Residents can get out of the heat and into an air-conditioned space at a neighborhood library with access to books, computers, wireless internet, and other Free Library amenities. The following neighborhood library locations will serve as cooling centers during the citywide heat health emergency from 10:00 a.m. to… continue reading Cooling Centers Open at Select Libraries from July 15–17, 2024

By written by Administrator    July 15, 2024    3  

• Cooling Centers
• Community
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Free Library Announcements

Introducing a new book club at the Parkway Central Library  — on the second Monday of each month, the Short Story Book Club will meet from 6:00–7:30 p.m. in Philbrick Hall  to discuss collections of short-form fiction. The first meeting  will be August 12, when we’ll be discussing   Gorilla, My… continue reading Short Story Book Club Coming to Parkway Central Library

By written by Francis B.    July 10, 2024    1  

• Events at the Library
• Parkway Central
• Reading
• Fiction
• Book Clubs

The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Summer of Wonder program is a reading challenge for all ages that allows participants to attend fun Free Library events, find new books to read, and explore activities to stay engaged throughout the summer. Simply sign up at your neighborhood library to get started, or register online with Beanstack… continue reading Summer of Wonder: 3 Ways to Get Kids Reading This Summer

By written by Free Library Foundation    July 2, 2024   

• Family Programs
• Summer Reading
• Early Literacy
• Library Resources

Now through Tuesday, October 1, Parkway Central Library is hosting an exhibition to showcase collaborative new artwork, BE/LONGING . Visitors can examine art created by workshop participants throughout the city expressing what "belonging" means to them. Background: BE/LONGING  anchors itself in a series of Free… continue reading BE/LONGING: The New Community-Building Art Exhibit

By written by Brianna V.    July 1, 2024    1  

• Exhibitions
• Art
• Parkway Central
• Community
• Accessibility

In Languages and Learning , the adult education department of the Free Library, a number of our programs couldn’t run without the hard work of our dedicated volunteers — so we decided to thank them! On Monday, June 24, Languages and Learning hosted our first-ever Volunteer Appreciation Celebration in the Skyline Room at… continue reading Languages and Learning Volunteer Lunch

By written by Meredith M.    June 28, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Volunteers
• Adult Learning
• Languages and Learning

There is something for everyone in these new titles coming to the Free Library in July!   Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) How To Eat A Mango by Paola Santos; illustrated by Juliana Perdomo Carmencita doesn’t want to help Abuelita pick mangoes; she doesn’t even like them! They’re messy, they get stuck in her teeth, and… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in July

By written by Rachel F.    June 26, 2024   

• Recommendations
• Catalog
• Monthly New Titles
• New Titles

The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia are old friends. For over 100 years, they have lived across from each other on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, educating and entertaining Philadelphians. In celebration of the relationship between the Free Library and the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Academy has… continue reading From Sloths to Sleuths: The Academy of Natural Sciences Free Pass Program!

By written by Joe S.    June 24, 2024    3  

• Community Events
• Family Programs
• Parkway Central
• Science
• Nature

Small businesses and career professionals are invited to a Professional Development Day with the Free Library's Business Resource and Innovation Center . Join us on June 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. for the event hosted by Grow with Snow !  Advance registration is required for this event . Connect with like-minded peers… continue reading Take The Stage: Professional Development Day

By written by Lonnie J.    June 24, 2024    1  

• Events at the Library
• Careers
• Parkway Central
• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Business

Residents can get out of the heat and into an air-conditioned space at a neighborhood library with access to books, computers, wireless internet, and other Free Library amenities. The following neighborhood library locations will serve as cooling centers from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday,… continue reading Cooling Centers Open at Select Libraries from June 20–23, 2024

By written by Administrator    June 20, 2024    1  

• Cooling Centers
• Community
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Free Library Announcements

In celebration of Pride Month , the Free Library’s Social Science and History Department is displaying books from the collection that give an overview of the study of queer history. LGBTQ+ people have always existed and will continue to exist throughout human history and across the world. Queer history involves examining these lives and… continue reading Collection Spotlight: Exploring Queer Histories

By written by Sabrina W.    June 20, 2024   

• Exhibitions
• LGBTQ
• History
• Free Library of Pride
• History of Philadelphia

Throughout the Summer of 2024, select Free Library locations will remain open on Saturdays starting July 6, 2024. The following neighborhood branches will be open on Saturdays this summer from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m: Cecil B. Moore Library | 2320 Cecil B. Moore Avenue (19121) | 215-685-2766 Charles Santore Library | 932 South 7th… continue reading Updated Hours of Service at the Free Library

By written by Administrator    June 18, 2024    6  

• Summer
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Free Library Announcements

An act of creativity can be a freeing way to express myriad emotions surrounding our identities, and as such, they are a great way to celebrate Pride Month. Throughout June, the Free Library offers various  creative workshops and events  throughout the city, from nail art to printmaking. I like to think of my identity as a… continue reading Queer Signals: Symbolizing the Self

By written by Kelly D.    June 18, 2024   

• Art
• LGBTQ
• Printmaking
• Print and Picture Collection
• Free Library of Pride

The Free Library Board of Trustees will be holding its last meeting of FY24 on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in person in rooms 405/406/407 at Parkway Central Library : 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. View the upcoming meeting agenda.   Public Comment at Board of Trustees Meetings… continue reading Free Library Board of Trustees Public Meeting on June 20 at 4:00 p.m.

By written by Administrator    June 17, 2024   

• Board of Trustees

School may be out, but the future of public education is still in session. Pennsylvania courts recently deemed the state’s underfunding of public schools unconstitutional . The State House is poised to consider an education funding bill that would mandate a $1.4 billion investment over seven years in the Philadelphia County School… continue reading Book Release and Author Visit: Jennifer C. Berkshire and The Education Wars

By written by Eileen E.    June 17, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Parkway Central
• School
• Politics
• Community

On Wednesday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m. , the Newspapers and Microfilm Center is proud to present Black and Queer in Philadelphia  — a program with Gary Hines in conversation with James Charles Roberts and Sappho Reynan Fulton.  Gary Hines may be familiar to library-goers from the program he presented last February of the… continue reading Black and Queer in Philadelphia: A Conversation

By written by Hal T.    June 14, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• LGBTQ
• Parkway Central
• Free Library of Pride
• History of Philadelphia

In partnership with Visit Philadelphia  and Little Free Library , the Little Free(dom) Library initiative encourages residents and visitors of Philadelphia to pick up a free banned book at one of many locations throughout the city. Don’t just grab a book and go, though! Before or after visiting a Little Free(dom)… continue reading Check Out A Banned Book From Our Little Free(dom) Libraries

By written by Administrator    June 11, 2024    3  

• Banned Books
• Community
• Literary History

June is African American Music Appreciation Month and a celebration of “African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage,” according to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture . In addition to music history books covering significant… continue reading Beyond Books: Celebrating Music at the Free Library

By written by Free Library Foundation    June 10, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Music
• Support

Hey there, new parents and caregivers! It's time to get those little bundles of joy moving and grooving — babies need exercise too! Picture this: your adorable baby, exploring the world with those tiny hands and feet, building strength and coordination with each little wiggle and giggle. It's not just cute; it's… continue reading Exercising With Baby: Babies Need Exercise, Too!

By written by Kimberly G.    June 6, 2024   

• Health
• Read Baby Read

The  Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music  at the Free Library of Philadelphia houses over 22,000 pieces. Works are available for loan to amateur and professional performance groups worldwide, and many motion picture soundtracks feature these pieces. Music is a powerful storytelling and plot-driving apparatus in film. The… continue reading The Fleisher Collection in LGBTQ+ Cinema

By written by Mark C.    June 5, 2024   

• Fleisher Collection
• LGBTQ
• Music
• Free Library of Pride
• Special Collections

The Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June with book and film recommendations and events for all ages! Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Susan Gal What a happy day! Zachary’s baby sister will have her naming ceremony in the temple with his moms,… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in June

By written by Rachel F.    June 4, 2024   

• LGBTQ
• Recommendations
• Free Library of Pride
• Monthly New Titles
• New Titles