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

Since 2014, the Free Library’s new Regional Operations Center (ROC) has been open—open to staff, not the public. And while requesting most books from this offsite location is no different than placing a hold on any library item, it works a little differently for Government Publications. For material whose location is listed in the… continue reading Government Documents at the Regional Operations Center

By written by Administrator    November 10, 2015    3  

• Government Information
• Government Publications

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

October 25 marked St. Crispin’s Day , a once-observed feast day, which is also claimed to be the day of the famed Battle of Agincourt—the great battle of Englishmen led by King Henry V against the much-greater-numbered French army. King Henry, in his pre-battle pep talk, rallies his men, saying And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er… continue reading Joining the “Happy Few”: A Mind Marathon of Shakespeare’s Complete Works

By written by Julie B.    October 30, 2015   

• Holidays
• Recommendations
• Shakespeare

Sometimes you've got to take a test. It's a fact of life. Some of us struggle with tests while others breeze by, but we could all benefit from a little preparation. So before you decide whether to go it alone or ask a tutor to help you get ready for that SAT, AP, GED or other test, take a look at Learning Express… continue reading Featured Resource: Learning Express Library

By written by Jamie W.    August 6, 2015    1  

• College Prep
• Databases
• How To
• School
• Digital Literacy

The Free Library is happy to announce that we've launched our new Online Catalog ! As we mentioned on the blog and throughout social media last week, our goal was to help make our catalog more user-friendly, encourage exploration, and offer better customer service throughout your online experience. With new features that include a… continue reading Introducing The Free Library's New Online Catalog!

By written by Peter SM    June 24, 2015    4  

• Website
• Tech
• How To
• Catalog

Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 and grew up poor in Scotland. When he was 12 years old his father moved the family to Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where young Andy got a job as a bobbin boy in a textile mill. He wanted to educate himself but he couldn't pay the $2 subscription for a local library, and he certainly… continue reading The Carnegie Libraries of the Free Library: Past, Present and Future

By written by Kim B.    June 11, 2015    3  

• Digital Collections
• Print and Picture Collection

It's new comic book day across the United States today and you can flip through some new comics without even leaving your house to head down to your local comic shop. Hoopla , one of our most popular Digital Media resources here at Free Library, already boasts a catalog of more than 300,000 movies, TV shows, music albums, and audiobooks.… continue reading Hoopla Makes A Splash (Page), Now Offering Comic Book Downloads!

By written by Peter SM    May 20, 2015    1  

• Ebooks
• Tech
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Digital Media

The Print and Picture Collection is pleased to announce  PIX Open Call , our 2015 call for entries for juried two-person exhibitions. Area artists are invited to enter this open call, juried by photographer David Graham and printmaker Shelley Thorstensen. The deadline for application is June 5, 2015. We will have two Two Person Shows,… continue reading Now accepting entries for PIX Open Call

By written by Laura S.    April 22, 2015   

• Print and Picture Collection

Happy Women's History Month! Anyone who has any contact with children is aware of the incredible popularity of Disney’s Frozen . One of the movie’s appeals is the strong female characters, sisters named Anna and Elsa, who save themselves in the end instead of being saved by a prince. If you’re ready to take a break from… continue reading Great Books for Strong Girls

By written by Sarah S.    February 26, 2015    1  

• Childrens Books
• Early Literacy