Pa German Fraktur subject of exhibits, comprehensive catalog
Auction Central News
Nearby, the Free Library of Philadelphia will present an exhibition of works drawn from its own permanent collection titled “Quill & Brush: Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Material Culture,” to run March 2 through June 14.

Ease the burden on middle class
Philly.com
From 2000 to the present, Streets Department staffing was reduced from 2,173 people to 1,660; the Free Library from 734 to 610; the Fire Department from 2,472 to 2,028.

Neighborhood and Communities: A Philadelphia Immigration Exhibition
Achildgrows.com                                                                                                                                                     
On exhibition now through February 15, this exhibition of photographer Harvey Finkle’s photographs will give a depiction of the transition of immigrants that have lived in South Philadelphia, showing how it has evolved from an Italian, Irish, and Jewish neighborhood into what it is today. Finkle’s photographs confront social, political and cultural issues and often focus on neighborhoods and families.

#PhillyFive Things to Do: Feb. 9, 2015
Philly.com
For improv: This theater exercise will have you thinking as an inanimate object. Actor Langston Darby leads a performance class at the Chestnut Hill Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (8711 Germantown Ave.) using exercises to help attendees take on the voice of everyday objects.

Dan DeLuca’s Picks: Courtney Barnett, Ben Yagoda, ‘Archer,’ and more
Philly.com

In The B-Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley & the Rebirth of the Great American Song, cultural historian Yagoda does a close reading on what really led to the end of the Great American Songbook era. On top of that, he'll explain why Frank Sinatra hated Mitch Miller so much. (appearing 2/11)

What’s it like working at the Free Library’s E-Gadget Helpdesk?

Technical.ly Philly
The Free Library’s E-Gadget Helpdesk was introduced in the winter of 2012 as a temporary holiday service aimed at helping the digitally illiterate understand their new toys. Since then, the Helpdesk has been actively helping library patrons understand how to connect to WiFi, use web services, software, tablets and smartphones. As for the patrons’ demographics? “The overwhelming majority are adults over the age of 35,” says Scott Pinkelman, one of FLP’s digital literacy specialists. “We see a fair number of retirement-age folks.”

Announcing Glorious Events with a View
City Biz List
Brûlée Catering continues to expand its industry leading repertoire of catering venues in the Philadelphia region, landing the Free Library on the Parkway as their latest exclusive account after the City of Philadelphia's recent announcement of their RFP bid selection. Brûlée’s legendary cuisine will now be served at another landmark location, the Free Library on the Parkway beginning February 1, 2015, for weddings and other social events; corporate, non-profit, and convention functions; and more.

Walmart donates $25K to Culinary Literacy Center
ABC video clip
FOX video clip
NBC video clip (interview with Liz Fitzgerald)
Frontline

Oscar Wilde manuscript at FLP/RML
Map collection at FLP
PBS
Video clips

The STEM Challenge is on the Road!
UpNext: The IMLS Blog
In the culmination of Computer Science Education Week, the Free Library of Philadelphia Maker Jawn program hosted this year’s National STEM Video Game Challenge kick-off game design workshop as the Hour of Code flagship event. In the afternoon of December 13, 16 youth in grades 5-11 from across the city gathered at the Lillian Marrero Branch of the Free Library with a shared curiosity, looking to explore what goes into making a video game.

My Daughter’s Kitchen: Making homemade tomato sauce with sausage!
Philly.com
For our second class in the new kitchen at the Free Library of Philadelphia, we upped the ante, with a recipe for spaghetti and sausage with homemade sauce. Several of the five fifth graders from Russell Byers school said their families made spaghetti.

Taste of Africa event at Culinary Literacy Center
FOX
Video clip

Neighborhood Library Events (no digital link)
Southwest Globe Times
Listing of library events at all southwest libraries (except for Paschalville) and Blackwell Regional.

Venue News: Brulee Catering is Now the Exclusive Caterer at the Philadelphia Free Library on the Parkway
Phillymag.com
Starting this week, when you book your wedding at the Free Library of Philadelphia on the Parkway, it is with the fine folks at Brûlée Catering that you will be working to design the menu, beverage service and layout of your party.

News post—Leslie Grossman @GR_Art_Museum, Yael @Bartana @UNCG, the influence of Pennsylvania Dutch art today, opportunities, and more!
Theartblog.org
Framing Fraktur, an exhibition opening March 2 at the Free Library of Philadelphia features seven contemporary artists (dubbed Word & Image) whose works are infused with the influence of traditional Pennsylvania German fraktur (called Quill & Brush). Including drawings, paintings, woodblock prints, and embroideries by Marian Bantjes (Canada), Anthony Campuzano (United States), Imran Qureshi (Pakistan), Elaine Reichek (United States), Bob and Roberta Smith (England), and Gert and Uwe Tobias (Romania/Germany), the Judith Tannenbaum-curated show Quill & Brush provides current research and interpretation of major examples of historic fraktur and related objects. Word & Image launches with an artist panel,  free and open to the public, as well as a Tannenbaum-led conversation with Marian Bantjes, Anthony Campuzano, and Bob and Roberta Smith.

‘Gotti’s Rules’ author to hold public reading at the Free Library
Phillyvoice.com
George Anastasia, nationally renowned crime reporter, author and Philadelphia Inquirer writer, will make an appearance at the Free Library on Tuesday, Feb. 24. He will be reading from his new book, "Gotti's Rules: The Story of John Alite, Junior Gotti, and the Demise of the American Mafia."

Xoxo: Romantic Valentine’s Day options in Philadelphia
Philly.com
Written letters are timeless. The Rosenbach Museum and Library (2008-2010 Delancey Place) will present Love Letters – a hands-on tour that displays numerous romantic scripts from various poets, soldiers, and even a reading from James Joyce’s book, Ulysses.

Hey, Philly, feel the love
Philly.com
Librarian of the Year Siobhan Reardon broadens our thinking as she breathes new life into the Free Library.

2/12-2/18 In & Around Philadelphia
Burlington County Times
Events featured include David Axelrod’s author event (2/12), Mimi Sheraton’s author event (2/17), and Black History Month trivia at Paschalville Branch.

Philadelphia Goes ‘Wilde’ with New Exhibit, Opera
Fine Books & Collections
Philadelphia has a case of Wilde fever. In late January, the Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia opened its latest exhibition displaying newly discovered works by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900).

7Days: Regional arts and entertainment
Philly.com
Telling tales Writer and actor B.J. Novak (The Office) reads from his collection One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories at 7:30 p.m. at the Free Library. (appeared 2/10)

Steven Pinker’s guide to writing in the 21^st century
Abc.net.au
In an amusing and informative lecture Steven Pinker shares a few hilarious examples of butchered and impenetrable language and offers his thoughts on bogus rules, zombie nouns, hedging and classic prose. Highlights of The sense of style: a writing guide for the 21st century, presented at the Free Library of Philadelphia October 2014.

David Axelrod on his new book “Believer: My Forty Years in Politics”
WHYY
David Axelrod has a long and storied career in politics. From his early years in Chicago on Paul Simon’s U.S. senate campaign with a stop in Philadelphia as a media consultant for mayoral candidate John Street, Axelrod made his way to the White House after serving as senior strategist to President Obama’s first and second presidential runs. (appeared 2/12)

Radio Times in Review: Esther Perel, Diane Ackerman and examining “Fifty Shades of Grey”
WHYY
And we’ll listen back to Marty’s interview with DIANE ACKERMAN. The author and naturalist joined us in 2011 to discuss her book One Hundred Names for Love about caring for her husband after he had suffered from a stroke. (appeared May 2011)

Get your art on here
Delcotimes.com
Rosenbach Museum and Library: Tours of the Rosenbach brothers’ 19th century townhouse include Dr. Rosenbach’s rare book library and Philips Rosenbach’s sitting room.