LOCATION -- CONTACT -- HOURS
The library is on the SW corner of First & Grand Avenues; the address is 500 First Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712-6193. Hours are Monday- Wednesday 11 AM - 8 PM; Thursday 9 AM - 5 PM; Friday & Saturday 12 Noon - 5 PM. Holiday and other closings are noted in the municipal calendar. You can call (732) 774-4221, fax (732) 988-6101, e-mail apl-info@asburypark.lib.nj.us,or write. The library's web site provides much information about library services, collections, and resources www.asburyparklibrary.org

"TILLIECAT"
"Tilliecat" is the name of the library's online catalog that is accessible from any location -work, school, home - via the internet. Most of the library's holdings are in Tilliecat. Contact the library if you do not find what you are looking for.

"TILLIESEARCH" -- "TILLIEFIND" -- "TILLIEACQ"
"Tilliecat's" three children help library staff identify, locate, and borrow or buy items requested by patrons that the library does not own. Asbury Park is a member of a statewide library computer system called Jerseycat (www.njstatelib.org) and an international library database WORLD CAT (www.oclc.org). Libraries around the world use systems such as this to borrow and lend materials. "TillieAcq" utilizes computer networks of outof- print and used book dealers (www.abebooks.com) and auction sites (www.ebay.com) to fill customer requests by purchasing items or Acquiring them.

FREE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS
Six computer workstations are available for public use to get access to the internet or to use application software, (Word, Excel, etc.) to prepare documents, resumes, or reports. Also available are many online reference databases, some of which are funded by the N.J. State Library for free use in public libraries. There is a small charge for print-outs and disks to download data. You must have a library borrower's card to make free use of computers.

PATRON REQUESTS
Participation and membership in various library computer systems, databases, and automation programs now makes it possible for the Asbury Park Public Library to obtain materials for its customers from all over the world. When items are located within New Jersey there is usually no cost to the customer; other institutions generally charge fees for lending or copying services. We always advise patrons in advance about such charges.We advise users to be aware of the complexities and difficulties they may encounter using automated systems in any library and to always ask staff for help if they cannot find what they are looking for.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COLLECTION
A large collection of print materials about Mr. Springsteen was donated to the library in 2001 and has since grown to 2000 items. There is a separate section of the library's website devoted to the collection with a complete inventory. Use of the collection is by appointment. Materials do not circulate and their use is subject to certain rules. Plans are underway to make many items available on the internet; particularly obscure and hard to obtain fan magazines and foreign publications. Donations to this collection are always welcome.

LOCAL HISTORY
For many years the library did not collect publications, images and other local history materials. For the past 25 years the library has been trying to make up for the previous century of neglect in this area. Donations of any documents or images depicting the city's past are always welcome. Even the most trivial and ephemeral items are of interest and gifts of any kind to the library are tax deductible.

HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY
Founded November 23, 1878, by among others, Helen M. Bradley, the wife of the city's founder, as the Asbury Park and Ocean Grove Library Association, the library enters its 125th year which it plans to celebrate with a series of small and large events in' 2004. James Bradley gave the land on which the library stands. In 1897 a referendum was held at which Asbury Park voters approved the conversion of the library to a city owned and run public library.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The library is managed by a board of 7 volunteer, unpaid trustees, most of whom are appointed by the mayor. They establish the rules and policies governing the operation of the library. Their meetings are noted in this calendar and are open to the public. Suggestions, comments, recommendations and thoughts about the library are always welcome to the board and can be sent to them at the library address via mail, e-mail, fax, or any other way.