Library News & Information

Library Received a $25,000 Grant

The New Jersey State Library announced that the Gloucester City Library has been selected to participate in its Hub & Spoke Libraries pilot project, a statewide effort providing uniform digital literacy training for NJ workforce. Through a competitive grant process, the State Library selected three hub libraries that will serve as regionally-based training labs, and 11 spoke libraries that will provide additional digital literacy support. Gloucester City Library will participate in the program as a spoke library. The Gloucester City Library will connect with its local Workforce Development Board and American Job Center to offer digital literacy workshops and other workforce-related services. Participants will have access to free, high quality training materials and mini lessons on both digital literacy as well as job searching skills .

This project was made possible through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds made available to the New Jersey State Library through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). For more information about the Hub & Spoke Libraries pilot project, please visit here.

Employment

Details can be found at Employment.

Mobile Printing Now Available (New!)

Library now offers mobile printing. Patrons can print from ANYWHERE and pick up printouts from the library during the library hours. Details can be found at Mobile Printing .

CURRENT LIBRARY SERVICES

--INDOOR SERVICES EXPANDED.Starting Tuesday, June 2, you may sit inside the library to read and study. Regular services continue, including computer use, faxing, ,copying, circulation, stack browsing, etc. To make an appointment, please call 856-456-4181 or email gc@gcpl.us or messenger us on Facebook. Walk-in service will be provided upon availability.

--BOOK BUNDLES. Not sure what to read? Want a batch of books to tide you over in your free time? Revisit some of your favorite books? Book Bundles are the way to go. Let us know if the books are for your young child or tween, their likes, favorite authors, suggested topics and their reading level --- or make it a Librarian’s Choice -- and we’ll do the rest! Staff will gather up to five (5) books per bundle for you to retrieve by curbside pickup. To try this new service, email/call/Facebook Messenger us with your request, or simply fill out your request through this link .

--CURBSIDE PICKUP.Curbside pickup service continues. Please place a hold by emailing gc@gcpl.us or logging into your online library account or calling the library. If you need help with your online account, please contact us. After your materials are put aside for you, you will get a notification from us. More pickup hours are now available.

--COMPUTER USE. Please make an appointment to use public computers.

--STACK BROWSING.Stack browsing resumes on Monday, March 8, 2021.

--MEETING ROOM. The Library is offering Virtual Meeting Room free of charge to library cardholders! This service is available to nonprofit groups to meet up to twice per week. The Virtual Meeting Room can be reserved for up to two hours.

--VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. We continue to offer virtual programs including Storytime on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Makerspace on Mondays, Crafternoon on Tuesdays, and GED class on Fridays.

--DIGITAL RESOURCES. You can enjoy e-books/audiobooks, movies, music via our digital resources such as Hoopla and Overdrive. Please download Hoopla for Hoopla Digital and Libby for Overdrive from App store, and register using your library card. If you need assistance on using the apps or forget your library PIN number to log on, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

--LIBRARY CARD. We offer Adult Card, Juvenile Card, Teacher's Card, and Out-of-Town Patron Card. Adult Card--Any Gloucester City resident over the age of 18 may apply for a free library card. Applicants must present a photo ID and proof of address current within the last 30 days, such as a utility bill or bank statement. Juvenile Card-- Children of any age may apply for a library card with the permission of a parent or guardian. Teacher’s Card--Gloucester City school teachers who live out of town may obtain a temporary library card during the school year, September through June, by presenting a valid school ID. Out-of-town patrons can purchase a library card for $45.00 per year. Library patrons can use their cards to check out library materials and access digital resources.

--REFERENCE AND CONTACT. Please use gc@gcpl.us or send messages via our Facebook page for questions, comments, and assistance.

--Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi signals are available 24/7 as always.

--BOARD MEETING. Monthly Board Meetings will be held online via Zoom. Access information can be found on the bottom of this page .

Brainfuse HelpNow (NEW!)

Need help with math homework, writing a paper, studying for a science test? Planning to take the GED and need some tutoring or practice tests? Brainfuse HelpNow offers expert help through live tutoring and online study sessions and exercises. Brainfuse features include:

--Homework Help Interact with live tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests.

--Adult Learning Center Access a library of rich adult learning content (GED) and live, professional assistance in resume/cover letter writing, U.S. citizenship prep, MS Office Essential Skills Series, and more!

--Skills-Building Choose your topic to receive real-time help.

--Personalized eLearning Tools My File Sharing, My Session Replay, My Tutoring Archive, My Tests Archive, and more!

--24-Hour Writing Lab Submit essays and other forms of writing for constructive feedback.

--Homework Send Question Submit homework questions for expert guidance.

--Foreign Language Lab /Spanish-Speaking Support

To access, please go to Brainfuse and log in with your library card number. Create an account to launch the programs and online help.

Brainfuse HelpNow User Guide

Brainfuse HelpNow Video Tutorial

How to Use the Whiteboard

Adult Learning Center Tutorial

TAX HELP INFORMATION

Tax-Aide sites are now open for the season. The following sites offer free in-person or virtual tax help by appointment only:

1.AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers (1) low-contact or (2) contact-free tax help by appointment only. Taxpayers meet once or twice with a certified volunteer to scan documents and gather basic information.Taxpayers and certified volunteers interact by phone or online and exchange documents electronically. Click here for more information or to make an appointment.

2.The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer in-person, drop-off, or virtual tax prep assistance. Click here for location and appointment information. 

3.Campaign for Working Families offers in person, virtual or DIY Free File tax assistance by appointment only. Click here for more information.

COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION

Covid-19 vaccinations are underway in New Jersey!

The State of New Jersey has updated their official site to include information about vaccine registrations, eligibility, and where, how, and when to get vaccinated. This site explains who is eligible under the different phases, and includes a list of designated vaccination sites. It may also be possible to schedule an appointment by contacting a designated site directlly, although many of these sites may be fully-booked. This link will answer many of your Covid-19 Vaccination questions, and is updated regularly.

The State of New Jersey is encouraging everyone to register online for the vaccine. Click on this link to register -- it only takes about 15 minutes.

Camden County has set up a COVID-19 vaccine hub. Here you will find information about the Camden County Vaccination Center located at Camden County College --Blackwood Campus, appointment instructions, vaccine distribution phases, and a list of vaccination locations in Camden County. All eligible individuals must schedule an appointment online from here . Questions? Call the Camden County COVID-19 Vaccination Center Hotline at 856-549-0530 or the NJ Call Center for COVID-19 Vaccine Registration at 855-568-0545.

For general Covid-19 questions, call 211.For help with the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System, call 855-568-0545. This number is currently an automated system. Live operators will be available soon.

Video Games Now Available at the Library

Gloucester City Library is excited to announce that library cardholders may now check out video games! Our collection consists of games for Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Xbox One.
Questions? Ask at the front desk, or call us 856-456-4181.

Browse Collection

Check Out Hoopla

Are you on the go a lot? Wish you could watch some great movies and TV on your mobile device while traveling? Are music or audiobooks more your travel style? The Gloucester City Library has you covered with hoopla digital! Visit hoopladigital.com or ask about it the next time you are in the library!

*Note: A broadband or mobile data connection is required in order to use this service.

Seeking GHS, and GCHS Yearbooks

In order to start a yearbook digitalization project, Gloucester City Library is calling for the donation or lending of Gloucester City High School (GHS) and Gloucester Catholic High School (GCHS) yearbooks to complete its current yearbook collection. This project aims to make the entire local yearbook collection available in digital format and eventually available online to the public.

Years needed:

GHS - 1937, 1939-1941, 1944, 1945, and all years prior to 1935.

GCHS - 1942-1947, 1953, 1955, 1959-1961, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, and all years prior to 1941.

Free Museum Passes at the Gloucester City Library!

Due to COVID-19,both the availability of the museums as well as their public hours change constantly. Currently, we have the following passes for our patrons to check out. Please click the links below for their hours and programs.

--Academy of Natural Sciences

-- Battleship New Jersey

--Eastern State Penitentiary

--Mutter Museum

--Penn Museum

--Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center

--Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge