Last month we released a post about the Better Philadelphia Exhibition , a 1947 exhibit designed by architects and city planners showing the citizens of Philadelphia their plans for urban renewal in Center City. The exhibition is documented in a two-volume scrapbook , available for in-library viewing in the Art Department at Parkway… continue reading Reading the City: Books About Plans, Models, and Photos of Cities

By written by Francis B.    May 24, 2023   

• Art
• Recommendations
• Architecture
• History of Philadelphia

We are happy to announce that more than 1,000 new videos have been added to our Kanopy PLUS subscription. The library has purchased these two new film packs, recently introduced by Kanopy: British Cinema and TV Series : A unique blend of intriguing mysteries, addictive dramas, and big-hearted comedies for your Anglophile patrons who… continue reading More Kanopy Films Added

By written by Sharyl O.    May 22, 2023   

• Databases
• Film
• Digital Media

Every June the Free Library celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. The Free Library aims to be a place where everyone belongs. We value the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender people and transgender youth, as one of many valued communities we serve in Philadelphia. We uphold our commitment to providing services, programming, and materials to… continue reading The Free Library Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month

By written by Administrator    May 22, 2023    1  

• LGBTQ
• Free Library of Pride

If you don't have a high school diploma, it's not too late to obtain your credentials! The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD) is a "high school equivalency credential available to Pennsylvania residents who do not possess a high school diploma." According to the PA Department of Education, you can earn a CSSD by… continue reading Practice for Your GED With the Free Library

By written by Jamie B.    May 16, 2023    4  

• Library Resources
• Adult Learning
• Languages and Learning

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month , and you can celebrate the heritage, contributions, and writings of these diverse peoples through the Free Library’s Author Events audio podcast and YouTube video archives. Here’s a compilation of ten authors we’ve welcomed over the past year or so, but our complete archive is… continue reading AAPI Experiences: Podcasts From Past Author Events

By written by Jason F.    May 15, 2023   

• Podcasts
• Author Events

Manga is often published chapter-by-chapter in anthology magazines which are marketed towards particular audiences. Some magazines focus on specific genres of manga (like fantasy, romance, etc.) while others publish stories in a variety of genres. Most manga magazines are aimed at a target audience of a specific age and gender. Here’s the… continue reading Manga 101: Demographic Categories

By written by Meg B.    May 15, 2023    1  

• Reading
• Teens
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Anime and Manga

Hi, my name is Gillian and I’m an accidental music librarian. Specifically, I’m an accidental orchestral music librarian. I recently joined the staff of The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music (Fleisher Collection). The Fleisher Collection represents the largest lending library of orchestral performance material in the… continue reading Confession: I’m an Accidental Music Librarian

By written by Gillian R.    May 9, 2023    2  

• Fleisher Collection
• Music
• Parkway Central
• Special Collections

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 16, 2023, and 32 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. will be able to vote, so stay in line! Most Library voting locations will also provide library services on Election… continue reading 32 Libraries Will Serve as Polling Places for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election

By written by Bridget G.    May 8, 2023   

• Voting and Elections

Are you a creative, engaged student who is passionate about writing, reading, performing, and experiencing poetry? Are you equally passionate about working with your peers and other students to bring more poetry to Philadelphia? If so, apply to become the 2023-2024 Youth Poet Laureate! The Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia serves as a leader… continue reading Are You Philadelphia’s Next Youth Poet Laureate?

By written by Kris L.    May 8, 2023   

• Teens
• Poetry
• Philadelphia Poet Laureate

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — a perfect time to highlight some recent books written and/or illustrated by Asian creators. We've done it in the past, and you can find more inspiring reads here and here . These books are for year-round reading fun!   Lizzy and The Cloud  by The Fan Brothers… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

By written by Monica C.    May 8, 2023   

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

One Book, One Philadelphia is officially in full swing! We had the kickoff on April 20 with Interior Chinatown author Charles Yu tuning in from his home in California. I encourage you to check out the podcast of our conversation . We discussed his characters, writing his way through difficult feelings, his parents’ establishment of a… continue reading Interior Chinatown and Philadelphia’s Chinatown: Intersecting Stories

By written by Terence W.    May 5, 2023   

• One Book, One Philadelphia
• History of Philadelphia

Summer is a great time to relax, go on vacation, discover a new passion, or enjoy the new weather — so now is the time to work on your professional goals to set your summer up for success!  Check out upcoming virtual career workshops for jobseekers at the Free Library, brought to you by Full Circle Group and JEVS Human… continue reading Score Your Summer Job With the Help of Free Virtual Career Workshops

By written by Steven D.    May 5, 2023   

• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Job Seekers
• Languages and Learning
• Virtual Programs

Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the Free Library of Philadelphia! We're celebrating LGBTQ+ lives, stories, and histories throughout June at the Free Library. Now, you can show off your Pride and support the library by purchasing our original Pride designs. Shirts come in black or white and have multiple unisex styles available: tee, tank… continue reading Celebrate Pride and Support the Library With Free Library Pride Tees!

By written by Bridget G.    May 3, 2023    1  

• LGBTQ
• Free Library of Pride

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May! Also sometimes known as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, it first began during the 1970s with a week-long celebration, and eventually got extended into a full month. May is historically important to the heritage of the millions of Asian and Pacific Americans in… continue reading Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May

By written by Inaara S.    May 1, 2023   

• History
• History of Philadelphia
• Immigrant Heritage

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month , and it’s a wonderful time to celebrate this rich and varied cultural heritage with the whole family! The acronym stands in for a great number of different communities with ancestry in Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Pacific Islands. Particularly in… continue reading Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage for Families

By written by Emily S.    May 1, 2023   

• Family Programs
• Holidays
• Youth Services

May 1 begins Mental Health Awareness Month; this is a time to think more about our mental health journeys. Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness about the importance of mental health in the lives of people living all across the United States. Mental health can mean many different things to lots of… continue reading Observing Mental Health Awareness Month With the Free Library

By written by Inaara S.    May 1, 2023   

• Healthcare
• Health
• Healthy Communities

Did you know that in 1654, 23 Jewish refugees sailed to the port of New Amsterdam (presently New York City) and established the first Jewish community in what we now call the United States? It has been nearly 400 years since this first Jewish community’s arrival and from that point forward, Jewish Americans have been an important… continue reading Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month

By written by Inaara S.    May 1, 2023    1  

• History
• Religion
• History of Philadelphia

There's a lot to celebrate this month — spring has sprung, Mother's Day is around the corner, and it's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!   Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang n a rainy Saturday, a young girl feels as gray as a pigeon. Since moving from China to New York City,… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in May!

By written by Rachel F.    April 28, 2023   

• Recommendations
• Monthly New Titles
• New Titles

Due to scheduling conflicts, the next Board of Trustees meeting is now scheduled for Friday, June 2, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in-person at the Levitt Gershman Conference Center at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Please enter through the business entrance on 20th street, which is… continue reading Free Library Board of Trustees Public Meeting RESCHEDULED for Friday, June 2 at 8:00 a.m.

By written by Bridget G.    April 25, 2023   

• Board of Trustees

The Free Library of Philadelphia has some wonderful resources for people researching the history of children's literature in America. With just a library card , several databases are available to help you learn more about the creators of your favorite children's books.  Something About the Author is a biographical examination… continue reading Profiles in Literature

By written by Chris B.    April 25, 2023   

• Archives
• Childrens Books
• Children's Literature Research Collection
• History
• Digital Media
• Library Resources