There’s a great Seinfeld episode based solely around a late library book that Jerry took out of the New
York Public library in 1971 while still in high school, and the hilarious pursuit of its return by the library’s
“enforcer,” the aptly-name Mr. Bookman. In the episode, Jerry refers to the library good naturedly as
everyone’s “pathetic friend, who is willing to do anything if you’ll be friends with them.” To paraphrase,
he says “walk in there, take whatever you want, bring it back whenever.”


It’s an excellent—if mildly derisive—assessment of the library’s place in our society: a stalwart friend,
ready to lend and assist at all times, at no cost to the patrons. Kind an helpful staff, ready to assist you?
Yes. Need a book? Done. Audio or e-books? Yes. Free use of a computer? Check. Tutorials and
workshops, open to the community? Indeed—and the list goes on. You could call libraries our society’s
unsung heroes—and that’s exactly why the Unsung Libraries Initiative was creating, to highlight libraries
whose work matches this year’s NJLA themes of Simple Kindness and Breaking Barriers.


The initiative recognizes libraries that provide great service to their communities, and 12 libraries will be
visited and recognized over the next year. Ultimately, one of those 12 libraries will receive the NJLA
President’s Aware. And on July 24, President of the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) Jeff Cupo
visited the Spangler Library to recognize Janet Hauge’s application, to the delight of library staff.


In President Cupo’s remarks, he indicated that he received a lot of impressive applications. “But the
work you and your staff are doing, and how you are going so far above and beyond the traditional
academic work most people probably assume you do, really stood out,” he said. “It's very clear that you all truly care about your students and all the different issues they are facing in their lives, and I love the hard work and kind and creative efforts you all are doing to meet those challenges.” He further remarked that he was thrilled to begin his 12-library tour with a visit to an academic library. 

 
President Cupo toured the library and then met with full-time staff members to talk about the creative,
compassionate work being done to help students succeed at ACCC. The discussion included the various
ways that all library staff continuously strive to improve services, touching on everything from
expanding textbook reserve collections to providing snacks. It was noted the staff always find ways to
say yes. The libraries at Atlantic Cape Community are an excellent example of just how the College
works hard to break whatever barriers may impede the success of our students and community.