in the library with everybody. We will be serving waffles.

Chalk Our Walk
Tuesdays from 12-2 p.m.
July 8 and Aug. 26
We will block the side road around the Library and let kids and teens draw with chalks! For children and teens.

Craft Day for Teens
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 9 and Aug. 6
It’s crafting time! Targeted for teens, we will do different projects every week. For ages 13-18.

Meet the Author/Illustrator Program
Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m.
Award-winning author and illustrator Julia Mills will discuss her work and how to create picture books.

Makers Day 2.0
Thursday, July 17, from 1-4 p.m.
For those who were asking for more of Makers Day, we hear you! Makers Day 2.0 is here! Use the library’s tools and technology, and your imagination, to make and create in the teen Makerspace. For children and teens.

Paint and Sip
Saturday, July 19, from 2-4 p.m.
What’s better than painting while having some good juice? Kids and teens will be painting their own creation on canvas while drinking juice.

Rizzo’s Wildlife
Tuesday, July 22, from 2-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 1-2 p.m.
This interactive presentation will feature live animals! Widlife educators will guide you through interactions with a few of their friends. Ages. 3-18.

Movie Watch Along
Saturdays from 2-4 p.m.
July 26 and Aug. 30
Join us for our movie watch along where we watch great movies, enjoy popcorn and drinks and chill. Come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For the entire family.

Art Exhibition
Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6-7 p.m.
The library will showcase the art work created by those who participated in the Saturday art programs held earlier in the month.

Art with Live2Serve
Saturdays, time TBD
Improve your 2D visual art kills by trying out different techniques and medias. Reservation needed since space is limited. Visit or call the Youth Services desk at (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050. For ages 7-18.

RICHMOND BRANCH LIBRARY
Movie Watch Along
Saturday, June 28, from 2-4 p.m.
Join us for our movie watch along where we watch great movies, enjoy popcorn and drinks and chill. Come early to receive the free limited-edition merchandise. For the entire family.

Zoophoria
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 16 and Aug. 13
The Zoophoria team will come to the library with their reptiles and animals! Lots of fun for the whole family!

Paint and Sip
Wednesday, July 23, from 2-4 p.m.
What’s better than painting while having some good juice? Kids and teens will be painting their own creation on canvas while drinking juice.

Toddler Storytime
Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
July 30 and Aug. 20
Toddlers will enjoy action-oriented books, fingerplays, songs and rhymes, plus fun arts and craft activities.

Crafty Wednesday
Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m.
It’s crafting time! We will have fun making a variety of projects every week. For children and teens.

JIM WHELAN BOARDWALK HALL
History Hunts: Look, Locate, and Win!
Friday, Aug. 8, from 2-4 p.m.
Answer questions based on the exhibits at The Atlantic City Experience – located in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall lobby. Prizes will be awarded. Open to children and teens. Call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3066, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Main Library Help Desk to register.

STEEL PIER
Steel Pier Day: End-of-Summer Celebration
Thursday, Aug. 21
Children and teens can celebrate the end of our summer program with a day of free rides at Steel Pier. Certain Summer Reading Program participation levels must be met to qualify, and registration is required. Please visit the Main Library Youth Services desk or call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050, for more information.

Monday, June 16, 2025
The Richmond Branch Library will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week. It will be closed on Thursday, June 19, for Juneteenth.

The Main Library will be closed all week due to our water emergency project. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Monday, June 9, 2025
The Main Library will be closed this week as work continues on the first-floor flooring as part of our water emergency project. The Richmond Branch Library will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Thursday, May 29, 2025
The Atlantic City Free Public Library’s water emergency project will result in the temporary closing of the Main Library – located at 1 North Tennessee Ave. – beginning Monday, June 2.

As part of the project, new flooring is being installed in phases throughout the Main Library’s first floor. In this next phase, moving and flooring crews will be working in the central section of the floor, which includes the Circulation Desk, Tennessee Avenue and atrium entrances, women’s bathroom, plus the Fiction, New Book, Urban Fiction and Graphic Novels collections.

The Main Library will remain closed until the completion of this phase, which is projected to take 2-4 weeks. In-person classes at the Main Library are canceled, but online programs will be held as scheduled.

During this time, moving crews also will be returning shelving units and library materials to the areas impacted by earlier phases of this project.

To make library services and resources more accessible, extended hours have been scheduled at the Richmond Branch Library – located at 4115 Ventnor Ave. The Richmond Branch is open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday on a temporary basis.

Also, library members will still have access to extensive digital collections, including eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, comics and magazines, through services such as hoopla, Kanopy, OverDrive and ComicsPlus. Library members with internet access can borrow and download materials from these collections any time of the day.

The Main Library closed for three weeks after sprinkler pipes burst in late December 2022, causing severe water damage to the first and second floors, including the Alfred M. Heston Room, staff room and a computer lab. Many of the repairs have already been made.

The library asks the public to check back here for project updates and information about our reopening date.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Main Library: Our public computer area will remain closed this week due to the ongoing water emergency project. Limited public computer access will be available in our computer lab on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes due to the limited number of computer available. 

Computer schedule for the week of May 26 (subject to change):
Monday: Closed for holiday
Tuesday: Unavailable
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Richmond Branch Library: We will again offer extended hours at Richmond this week. It will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Monday, May 18, 2025
Main Library: Our public computer area will remain closed this week due to the ongoing water emergency project. Limited public computer access will be available in our computer lab on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes due to the limited number of computer available. 

Computer schedule for the week of May 19 (subject to change):
Monday: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Unavailable
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Richmond Branch Library: We will again offer extended hours at Richmond this week. It will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
The Magazine area is now unavailable to the public. It is being used as a staging area to store materials that have been removed from other sections of the library.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The moving crew started removing books from the first-floor stacks at the Main Library this morning. The books are being removed so the crew can break down the shelving units and relocate them in preparation for the new flooring that will be installed.

Books from the Biography and Non-fiction sections, and most of the Fiction section, have been removed. Currently, our World Language, New Books, Graphic Novels and Urban Fiction sections are still available, as well as a couple rows in our Fiction section.

Though many of the library physical materials will become unavailable temporarily as the project progresses, the library offers extensive online collections to library members.

Public computer access will be available in our computer lab from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes due to the limited number of computers available.

Please continue to check back here or on Facebook for project updates.

Monday, May 12, 2025
Main Library: Our public computer area is closed. Very limited public computer access will be available in our computer lab this week. Sessions will be limited to 30 minutes due to the limited computers available. Computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Below is the tentative schedule that computers will be available in the lab this week.

Monday: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Please pardon our appearance during this project. We apologize for any potential disruptions and inconvenience this causes.

Richmond Branch Library: Richmond is open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today through Saturday this week.

Friday, May 9, 2025
The Atlantic City Free Public Library’s water emergency project will temporarily affect services at the Main Library – located at 1 North Tennessee Ave. – beginning Friday, May 9.

A moving crew began work Friday to prepare for installation of new flooring on the Main Library’s first floor. The flooring will be installed in phases, which will result in different sections of the library and services being impacted as the project progresses.

• The seating area and CD section are unavailable, as of May 9.
• The public computer area will be unavailable as of Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. The computer lab will be open to the public for limited hours beginning Monday, May 12. Please visit the Main Library Help Desk or call (609) 345-2269 to ask about the computer lab schedule.
• All services in the Youth Services Department, located on the second floor, are available.

To make library services and resources more accessible, extended hours will be offered at our Richmond Branch Library – located at 4115 Ventnor Ave. – beginning May 12. The Richmond Branch will be open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Main Library closed for three weeks after sprinkler pipes burst in late December 2022, causing severe damage to the first and second floors, including the Alfred M. Heston Room, staff room and a computer lab. Many of the repairs, including to the drywall on both floors, have already been made.

Please check back here or follow us on social media for updates as details become available. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

A local icon with ties to the Atlantic City Free Public Library will be featured on an upcoming NJ PBS show premiering in May.

NJ PBS will highlight the life and legacy of Vicki Gold Levi – the Board Chair of the Foundation of the Atlantic City Free Public Library – on an episode of its Emmy-nominated show, Here’s The Story. The episode, “Miss Atlantic City,” will air on NJ PBS on Wednesday, May 14, at 8 p.m. Please check your provider’s local listings to view the broadcast.

In addition to her work as Foundation Board Chair, Levi is a co-curator of The Atlantic City Experience, a series of historical exhibits created by the library and located in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall lobby. The Atlantic City Experience features items from the library’s Atlantic City Heritage Collections and the former Atlantic City Historical Museum, which Levi co-founded. There are also items that Levi lent to the library for public display.

Following the Miss Atlantic City episode premiere, it will be available online on the Here's The Story webpage.

Learn more about this episode and Levi at: https://acfpl.org/images/pdf_files/missatlanticcity.pdf

Photo: Vicki Gold Levi is pictured at The Atlantic City Experience with a producer and cameraman for Here's the Story.

Deena Daughtery has been an Atlantic City Free Public Library member for at least 25 years – and she credits the library with helping her twice in her career.

The first time came while working as a conductor for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Tram Service from 2014-19. An outgoing and friendly person, Daughtery looked to improve her riders’ experience by sharing facts about the Boardwalk and the places they were passing – whether it was about the site of the city’s first casino formerly serving as a WWII hospital, the diving horse act at Steel Pier or Boardwalk Hall and the world’s largest pipe organ.

“People would come in to town and want to ride with the one who knows Atlantic City history,” she said. “I knew a lot about Atlantic City history, and what I didn’t know I studied at the library.”

Currently, the library is working with Daughtery on her computer skills, which have helped her in her role as a tour guide at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey (AAHMSNJ).

Daughtery took a computer class in 2005 at Atlantic Cape Community College, but she suffered a stroke years later that left her unable to walk or talk – and it impacted her memory.

“I needed to learn to do things differently after my stroke,” she said.

Since June 2024, Daughtery has worked hard at improving her computer skills in 1-on-1 sessions with library staff member Jhonsiry Luciano at the Richmond Branch location. The library offers these hour-long sessions by appointment as part of its Building Employment Skills Training (BEST) Program, which the library received grant funding for from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
 
Prior to working with Luciano, she rated her computer skills as being a two or three out of 10. As a result of her frequent sessions with Luciano, plus work she did on her own, Daughtery has made significant progress and said, for her age, she’d now rate her computer skills at an eight.

She puts those improved skills to use at the AAHMSNJ. Using email once intimidated her, but she said it’s now as routine for her as texting. She even curated an exhibit, Miss Black America, with museum intern Bryant Nguyen last September. The exhibit involved online research, cutting and pasting information and photographs she found online, creating captions and printing her work.

“(AAHMSNJ founder Ralph Hunter) is always challenging me to use those skills,” Daughtery said.

Daughtery encourages people to “use your resources” if they’re thinking about taking classes or training sessions offered by the library.
  
“There are a lot of resources that can help you with your career and education – and all for free,” she said. “Because of income, I couldn’t afford to go to college. The library has helped me with my education and jobs. Don’t be intimated to sign up.”

To learn more about the library’s classes, please stop by a library service desk, call (609) 345-2269 or visit acfpl.org.

Read about other Atlantic City Free Public Library members featured in our Success Story Series.