September is National Sewing Month and a great opportunity to create something new this year for everyone on your D.I.Y gift-giving list. Both the Art and Literature and Science and Wellness departments at Parkway Central Library have many informative how-to titles to help make your crafting ideas a reality. You may already have the crochet,… continue reading Create Something New During National Sewing Month

By written by Juanita V.    September 30, 2021   

• Art
• Crafts and Hobbies
• Literature
• Science and Wellness

After a successful first year, Hear Me Out is back this fall for its second season of monthly dialogues across distance and difference. Hear Me Out is the first state-wide dialogue program of its kind. With connection at the heart of our program, we seek out dialogue as a medium of connecting Pennsylvanians statewide through their local… continue reading Hear Me Out Event Series Begins a New Year of Virtual Dialogues!

By written by Irma Q.    September 29, 2021   

• Community Events
• Virtual Programs

September 24 is International Bollywood Day! So... what exactly is Bollywood? Depending on who you ask, each person defines it differently.  In the film My Name Is Khan , an Indian man embarks on a remarkable journey across America to win back the love of his life. Bollywood is a combination of the words Hollywood and Bombay, the former… continue reading What Do You Know About Bollywood? | International Bollywood Day

By written by Inaara S.    September 28, 2021    1  

• Art
• Music
• Film
• History
• Catalog

Read, Baby, Read is a Free Library initiative focused on encouraging early literacy development among infants and young toddlers under two years old. We work with 12 participating libraries across Philadelphia to reach caregivers of all ages, providing resources that support early literacy skills, language development, and purposeful play. In… continue reading Read, Baby, Read Presents Early Literacy Ideas: Feelings!

By written by Sarah J.    September 27, 2021   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Childrens Books
• Early Literacy
• Read Baby Read

September is National Classical Music Month and I wanted to highlight a classical music icon who has some major local ties to Philadelphia— George Walker . George Walker (who passed away in 2018) was born in Washington, D.C. in July 1922. His parents encouraged him to play the piano, as his love of music became clear at a very early age.… continue reading September is National Classical Music Month

By written by Kamilah C.    September 24, 2021    1  

• Databases
• Music
• Recommendations
• Catalog

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place over two months, from September 15 to October 15, and as in previous years we wanted to share with you recent works by the many talented Latinx authors and illustrators of picture books. We are sure you will find much to love within these pages!   El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! written by Donna Barba Higuera ;… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | 16 Great Latinx Picture Books

By written by Monica C.    September 23, 2021   

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

Howdy! I am a Free Library of Philadelphia Library Card. Since I am an important part of the Free Library of Philadelphia system, that is the F-L-P, you can call me Flippy for short. I am but one of hundreds of thousands of Library cards that Philadelphians across the city use in their neighborhood libraries on a regular basis. Although I am… continue reading A Week in the Life of Flippy, a Free Library Card | Library Card Sign-Up Month

By written by Inaara S.    September 23, 2021   

• Library Card
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Library Resources

Join the Adult Literacy Book Club, presented by the Free Library's Languages and Learning Center and Beyond Literacy . Improve your reading skills while reading and discussing interesting books! Don't always have a lot of time to read? No problem. The club only covers a few chapters at each meeting, so you will have plenty of time to… continue reading The Adult Literacy Book Club's Fall Book Selection

By written by Phil K.    September 22, 2021   

• Reading
• Seniors
• Literacy
• English Language Learners
• Virtual Programs
• Book Clubs

Today, September 22, we welcome the equinox once again! On this day twice each year, the sun rests directly over the equator, so day and night are nearly equal in length all over the globe. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumn Equinox marks the first day of fall. Does that bring to mind autumn leaves and cooler nights, back to school and… continue reading Move into Autumn with the Harvest Moon

By written by Emily S.    September 22, 2021    2  

• Holidays
• History
• Nature

The love for the Spanish language and culture can transcend frontiers! The stories, poems and illustrations of the books can reflect personal narratives that touch our collective unconsciousness. A team of talented community leaders has organized the Third Latin American Book (#LABF) in the city of Brotherly Love, Friday September 24 ,… continue reading ¡Celebremos la Fiesta del Libro en Español!

By written by Mary Marques    September 21, 2021   

• Community Events
• Family Programs
• Recommendations
• Poetry
• New Americans
• Literature
• Immigrant Heritage
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion

by Regina Schliep, Logan Library Work-Study Student Logan Library invites adults and caregivers to an outdoor Resource Fair on Friday, September 24 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., featuring over ten organizations that support Philadelphians in the areas of health and wellness, family services, and support for returning citizens. People… continue reading Join the Logan Library for a Community Resource Fair!

By written by Catherine M.    September 21, 2021   

• Community Events
• Healthy Communities

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the intrepid agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service—James Bond, designated Agent 007—has epitomized masculine cool. Everyone knows how he likes his vodka martinis. Everyone knows about his favorite car and his love for the ladies... but did you know that the real James Bond was born in… continue reading Uncovering the Real James Bond in the Rare Book Department

By written by Mharlyn M.    September 20, 2021    3  

• Rare Book Department
• Film
• Special Collections
• Literature
• History of Philadelphia

Calling all Philadelphia poets! The Free Library of Philadelphia and its partners invite you to submit your application for the opportunity to represent our city as its next Poet Laureate. The City of Philadelphia Poet Laureate program is managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Central Public Services Division and guided by a… continue reading Apply Now to be Philadelphia's Next Poet Laureate!

By written by Administrator    September 20, 2021   

• Philadelphia Poet Laureate

Books and Cooks, a collaboration between the Parkway Central Library Children’s Department and the Culinary Literacy Center’s Nourishing Literacy team, offers an afterschool series of story read-alouds, cooking ideas, wellness prompts, and creative art activities for school-aged youth, inspired by the theme of natural wonders.… continue reading Nourishing Literacy | Books and Cooks: Strong Rocks

By written by Shayna M.    September 17, 2021   

• Childrens Programs
• Childrens Books
• Poetry
• Culinary Literacy
• Recipes
• Science and Wellness
• Self Care

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture through festivals, cuisine, cultural events, and art, encompassing people of various races, ethnicities, nationalities, and traditions across Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and numerous countries in Latin America. The period of September 15 through October 15… continue reading Hispanic Heritage Month Begins!

By written by Inaara S.    September 16, 2021   

• Recommendations
• History
• Community
• Immigrant Heritage
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion

If ever a Broadway musical seemed destined to fail, it was Oklahoma . Contrary to the standard practice at the time, the producers insisted on casting singers who could act, rather than actors who could sing. As a result, the show opened on Broadway without a single star in the cast. Almost everyone had reservations about the show’s… continue reading Oklahoma: The Show That Changed American Musicals Forever

By written by Richard L.    September 16, 2021   

• Central Senior Services
• Music
• Seniors

The Free Library Board of Trustees will be holding its first meeting of FY22 on Friday, September 17, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. View the upcoming meeting agenda » The meeting will take place through the online meeting platform Zoom, due to continued COVID-19 precautions.  To access the meeting: Join via Zoom with the… continue reading Free Library Board of Trustees Public Meeting on Friday, September 17 at 8:00 a.m.

By written by Administrator    September 15, 2021    17  

• Board of Trustees

Like many libraries across the nation, the Free Library of Philadelphia is undergoing a paradigm shift . Increasingly, our focus is not only on extensive collections but on how we are engaging with our communities. To address this shift, the Free Library created the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries curriculum. The Skills for… continue reading Skills for Community Centered Libraries Curriculum Release

By written by Lynn W.    September 15, 2021    1  

• Free Library Staff
• IMLS

While—for now—the realities of the ongoing pandemic keep us from gathering in the Parkway Central Library’s Montgomery Auditorium for a new season of Author Events , this month we’re bringing you a host of virtual talks that you can experience and participate in wherever you are. Join us Tuesday, September 14 at 12:00… continue reading Author Events Fall 2021 Schedule

By written by Author Events    September 14, 2021    3  

• Podcasts
• Author Events

September is  Library Card Sign-Up Month , and while we all know that a library card grants you instant access to a treasure trove of books, CDs, DVDs, graphic novels, and audiobooks from our  catalog , we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the more unconventional but equally wonderful items you can borrow and… continue reading Do More With Your Free Library Card!

By written by Kate C.    September 14, 2021    1  

• Library Card
• Neighborhood Libraries