Thanks to a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation, the Free Library is embarking on a series of fun programs for babies , toddlers and their families called Read, Baby, Read , using new library spaces and materials to help develop language and literacy. Research now suggests that by 18 months, less‐advantaged kids are already six… continue reading Read, Baby, Read Helps Develop Language and Literacy at the Library

By written by Sarah S.    February 26, 2018    1  

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Early Literacy

It may not have seemed remarkable. In 1895, at a college in Ohio, during a memorial service, students and faculty paid tribute to a man they held in high esteem. They recited the Lord’s Prayer, they heard hymns—perhaps spirituals that the man being honored would have remembered, were he still living among them. University… continue reading Wisdom, Bravery, Trueness: Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois

By written by Kalela W.    February 23, 2018    2  

• Black History Month

As Head Designer of Horace Trumbauer’s architecture firm, Julian Abele designed the Free Library and the Philadelphia Art Museum and set the tone for the entire parkway. He designed buildings and palatial estates throughout the Philadelphia region as well as in New York City, Boston, and Newport, R.I.  But there was more to this… continue reading A History Minute: 11 Things You Didn't Know About Julian Abele, Architect of the Parkway

By written by Administrator    February 7, 2018    10  

• Parkway Central
• History
• Black History Month
• Black Histories of Philadelphia

Here at the Free Library, we often have parents ask us, "How can I help my child learn to read?" Of course, we know that sharing books with children helps to develop a love of reading, but beyond that, there are lots of things you can do to support your child's language and literacy development. We are happy to announce that the… continue reading Ready4K and Vroom: Early Learning Tips for Young Children

By written by Sarah S.    February 2, 2018    2  

• How To
• Reading
• Pre K
• Early Literacy
• Literacy
• Read by 4th

Saturday, February 3, 2018, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990). Overture to Candide (1957) Gustav Mahler (1860–1911). “Ich atmet einen Lindenduft,” from Rückert-Lieder (1901) Mahler . Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 (1902) Ned Rorem (b. 1923). Symphony No. 3 (1958) Bernstein . Presto barbaro,… continue reading Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection: Bernstein’s 100th

By written by Fleisher Collection    January 31, 2018    1  

• Fleisher Collection
• Music

Black History Month begins this week, and we have a packed February full of programming for all ages here at the Free Library.  Neighborhood libraries across the city are hosting everything from craft workshops and quizzos to performances, film screenings, and discussions highlighting the struggles, successes, and contributions of African… continue reading Black History Month at the Free Library

By written by Julie B.    January 30, 2018    1  

• Black History Month

Excited for the release of the movie adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time this spring? I know I am! Can’t wait for Black Panther ? Yes! Obviously you should read the books first, but did you know that a ton of other Young Adult books are headed to screens both big and small in 2018?  Definitely get a leg up on your friends and be able to… continue reading Coming Soon from the Pages of a Book to a Screen Near You: YA Movies and Television Shows

By written by Rachel F.    January 26, 2018   

• Film
• YA Literature
• Pop Culture

The Free Library Passport Acceptance Facility, normally located at Northeast Regional Library, is popping up at Tacony Library . The Northeast Regional Library will be closed through January 28, 2018 due to a building emergency; the Tacony Passport Office will be open January 19 through at least January 28, 2018. The Tacony Library Passport… continue reading Free Library Passport Acceptance Facility at Tacony Library!

By written by Victoria G.    January 19, 2018    1  

• Free Library Announcements

The Free Library's Rare Book Department prides itself on making historical and beatiful artifacts available to the general public. An award of $500,000 from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), which is made possible by funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation , will make some of its collection more accessible to… continue reading Rare Book Department Awarded Digitization Grant for Muslim-World Artifacts

By written by Julie B.    January 11, 2018    4  

• CLIR Grant
• Rare Book Department

The Free Library's Center for Public Life is thrilled to announce the 2018–2019 Philadelphia Poet Laureate— Raquel Salas Rivera , a Puerto Rican poet and translator who writes in both English and Spanish. Raquel will kick off their tenure—joined by current Youth Poet Laureate Husnaa Hashim, a senior at Mastery… continue reading The Free Library Announces Philadelphia's Next Poet Laureate

By written by Julie B.    January 8, 2018    1  

• Poetry

Beginning December 15, 2017, the Free Library will host an all ages online Winter Reading Challenge. The program encourages participants to continue reading all winter long, and also provides ideas for other fun activities. How do I sign-up? Visit https://freelibrary.beanstack.org on or after December 15 to sign-up. If you already have a… continue reading Announcing the Free Library’s All Ages Online Winter Reading Challenge!

By written by Barbara T.    December 14, 2017    6  

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Reading
• Teens
• Pre K
• Early Literacy
• Literacy
• Online Learning
• Digital Learning

So it’s almost time for another installment of the Star Wars franchise, an event which many of us are treating as a holiday. It’s been a roller coaster ride for fans these last two decades since The Phantom Menace . I don’t know about you guys but I’m still wary of getting my hopes up each time a new film comes out. Can… continue reading Pro-Porg and Proud: A Discussion on Star Wars Creatures Cute and Small

By written by Rachel F.    December 14, 2017   

• Film
• Sci Fi
• Pop Culture

Did you know that December is Read A New Book Month ? It’s perfect timing, really, as the temperature drops and we reaaaaaaaaally don’t want to think about leaving the couch if we don’t have to. This month, find something that’s new (or new to you!) with the help of trusty Free Library staff recommendations below! Got a… continue reading Celebrate Read A New Book Month with The Free Library!

By written by Kate C.    December 13, 2017   

• Free Library Staff
• Recommendations

Author  Erin Entrada Kelly recently sat down with us in the  Children's Literature Research Collection  and spoke about illustration, cultural struggles, and how her childhood shaped her view as an author. As a result of our conversation, we're even more excited for Kelly's upcoming book, You Go First , which will be… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author Erin Entrada Kelly

By written by Chris B.    December 7, 2017    1  

• Childrens Books
• Children's Literature Research Collection

Like the enormous condo building that is being erected on your block right now, the word "gentrification" has loomed large recently. Its definition is tough to pin down and experts have even disagreed on what exactly it is. And yet, we have an idea of what gentrification looks like. We’ve seen it in areas like Brewerytown, Point… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Gentrification in Philadelphia

By written by Kalela W.    December 6, 2017    1  

• One Book, One Philadelphia
• Community

Gladys Jamison couldn’t know this, but she was a girl coming of age in an exodus. Thirteen years old when her father moved her and her siblings to Brooklyn, she’d lost her mother five years before, in 1932. She was still reeling from her death. The daughter of farmers, Gladys grew up in Bowman, South Carolina, the nexus of a failed… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Brooklyn, Black Girlhood, and the Great Migration

By written by Administrator    November 22, 2017    3  

• One Book, One Philadelphia
• African American
• History

The Free Library is very pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new service to our cardholders. The popular on-demand video streaming service Kanopy is now available at no cost with your library card ! Free Library of Philadelphia card holders can access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films on demand instantly. You will find a link to… continue reading Watch Streaming Movies with our Newest Digital Media Resource: Kanopy!

By written by Jamie W.    November 1, 2017    56  

• Databases
• Film
• Digital Media

The past few years have seen tremendous growth in the popularity of  digital audiobooks . And why not? Audiobooks allow you to couple the imaginative, meditative aspects of reading with the relaxing, go-anywhere nature of recorded audio. While ebooks have  their adherents  and their detractors , audiobooks are… continue reading New Directions in Digital Audiobooks

By written by Jamie W.    October 27, 2017    14  

• Ebooks
• Digital Media

Come one, come all: After a year and a half of undergoing extensive renovation and expansion, Logan Library will reopen its doors on Saturday, November 4! This neighborhood hub, located at 1333 Wagner Avenue, has been reimagined as part of the Free Library’s Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative , a transformational… continue reading Logan Library Grand Reopening Celebration!

By written by Shahadah A.    October 24, 2017    1  

• Neighborhood Libraries

When reading up on music history, it's often interesting to see how composers and performers of the day coexisted, often relating to each other and even working together. For example, pianist Margaret Leng Tan (b. 1945) has worked extensively with composers John Cage (1912-1992) and George Crumb (b.1929) throughout her career. Notably,… continue reading Cowell, Cage, and Crumb: The Interconnectedness of American Arts

By written by Fleisher Collection    October 23, 2017   

• Fleisher Collection
• Music