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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
We’re celebrating National Library Week with kids and families! The annual event instituted by the American Library Association encourages library lovers of all stripes to celebrate these book-filled and innovative institutions. This year, we’re exploring the theme, " There’s More to the Story ," and taking the… continue reading Celebrate National Library Week With Your Family
By written by Emily S. April 24, 2023
It's one of our favorite weeks of the year — National Library Week ! This year's theme is " There's More to the Story ," celebrating the wide-ranging and often unexpected ways libraries serve their communities beyond books. Founded in 1958, this annual celebration is a time to reflect on the… continue reading Happy National Library Week!
By written by Kate C. April 24, 2023
Planet Earth is our only home, and it belongs to more than human beings; it is home to all animals and plants, all life forms above and below water. It is such a magic, glorious, and fragile world. And we can all help to protect it, because every small act counts. Does Earth Feel? by Marc Majewski This compelling… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Earth Day
By written by Monica C. April 20, 2023 1
Stories are powerful forces in the lives of young people; they help us connect, learn, heal, dream, and transform. Stories help us become who we most fully are when we see ourselves and our experiences reflected in them. For children and teens on the autism spectrum, the number and variety of books with autistic characters and written… continue reading Autism Acceptance Month: Great Reads for Young People
By written by Erin H. April 18, 2023
A scrapbook from 1947 documents the Better Philadelphia Exhibition, a showcase of urban renewal projects planned for Center City. How do you represent a city? How do you take a superstructure of buildings, roads, water, land, plazas, vehicles, trees, and people , and turn it into something which can be observed all at once? Even more difficult,… continue reading The Better Philadelphia Exhibit: A Vision of the Future From 70 Years Ago
By written by Francis B. April 17, 2023
Visit one of our libraries to explore our newest database, Ancestry Library Edition , which provides the most extensive collection of genealogical information currently available online. You can explore your family’s roots through billions of names in thousands of genealogical databases in Ancestry Library Edition, including… continue reading Ancestry Library Edition
By written by Sharyl O. April 17, 2023 11
April is National Poetry Month. It is fitting for it to be so, at the start of spring, at the start of renewal and new life. Everyone can be a poet and see poems in the world, in everyday life. Stop and take a moment to look around — poetry is for all ages. It can be simple or complex, short or long, a way to remember… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | National Poetry Month
By written by Monica C. April 12, 2023
Some of the most popular titles at the Field Teen Center are manga, or Japanese graphic novels. Manga includes a wide range of genres and art styles with more than 100 titles in our collections. Navigating it all can be overwhelming, but we hope this guide will help you find your bearings. This is the first in our "Manga 101" series,… continue reading Manga 101: Answering Common Questions
By written by Yona Y. April 11, 2023
Early in our Interior Chinatown unit, my co-teacher and I talked to our students about the idea of interior and exterior — an important contrast that structures Charles Yu ’s novel. What did we mean by interior and exterior? In the book, the interior is associated with lived experience, personal perspectives, and a deep… continue reading Teaching Interior Chinatown — With Appropriate Supports
By written by Administrator April 10, 2023 2
