Featured Database: Books and Authors

Looking for a good book, but not sure where to start? Try Gale’s new Books and Authors database, now offered FREE through the Camden County Library System. It can be used in any of our library branches or from the comfort of home with your valid library card and an Internet connection. Books and Authors allows the user to browse by author or genre as well as by character, time period, location and subject. There are seasonal spotlights, recommended reads, and expert picks. Give the Read-A-Like Wizard a title you’ve enjoyed, and it will find other books that may interest you. Books and Authors even offers its users individualized “Reading Rooms” where you can keep track of books you want to read and give ratings and reviews. This database is user-friendly and frequently updated. Books and Authors is a great tool for finding that perfect book to curl up with. Librarians are always available to help you in
using any of our databases!

Start Using Books and Authors.

Elwood, the World's Ugliest Dog, Visits South County

Elwood, winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog contest, is coming to the South County Branch on Saturday, December 6th from 10:30 to 12:30.  He will be pawtographing copies of his book Everyone Loves Elwood.   This is a great holiday gift for people of all ages!  The book’s messages:  "You Need Not Be Beautiful to Be Lovable & Be Kind To Animals."  Photos of Elwood are available for a donation to one of Elwood's favorite charities.  Help support homeless animals. Come hear ELWOOD'S story and meet this wonderful little pup.   In the spirit of the Holidays the Library is accepting donations for the local shelter in Elwood's name.  If you would like to donate some blankets, food, toys, treats or anything else for these homeless animals, it would be greatly appreciated by Elwood!

Register for this Event.

Directions to South County.

New for Kids - Tumblebooks!

The library now offers Tumblebooks - animated, talking picture books;  audiobooks; and games and puzzles, all available at the library or from home.  Toddlers and preschoolers can sit back and listen, while beginning readers can follow along at their own speed.  Older kids can listen to classic audiobooks like The Wizard of Oz, The Jungle Book and House at Pooh Corner. The language learning center offers stories in Spanish, French, Italian and Russian.

The link for Tumblebooks can be found in Kids’ World: Suggested Reading.  Or you can go directly to Tumblebooks.

Donate Books for Kids During Our Holiday Drive

The Camden County Library System is collecting books for the county’s disadvantaged children as part of its annual “Books for Kids” campaign.  During this book drive, the library system accepts new and like-new children’s books from the infant to young adult age ranges in a separate bin from the regular book donations. Patrons may bring books to the library system’s branches in Voorhees, Bellmawr, Gloucester Township, Haddon Township, South County Regional (in Atco) and the Merchantville Public Library. 

The donated books go to the Camden County Division of Children’s Services, which distributes them to needy children in the county in time for them to enjoy over the holiday season. The number of books we collect is always matched by the number of smiles from book recipients.   Please stop by any branch with your book donations.  The drive will end on December 7th.

Giant Book Sale at the Vogelson Branch

The Friends of the Camden County Library System will hold a giant book sale at the Vogelson Branch on October 16 -18.  You'll find 30,000 to 50,000 books,both paperback and hardcover, sorted into categories.  Also for sale will be CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks on CD and cassette.  Prices range from  50 cents to $2.00.  90% of the items for sale have been donated. 

Thursday, Oct 16, 10-9
Friday, Oct. 17, 10-9
Saturday, October 18, 10-4

Directions to the Vogelson Branch

Celebrate National Reading Group Month

October is National Reading Group Month and Camden County Library System is celebrating. Each branch is hosting a guest author who will discuss and sign their latest book.

Chris Grabenstein	Jane Cleland	Debra Galant
Masha Hamilton	Leslie Carroll	Cornelia Frances Biddle

Merchantville: Meet Chris Grabenstein, author of John Ceepak/Jersey Shore mysteries. Author's Website  October 2, 3 p.m. 

Bellmawr: Join author Jane Cleland at Bellmawr in a discussion of her book Antiquities to Die For.  Author's Website  October 2, 7 p.m.

Gloucester Twp.: Welcome Debra Galant, author of Fear and Yoga in New Jersey. Author's Website  October 4, 11 a.m.  This appearance has been cancelled.

South County:  Masha Hamilton, the author of The Camel Bookmobile, will hold a book chat at South County.  Author's Website  October 16, 7 p.m.

Haddon Township:  Leslie Carroll, romance author and actress, will discuss her book Choosing Sophie.  Author's Website  October 23, 7 p.m.

Voorhees: Author Cordelia Francis Biddle will be discussing her book Deception's Daughter.  Author's Website  October 25, 11 a.m.

Reserve your spot today!

Summer Reading Lists Available on Library Website

Summer reading lists for Camden County schools are now at all our branches and on the library website.  Stop by your library branch to check out required reading books, or view the lists and request your books online.  Summer reading lists

Food for Thought: a Writing Workshop

Author Christina Baker Kline will present Food for Thought: a Writing Workshop at the Vogelson Branch (directions) on Wednesday May 28, from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.  She will also sign her book The Way Life Should Be

We eat; we talk, think, dream about food.  Like Proust, we all have our madeleines – those foods that trigger memory.  In this workshop we will explore the process of writing about food from one’s own experience, looking particularly at how memory and place can serve as points of departure.  In doing so, we will address issues of satiety and sustenance, longing and desire---Christina Baker Kline

Author's website

Refreshments will be served.  Registration is suggested. Call: 856-772-1636 or e-mail: Shyamoli@camden.lib.nj.us 

Book signings and author events are brought to you by the Friends of the Library

Giant Book Sale at the Vogelson Branch - June 6 and 7

The Friends of the Camden County Library will host a giant book sale at the Voorhees Branch (directions) on Friday, June 6, from 10 AM – 9 PM, and Saturday, June 7, from 10 AM – 4 PM.  There will be over 25,000 books of all types: CDs, videos, audiobooks, LPs, magazines…. and more!!  All are priced from $.50 - $3.00.

Our used book sales have become a favorite for bargain-loving readers, collectors and used book dealers for several reasons (according to their feedback):

• Over 90% of the books are donated from patrons, collectors and estates (that means less than 10% are ex-library copies.)
• Our prices are low and almost everything is less than $3.
• We put additional books out continuously (we have a warehouse storage room full of books and the supply is constantly replenished.)
• We sort by subject.
• We put out or sell between 20,000 and 50,000 books and AV items over the course of two days.
• We can put boxes of books you select aside, until you are ready to leave, to make your visit easier.
• We take checks.

All proceeds support the Friends of the Camden County Library which helps support the library.

New Newsletter for Tweens

In addition to the newsletters we offer for preschoolers, kids and teens, Camden County Library will now have a monthly e-mail newsletter for middle-schoolers. Every month, we'll suggest fun and fascinating fiction (and some nonfiction) for the tween crowd.  Sign up now and receive the first issue in mid-May.  And don't forget - we offer 14 different newsletters for adults.  Sign up for one or all of the newsletters.