Foundation says Sendak-Rosenbach relationship had frayed
Philly.com
The Maurice Sendak Foundation, responding to a lawsuit filed by the Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia, is denying that the late author and illustrator wanted the Rosenbach to become steward of his legacy by continuing to display his work after his death. The point-by-point response filed in Fairfield County, Conn., probate court recognizes that Sendak and the Rosenbach had a close relationship for many years. But, in language suggestive of a rift, the foundation says "that relationship became strained over the past approximately ten years of his life."

Free Library and Pennsylvania Ballet Present “One Book, Many Ballets”
Globalphiladelphia.org
As part of “One Book, One Philadelphia,” the Free Library is organizing a number of great events inspired by the project. On January 24, the Pennsylvania Ballet joined forces with the Free Library to perform three pieces at the Parkway Central Library (1901 Vine St.), reflecting on the themes of the selected books.

My Daughter’s Kitchen: Chicken skewers with edamame succotash
Philly.com
Oven roasted chicken skewers made during Monday's My Daughter's Kitchen cooking class at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

My Daughter’s Kitchen: The school founder visits: More than cooking, there’s math and science, she says
Philly.com
"She's our founder," Kaylah said proudly, referring to Laurada Byers, who started the Russell Byers Charter school - named for her late husband - that these students attend, and who had come to visit the class they walk to at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Free Library partners with renowned chef to boost events business
Bizjournals.com
The Free Library of Philadelphia is looking to a renowned chef to help it expand opportunities to utilize its newly renovated event spaces. The Free Library announced a new partnership with Brûlée Catering by Chef Jean-Marie Lacroix, which will be taking over the cuisine for events, such as weddings, social occasions, non-profit events, and convention and corporate functions.

What to do, see and eat for Chinese New Year
Philly.com
The Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (18 S. 7th St.) welcomes students from Holy Redeemer Elementary School for a display of Chinese folk dances, including the drum-soundtracked lion dance starting at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25. After the show, stay for Chinese folk tales.

Falling for Fraktur
Philly.com
The Free Library of Philadelphia will open an exhibition of its own impressive collection of Fraktur on March 2, "Quill & Brush: Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Material Culture."

‘Everything Is Going On Brilliantly: Oscar Wilde and Philadelphia’ Review
The Wall Street Journal
But Philadelphia’s love affair with Wilde is of long standing. At the Rosenbach Museum and Library on quiet, tree-shaded Delancey Place near Rittenhouse Square, two small rooms of literary artifacts attest to his hold over this city for more than a century. “Everything Is Going On Brilliantly: Oscar Wilde and Philadelphia” (through April 26) has items ranging from books, letters, manuscripts, musical scores and drawings to ephemera like stage bills, programs, and little lithographs the size of baseball cards picturing the sensational aesthete in a variety of guises.

New Civil War Opera by Cynthia Cozette—A Stirring Tribute
Weeklypress.com
An exciting new Civil War opera, Partway To Freedom, with music by Pennsylvania composer, Cynthia Cozette, and libretto by Cynthia and Hazel Lee, will be presented on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 7:00PM in the Montgomery Auditorium of the Parkway Central Free Library branch located at 1901 Vine Street in Philadelphia. Excerpts from this rousing opera will be performed and be immediately followed by a round table discussion on African American participation in the Civil War.

Northwest: Free Library of Philadelphia Leads Community
Philadelphianeighborhoods.com
We spoke with the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Northwest Area Coordinator Jeff Bullard, and Andorra Branch Librarian JoAnne Woods about how the Free Library serves the community in the Northwest, and also in what ways the library is changing in the present and future.

Black History Month
Phillyfunguide.com
Several FLP event listings including “I am not My Hair!” at Blackwell Library.

Wilde times in Philadelphia
Udel.edu
In preparing the exhibition, Samuels Lasner, who is senior research fellow at the University of Delaware Library, contacted numerous institutions and libraries in the Philadelphia area. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s inventory from its Rare Books Department included three items that Samuels Lasner recognized immediately as of great significance to everyone who studies Wilde.

Happy Birthdaty, Horace Pippin!
Philly.com
Hit the Sunday Stage at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Montgomery Auditorium for a fun theatrical experience. This Sunday features humorous versions of Aesop's fables performed by the Experiential Theater Company, using masks, puppets, and creative props.

Philly’s Major Libraries are Getting $60 Mil in Renovations
Drivethedistrict.com
Book lovers will be thrilled to learn that with a budget of about $60 million dollars, this project is not only limited to the main branch on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in center city — several different library branches across the are will be renovated as well. In addition to sprucing up the exterior architecture and some much-needed interior work, there will be a new reconfigured programming, too, that promise to take the libraries into the modern era, and attract an audience thirsty for knowledge.

One Book, One Philly Author Christina Baker Kline on “Orphan Train”
WHYY’s Radiotimes
Audio-- CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE joins Marty to discuss her novel Orphan Train. Kline explores the worlds of Vivian Daly and Molly Ayer.

Marlon James with LaShonda Katrice & Bridgett M. Davis
PW.org
Event listing of Author Event (2/19) in Poets & Writers

‘Jam on the Vine’: A taste of hardships during Jim Crow
The Philadelphia Tribune
While teaching African-American and women’s history at Sarah Lawrence College, LaShonda Katrice Barnett taught seminars on slavery and its aftermath, during which she received pressing questions from her students: “After slavery how did Black people survive? How were Black communities formed?” Her answer: “The Black press.” (appeared 2/19)

Calendar: February 18-25
Philadelphiaweekly.com
Event listings from FLP including Author Event on 2/19 with Marlon James, LaShonda Katrice Barnett, and Bridgett M.Davis; OBOP event at the Asian Arts Initiative; screening of 42 at Wynnefield Library.

7Days: Regional arts and entertainment
Philly.com
What's cooking If we're going to trust anyone with recommendations of 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die, it's the sensational critic Mimi Sheraton. (appeared 2/17)

Dan DeLuca’s picks; Kendrick Lamar, Marlon James, Marty Stuart, and more
Philly.com
Jamaican- born author of the dazzling Bob Marley-inspired 2014 novel A Brief History of Seven Killings heads up a fiction-writers triple bill, with LaShonda Katrice Bennett and Bridgett M. Davis. (appeared 2/19)

Cover Reveal and Excerpt for The Black Cauldron 50^th Anniversary
TOR.com
Holt will be using three letters from the Lloyd Alexander collection in the Children’s Literature Research Collection, plus the cover image is based on Evaline Ness’ original design (CLRC has preliminary art here) They just did the reveal for the 50^th anniversary in the article.

Our staff are writing about the Library!

Framing Fraktur: The Public Library as a Contemporary Art Space
Libraryincubatorproject.org
Over the past year, the Free Library has been seeking to connect with the cultural landscape around Parkway Central, and is about to embark on a very exciting exhibition called Framing Fraktur, which will bring a collection of contemporary artwork into conversation with an exhibition of original artifacts of early American art form. (written by grant writer Rachel Karasick)

REFORMA- Promoting Hispanic Culture with Library Services
New Professionals Special Interest Group blog
Library leaders are taking this demographic data to analyses and to prioritize not only the purchase of books, but also to determine how to allocate the budget for programing, and how to market intergenerational-cultural events to the community that reflect cross-cultural competence. Bilingual and bicultural librarians are the primary agents to advocate for more resources that can promote cross-cultural communication in a cross-cultural environment. (written by librarian Mary Marques)