On Wednesday, May 18, stunning percussion collective TIMBALONA  showcases Afro-Caribbean folkloric music in the second installment of the New Americans Spring Concert Series , a soundtrack-in-triplet of three distinct voices in our city's music collection. We’d love it if you could make it to this or all concerts in this great… continue reading New Americans Concert Series Progresses | Next Installment: TIMBALONA | Replays of Arab Classical and Contemporary Music

By written by Perry G.    May 12, 2016   

• Music
• New Americans

*** Update: For current information about this service, please contact the Science & Wellness Supervisor at paquetteb@freelibrary.org. *** Looking to discover all the hidden features of your new iPad, e-reader, smart phone, or tablet? Can’t figure out how to turn the darn thing on? Don’t fret: The Free Library of… continue reading E-Gadget Help Desk

By written by Harry F.    May 10, 2016    4  

• Tech
• Hot Spots
• Digital Literacy
• Online Learning

Last Thursday, the new South Philadelphia Library took a big step toward its opening, as an exciting piece of the puzzle was completed with the installation of the Maurice Sendak Chertoff Mural . Moving from its previous home at the Rosenbach , the mural will be a focal point at the newly built structure at 1700 South Broad Street, where… continue reading Sendak Mural Installed as South Philadelphia Library Opening Nears

By written by Kate C.    April 27, 2016   

• Neighborhood Libraries

In honor of his 452nd birthday on this past Saturday, April 23, 2016—the second night of Passover... The Hebrews had been prosperous in Egypt, growing and multiplying. But the new Pharaoh became scared and decided, “I'll manacle thy neck and feet together” ( The Tempes t ). After many years in bondage “burdened with… continue reading The Passover Story, as told by William Shakespeare

By written by Julie B.    April 26, 2016   

• Holidays
• Shakespeare

Prince . One word. One being. Thousands of songs. Millions of fans . A purple pop polymath. That guitar SOUND! And now, he's left this mortal coil (as if he could ever be contained by it in the first place). Try as they might, words fail at times like these. Listen to the music and watch the flickering images on the screen, they speak… continue reading Prince

By written by Peter SM    April 22, 2016    1  

• Art
• Music
• Film
• Remembrances

The Philadelphia Jazz Project and the Free Library of Philadelphia ’s season of concerts meditating on what the Great Migration means for our city’s musical DNA is nearing the final curtain. If you’ve been meaning to make it to any of the shows in this series, now’s your chance! On Monday, April 25, Victor North… continue reading Mysterious Travelers 2 Concert Series | Up Next! Victor North | Recapping Najwa Parkins

By written by Perry G.    April 21, 2016   

• Events at the Library
• Music

Librarians in the Music Department and the New Americans Committee invite you to celebrate the unique cultural heritage of Philadelphia’s immigrant communities with the New Americans Spring Concert Series . In April, May, and June, we’ll offer three free pop-up concerts in the Grand Lobby of the Parkway Central Library , each… continue reading New Americans Spring Concert Series

By written by Perry G.    April 12, 2016   

• Music
• New Americans

On a chilly Sunday afternoon, about 25 people—kids, college students, seniors—all packed into the cozy Gatehouse at Philadelphia’s famed Laurel Hill Cemetery for a discussion of “Laurel Hill’s Legendary Ladies of the Civil War Era,” a program presented in partnership with our very own One Book, One… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Civil War Ladies of Philadelphia’s Own Laurel Hill

By written by Alix G.    March 30, 2016   

• One Book, One Philadelphia

One Book, One Philadelphia teams up every year for programming with the University of Pennsylvania, and every year they knock it out of the park for International Women’s Day. This year’s program focused on investing in women in agriculture, a theme we saw in Cold Mountain with Ada and Ruby. The two women in the novel worked the… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: International Women’s Day 2016: Global Perspectives on Women, Food Security, and Agriculture

By written by Cynthia Ann S.    March 23, 2016   

• One Book, One Philadelphia

It's been a few days, but it's still hard to process that David Bowie has left us . Newspapers, television news broadcasts, the internet as a whole—and more than likely—your social media feed have all been filled with obituaries , remembrances , and mourning for the otherworldly persona known as David Bowie. Whether he was… continue reading David Bowie Has Left Us

By written by Peter SM    January 14, 2016   

• Art
• Music
• Recommendations
• Film
• Remembrances

Face it. It's only been two weeks, but your New Year's resolution is done for, dusty with cobwebs, lingering dimly in the weeks past like an like an old yearbook picture you'd rather forget. No sweat. Mine too. So why not ditch it and start over? It's never too late. Visit our Digital Learning page and take a look at Mango… continue reading Featured Resource: Mango Languages

By written by Jamie W.    January 12, 2016    4  

• Databases
• Languages
• Literacy
• Digital Literacy
• New Americans

As we count down to the premiere of the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, the Free Library has you covered no matter what age you are! Need to catch up?   We have Star Wars: A New Hope , The Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi , Episode I: Phantom Menace (I know, but it’s part of the cannon now and we need to deal with it),… continue reading In a Library (Not So) Far, Far Away… Star Wars: The Force Awakens Countdown Has Begun!

By written by Rachel F.    December 11, 2015   

• Recommendations
• Film
• Sci Fi

Edible Alphabet is an English-as-a-Second-Language program offered by the Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center. The mission is twofold: to teach participants how to cook nutritious meals and to teach English language skills through hands-on education. Food is universal—it cuts across cultural differences, uniting people in all… continue reading Edible Alphabet: Learning English and Connecting to Culture Through Cooking

By written by Liz A.    December 9, 2015    20  

• Culinary Literacy
• New Americans

The Free Library continually seeks ways to provide the best health information and resources for our users. One of our exciting ventures is the newly established Health Corners in three neighborhood libraries in West Philadelphia. These dedicated areas at Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional , Kingsessing , and Paschalville… continue reading Check Out Our New Health Corners!

By written by Autumn M.    December 8, 2015   

• Healthcare

I will admit when I'm asked what I enjoy reading, my typical response is “science-fiction, fantasy, regency romance, street-lit, and quirky fiction novels.” I rarely mention the topic I'm about to discuss because it usually requires an explanation, which is subsequently followed by snickers—but since it's… continue reading #FLPNoShameNovember: Fan Fiction, Where Fans Rule

By written by Camille T.    November 30, 2015   

• No Shame November

My name is Peter and I LOVE bad movies. I say—the worse, the better! Schlocky scripts, rubber monsters, awful acting, melodramatic bio pics, big budget special fx-laden flops—I'll gladly (attempt to) watch 'em all. While others may get excited about the Oscar race towards the end of each year, I'm anxiously awaiting the… continue reading #FLPNoShameNovember: Nothing Better Than A Bad Movie

By written by Peter SM    November 27, 2015    2  

• Film
• Digital Media
• No Shame November

I used to watch a lot of true crime shows. My roster? Fatal Vows , Nightmare Next Door , Snapped , Homicide Hunter , and  Stalke d, which told the stories of real crimes and how they were solved— if they were solved. Some are skeptical of such shows, but I liked feeling the chills up my spine while I was snuggled in my bed, and I… continue reading #FLPNoShameNovember, in Cold Blood

By written by Kalela W.    November 13, 2015    1  

• Reading
• Television
• No Shame November

There aren’t many books whose covers I am ashamed to bare to the world as I read. I read a lot of self-help ( Gretchen Rubin ), pop culture ( Chuck Klosterman ), and anything I am drawn to when I walk around the Free Library. I also love to read collections of essays, like those of Sarah Vowell and Sloane Crosley —both of whom have… continue reading #FLPNoShameNovember: PEOPLE Magazine

By written by Kate C.    November 12, 2015    1  

• Reading
• Digital Media
• No Shame November

I’m never really embarrassed of the books I read, but that changed when I decided to tackle a book that’s been sitting on my “to read” list for about four years. You’d think I’d be proud of this feat, but instead I hid the book’s title when I was reading it in public. And when I went to type it into… continue reading I Love ... #FLPNoShameNovember

By written by Samantha M.    November 10, 2015    1  

• Reading
• No Shame November
• Interlibrary Loan

Ever since Nancy Drew roared into my first-grade life in her little blue roadster, I’ve been hooked on mystery books. And not just any mystery books—I’ve found myself particularly drawn to the paperback mysteries known as “cozies,” which means there’s little to no blood/sex/violence, and a whole lot of… continue reading A Cozy Yet Mysterious #FLPNoShameNovember

By written by Alix G.    November 5, 2015    1  

• Reading
• No Shame November