Free Library in the News

Press on Siobhan Reardon as Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year

Siobhan A. Reardon: LJ’s 2015 Librarian of the Year
Library Journal
She engineered the creation of an ambitious, five-year strategic plan, underpinned by a powerful mission to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity through the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP).
This article was reprinted on Lyrasisnow.org.

Our librarian is top shelf
Philly.com
Siobhan A. Reardon, director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, has been chosen as Librarian of the Year by Library Journal, which, um, chooses that. You other cities, you got great librarians, but the best of 2015? Shut up.

Free Library president recognized with top honor
Philadelphia Business Journal
The Library Journal, a trade publication for librarians, recently named Siobhan A. Reardon as its librarian of the year. Reardon has served as president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia since 2008.

Free Library President named Library Journal’s 2015 Librarian of the Year
City of Philadelphia’s News & Alerts
Reardon was honored for her vision and strategic plan which turned a library system facing budget and staffing reductions into a relevant and thriving community center.

#PhillyFive Things to Do: Jan. 5, 2015
Philly.com
For wordsmiths: Get poetic with it at the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch (1901 Vine St.) when Zachary Savich and Warren Longmire read works at 6:30 p.m.

Morning Headlines: Five Developments Set to Revive Tacony
Philadelphia Magazine
There are at least five [projects] that will transform Tacony for the better. These include the Tacony Library renovation, courtesy of the William Penn Foundation (this is part of a larger city-wide initiative to bring city libraries into the 21st century).

Public Libraries Add Social Workers and Social Programs
The New Social Worker
The HOME Page Café, opened in 2008, is a coffee bar owned and operated by Project HOME in the Parkway Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. At the café, four formerly homeless individuals serve more than 150 customers daily. A total of 17 formerly homeless people have been trained and gone on to other employment—often going back to school and reuniting with family.

Year in Review: Part Two – July through December
Montgomerynews.com
Residents got some concrete answers at a meeting the day after their branch library reopened. After a month, the Andorra branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) reopened on June 23. The Andorra branch had been closed officially due to a “building emergency”. According to library spokesperson Jenn Donsky, the building had experienced some water issues.

Flavor up your week with these 5 great food events: BBQ, beer, gardens
Philly.com
If vegetarian is the way you roll, Meatless Mondays at the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch (1901 Vine St.)  is just for you! On Monday, Jan. 5, guests can learn about the advantages of not eating meat as well as sampling delicious food plates.

Requiem for a new urbanist dream
Plan Philly
When PennDOT announced that it was replacing seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway without taking the opportunity to also cap all four of the ventilation openings amongst them, a Greek chorus of new urbanists bemoaned this as yet another example of Philadelphia’s shortsightedness.…The result was what we have today: a two mile long river of 106,000 vehicles per day travelling I-676 at either 75 or 7.5 MPH (but rarely something in between), cutting Logan Square and the rest of Center City off from the Free Library, the Family Court Building and other “impressive public, quasi-public and private institutions.”

Seth Grahame-Smith to Speak at Free Library of Philadelphia
Geekadelphia.com
Seth Grahame-Smith, the genius behind the books Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is embarking on a national book tour to promote his latest tome, The Last American Vampire. And the very first stop on Grahame-Smith’s tour will be the Free Library of Philadelphia’s central branch on the Ben Franklin Parkway. (will appear January 13)

Mysterious Traveler—Dan Hanrahan
Philadelphia Jazz Project
The Free Library, the Producer's Guild and PJP are teaming up to present a daring, new performance series. Entitled,  Mysterious Travelers Concert Series, it will feature FREE monthly concerts running through April 2015. (Includes interview with Dan)

Arts and Culture Calendar: January 7-14
Philadelphia Weekly
Local jazz guitarist Dan Hanrahan and his band play the Free Library as part of the Mysterious Travelers Concert Series. …Grahame-Smith—who’s currently scripting a Beetlejuice sequel for Tim Burton and prepping a Disney adaptation of Something Wicked This Way Comes—will read and sign Tuesday at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Radio Times in Review: Journalist Tony Horwitz, Musician Donald Fagen, Novelist Adam Johnson
WHYY’s Radiotimes
Interview with Donald Fagen (appeared 10/13)
 

Rosenbach in the News

Art Movements
Hyperallergic
The executors of the late author and illustrator Maurice Sendak’s will and the Rosenbach Museum and Library of Philadelphia are in disagreement over the value of the collection of rare books left by Sendak in his will to the Rosenbach. Thus far the executors have only handed over 349 of the 800 books, prompting a lawsuit from the library.