Thursday, August 11, 2005

Atlantic and Cape May Counties Agree to Reciprocal Library Use

Atlantic County residents will now have the ability to borrow materials from any of the seven Cape May County library branches as a result of an interlocal agreement between the Cape May County Library Commission and Atlantic County for reciprocal use of library services and resources. The Atlantic County Library system includes nine branches.

County Executive Dennis Levinson announced the seven-year agreement following approval by the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders on August 9. The agreement allows residents of both counties to borrow materials from each county's library system at no cost.

Prior to this agreement non-county residents would be charged an out-of-system user fee for library materials. "Residents in communities, such as Corbin City and Upper Township, that border county lines, should find the agreement particularly beneficial," said Levinson.

"In addition to the obvious advantage of greater convenience, this agreement benefits residents by increasing access to a vast wealth of resources that include books, CDs, DVDs. computers/Internet, bookmobile and audio-visual materials," he added.

The Cape May County Library has locations in Cape May City, Cape May Court House, Lower Township, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Upper Township and Wildwood Crest. Visit www.cape-may.county.lib.nj.us/branches.asp for the phone number, address and operating hours of each branch.

The Atlantic County Library has locations in Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Hammonton, Longport, Mays Landing, Pleasantville, Somers Point and Ventnor. Visit www.atlanticlibrary.org/aclibrary/branches/index.asp for specific branch information.

"In Atlantic County we describe our library system as the 'information center.' I am happy to extend access to that information center to the residents of Cape May County," concluded Levinson.

For more information, please contact Glen Mawby, Intergovernmental Liaison, at (609) 343-2229.

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