Board of Trustees appoints Silver-Morillo new library director
Aug. 4, 2025
The Atlantic City Free Public Library’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jacqueline Silver-Morillo as the library’s new director. Silver-Morillo’s first day as director is Monday, Aug. 4.
Silver-Morillo joined the Atlantic City Free Public Library staff in 2014 as an intern in the Alfred M. Heston Room, which houses the library’s archives. She became the library’s archivist in 2017 and added senior librarian to her job title in 2023. In addition to those roles, she has served as supervisor of the Main Library Help Desk staff, IT Department and co-curator of the library’s Atlantic City Experience exhibits located at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
“I’m honored to step into the role of Library Director in the city where I was born, raised and where my roots run deep — a place that shaped who I am and still holds my family today,” she said. “For 120 years, the library has been a cornerstone of our community. I’m committed to building on that legacy by deepening our connection with the people we serve — through meaningful outreach and programs that respond to what our community truly needs.”
Silver-Morillo’s accomplishments at the library include creating the library’s Atlantic City Heritage Collections Digital Repository. After receiving a National Endowment for the Humanities grant of more than $120,000, Silver-Morillo digitized the library’s extensive Atlantic City African-American history collections, making them accessible online. The repository allows residents, students, media and researchers around the world immediate access to those collections any time of day.
Some of her other achievements include:
• Curating the “Summer of Freedom” exhibit at The Atlantic City Experience in conjunction with Atlantic City hosting the annual NAACP Convention in 2022.
• Receiving a New Jersey Council for the Humanities Community History Grant. This ongoing project focuses on the city’s Asian community, and it includes oral history interviews and adding to the library’s archival materials.
• Designing a series of Black History Month informational posters that highlights many of the African-American residents, businesses and organizations that have impacted Atlantic City since its inception in 1854. Posters were displayed throughout the library and City Hall.
• Developing new programming, including the AC Research Club and history scavenger hunts at The Atlantic City Experience.
• Presenting at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference and serving as President of the NJLA’s History and Preservation Section.
“We're thrilled to appoint Jacqueline the new library director,” Library Board of Trustees President Libbie Wills said. “She has a great understanding of this community through her outstanding work at the library and as a former Atlantic City resident. She's passionate about the library and has grown professionally through the years. We're confident she'll provide the type of leadership needed to move the library forward.”
Silver-Morillo received her Master of Arts in Museology from Johns Hopkins University and Masters of Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University. She became a Certified Archivist with The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) in 2020.
The Board of Trustees conducted a nationwide search to fill the position after Melissa McGeary announced her plans to resign as library director to pursue new opportunities. McGeary joined the library staff in 2017 and took over as director in 2024. Her final day was Aug. 1.
“Melissa made a positive impact on the library and community during her time here,” Wills said. “The board is grateful for her contributions and devoted service. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
The Atlantic City Free Public Library’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jacqueline Silver-Morillo as the library’s new director. Silver-Morillo’s first day as director is Monday, Aug. 4.Silver-Morillo joined the Atlantic City Free Public Library staff in 2014 as an intern in the Alfred M. Heston Room, which houses the library’s archives. She became the library’s archivist in 2017 and added senior librarian to her job title in 2023. In addition to those roles, she has served as supervisor of the Main Library Help Desk staff, IT Department and co-curator of the library’s Atlantic City Experience exhibits located at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
“I’m honored to step into the role of Library Director in the city where I was born, raised and where my roots run deep — a place that shaped who I am and still holds my family today,” she said. “For 120 years, the library has been a cornerstone of our community. I’m committed to building on that legacy by deepening our connection with the people we serve — through meaningful outreach and programs that respond to what our community truly needs.”
Silver-Morillo’s accomplishments at the library include creating the library’s Atlantic City Heritage Collections Digital Repository. After receiving a National Endowment for the Humanities grant of more than $120,000, Silver-Morillo digitized the library’s extensive Atlantic City African-American history collections, making them accessible online. The repository allows residents, students, media and researchers around the world immediate access to those collections any time of day.
Some of her other achievements include:
• Curating the “Summer of Freedom” exhibit at The Atlantic City Experience in conjunction with Atlantic City hosting the annual NAACP Convention in 2022.
• Receiving a New Jersey Council for the Humanities Community History Grant. This ongoing project focuses on the city’s Asian community, and it includes oral history interviews and adding to the library’s archival materials.
• Designing a series of Black History Month informational posters that highlights many of the African-American residents, businesses and organizations that have impacted Atlantic City since its inception in 1854. Posters were displayed throughout the library and City Hall.
• Developing new programming, including the AC Research Club and history scavenger hunts at The Atlantic City Experience.
• Presenting at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference and serving as President of the NJLA’s History and Preservation Section.
“We're thrilled to appoint Jacqueline the new library director,” Library Board of Trustees President Libbie Wills said. “She has a great understanding of this community through her outstanding work at the library and as a former Atlantic City resident. She's passionate about the library and has grown professionally through the years. We're confident she'll provide the type of leadership needed to move the library forward.”
Silver-Morillo received her Master of Arts in Museology from Johns Hopkins University and Masters of Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University. She became a Certified Archivist with The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) in 2020.
The Board of Trustees conducted a nationwide search to fill the position after Melissa McGeary announced her plans to resign as library director to pursue new opportunities. McGeary joined the library staff in 2017 and took over as director in 2024. Her final day was Aug. 1.
“Melissa made a positive impact on the library and community during her time here,” Wills said. “The board is grateful for her contributions and devoted service. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”