In this city of neighborhoods, exciting new programs focused on cultural, artistic, and civic engagement for adults are happening in communities all across Philadelphia and now being implemented by the Free Library’s new Division of Cultural and Civic Engagement (DCCE) . Many of us know that our 54 neighborhood libraries have consistently… continue reading Division of Cultural and Civic Engagement Brings Adult Programs to Neighborhood Libraries

By written by Kate C.    October 26, 2018   

• Neighborhood Libraries

Ah horror stories and teens – name a more iconic duo! I’ll wait... It does seem like teens are especially vulnerable to being haunted/stalked/murdered in fiction doesn’t it? If you are looking for young people and haunted, horrible, murder-y creepiness, I have a few suggestions for you. Pardon me while I grab my garlic and… continue reading YA Horror Stories to Keep You Up at Night

By written by Rachel F.    October 25, 2018   

• Recommendations
• YA Literature
• Halloween

Summer is over, fall is in full swing, and the weather is beginning to turn cold. Some days it almost feels like it’s winter already! That’s when we start thinking of warm comfort food, something hearty and tasty to fill our tummies and make us feel better—something like… stew! Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora is just what… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Thank You, Omu!

By written by Monica C.    October 23, 2018   

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

On Friday Oct 26 from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. , the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is throwing itself a wild block party to celebrate 100 years of culture and learning along Philadelphia’s patch of Elysium. The Parkway Central Library ’s contributions to this cultural rager come in the forms of not only stage and social dance, but… continue reading Don't Miss the Parkway Soiree!

By written by Adam F.    October 22, 2018   

• Exhibitions
• Events at the Library
• Community Events
• Special Collections

The Free Library was founded with the goal of helping Philadelphians achieve personal enlightenment, and has continuously evolved to reach this goal in an ever-changing city and world. To further this bedrock goal, we have created the Division of Cultural and Civic Engagement , a new office that aims to enrich the public life of Philadelphia… continue reading Introducing the Division of Cultural and Civic Engagement!

By written by Kate C.    October 22, 2018    1  

• Community Events
• Parkway Central
• Author Events
• Rosenbach
• Neighborhood Libraries

What do food and books have in common? I can certainly name three things: They are organic, can grow mold, and can be preserved. Those three things were key elements to a lesson taught to third grade students on a recent class trip to the Parkway Central Library . The Culinary Literacy Center (CLC) and the Rare Book Department collaborated… continue reading What Do Food and Books Have In Common?

By written by Paul M.    October 17, 2018   

• Childrens Programs
• Rare Book Department
• Children's Literature Research Collection
• Culinary Literacy

It’s October and you know what that means – it’s time for all things haunted and spooky! I’m not generally a person who is into witches and ghosts and demons , but this is the one time of year that I’ll make an exception. If that’s the kind of mood you are in too, here are some suggestions for adding some… continue reading Haunting Horror and Chilling Comics for Halloween!

By written by Rachel F.    October 17, 2018    2  

• Recommendations
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Halloween

Today we kicked off the annual One Book, One Philadelphia reading period with the announcement of the 2019 featured selection. You’re invited to jump into the 17 th season of this citywide book club by reading Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward , the National Book Award-winning author of Salvage the Bones . With interlocking layers,… continue reading One Book, One Philadelphia is Here!

By written by Brittanie S.    October 16, 2018   

• One Book, One Philadelphia

In the summer of 2017, Kristen Albee, a local mom who regularly attends Pre-K Storytime with her daughter at the Queen Memorial Library in Point Breeze, fostered a connection between the library and a local church. This introduction led to the creation of a unique and exciting new storytime series. Storytime in the Garden , now in its second… continue reading South Philly Storytime Partnership Blooms – Literally!

By written by Liz G.    October 15, 2018   

• Community Events
• Storytime
• Neighborhood Libraries

The World Traveling Trunk Project was officially launched in June 2018 during Immigrant Heritage Month , when “Every voice is unique, Every story is powerful.” Since then, librarians across the Free Library have participated in this multicultural pilot program promoting diversity and embracing inclusion throughout this… continue reading Blueprint for Collective Unity: The World Traveling Trunk Project

By written by Mary Marques    October 12, 2018   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Languages
• New Americans
• Neighborhood Libraries

The Skills for Community-Centered Libraries initiative – a series of trainings meant to build community engagement capacities among staff – launched on October 2, so it’s a good time for The Free Library of Philadelphia’s community organizing team to share what exactly we mean by community engagement. A common definition… continue reading Defining Community Engagement and Outreach

By written by Community-Centered Libraries    October 11, 2018   

• Free Library Staff
• Community
• Neighborhood Libraries
• IMLS

I don’t know about you guys but I was really into the Archie comics as a kid. It didn’t matter what order you read them in, the digests were really cheap and you could always count on Reggie to be a total jerk. I was pretty happy to see Archie and the gang making a pop culture come back with Riverdale the television show. it’s… continue reading What to Read While You Wait for New Episodes of Riverdale!

By written by Rachel F.    October 10, 2018   

• Recommendations
• Television
• YA Literature
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Adaptations

Throughout history there are duos that are stronger together than they are separate: Peanut Butter and Jelly       Hall and Oates            Movies and Popcorn                 Thelma and Louise… continue reading Pizza and Beer Day!

By written by Liz A.    October 9, 2018   

• Holidays
• Culinary Literacy
• Recipes

October 10 marks the opening of an exhibition that analyzes Philadelphia's growth across more than three centuries, presenting more than 80 rare and revelatory prints, photographs, documents, and maps from the Free Library's Special Collections and Research Departments .  Philadelphia:The Changing City will be on view in the… continue reading Philadelphia: The Changing City - An Exhibition from Special Collections

By written by Janine P.    October 9, 2018   

• Exhibitions
• Maps
• Rare Book Department
• Theatre
• History
• Print and Picture Collection
• Special Collections

For many, the month of October can conjure up a glorification of gore. Here at the Free Library’s Culinary Literacy Center , we are taking a bit of a different approach and beginning a three-part series focusing on offal . Offa l , also called variety meat, refers to the trimmings of animals that might go unused once a butcher does their… continue reading Anatomy Eats

By written by Suzanna U.    October 5, 2018   

• Rare Book Department
• Culinary Literacy

by Suzanna U. and Alina J. Building off of the successes of Food from the Archives in 2016, the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Special Collections, Research Departments, and Culinary Literacy Center are joining forces with the Delaware Valley Archivists Group to present Drinks in the Archives on Wednesday, October 10 beginning at 6:00… continue reading Drinks in the Archives

By written by Suzanna U.    October 4, 2018   

• Parkway Central
• Culinary Literacy
• Special Collections

It’s been said that "everybody has a past." Would you like to delve into yours? If so, we can help you find links to the unknowns in your life and the life of your family with our newest program "Who’s your granddaddy?" "Who’s your granddaddy?" is a genealogy club for hobbyists, amateurs, and… continue reading Who's Your Granddaddy?

By written by Lisa-Jane E.    October 4, 2018    3  

• Events at the Library
• Central Senior Services
• Digital Collections
• Genealogy
• Parkway Central
• Seniors

You know what the world needs right now? Angry women, particularly angry teenage women. If you are looking for some enraging and satisfying tales of female rage and vengeance, I can think of no better place to start than with stories about teens getting revenge for being wronged. Nowhere Girls After Grace learns of a girl who was run out of… continue reading Lady Vengeance | The Teens Are Alright

By written by Rachel F.    October 3, 2018    2  

• Recommendations
• YA Literature

Did you know that nearly a third of library users visit the Free Library of Philadelphia to look for a new job or learn new skills? This revealing finding was reported in the Free Library’s December 2017 Impact Evaluation Report . We supports job seekers with computers and internet access, résumé assistance, job fairs, and… continue reading The Paschalville Partnership: Catalyzing a Community-Led Future

By written by Annette M.    October 3, 2018   

• Community
• Job Readiness Lab
• Job Seekers

Today, it seems that more Americans than ever before are writing poetry, participating in poetry slams, and entering poetry contests. But as we dive (back?) into poetry and draw inspiration from the great poets of yesteryear, it seems that some are being left out of the revival! Who knew it was possible to be both immortal and largely forgotten… continue reading Poetry Is Hot – Again!

By written by Richard L.    October 2, 2018   

• Events at the Library
• Central Senior Services
• Parkway Central
• Seniors
• Poetry