The Free Library of Philadelphia is excited to offer access to the Oxford English Dictionary Online , a historical dictionary and thesaurus providing everything you need for a deep dive into the complex histories of over 500,000 words. In some cases, the information provided by OED Online goes back 1,000 years to the time of Old English. Far… continue reading The Oxford English Dictionary Online
By written by Tyler S. June 12, 2025
The XI International Poetry Festival in Philadelphia, part of the XIX Palabra en el Mundo International Poetry Festival, will bring together renowned poets from Latin America and the United States on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 , in celebration of Spanish Language Day . This special evening, titled A Voice for Peace, Concord, and Harmony , honors… continue reading Poetry for Peace: The XI International Poetry Festival at PhillyCAM
By written by Mary Marques April 3, 2025 5
Join us at Parkway Central Library for a special storytime series celebrating the many languages of Philadelphia! Each storytime in this series will be bilingual, highlighting different languages spoken in the city . These storytimes are intended for children aged six and under and their caregivers. They will be held in Montgomery… continue reading Languages of Philadelphia: A Bilingual Family Storytime Series
By written by Bridget G. March 14, 2025 1
Learning a new language doesn't have to feel like a chore! The Free Library recently partnered with Lingopie — a language-learning platform that combines thousands of real TV shows and movies with built-in tools that turn streaming entertainment into fun language lessons. Lingopie currently offers content in Spanish,… continue reading Learn a New Language While Watching TV With Lingopie
By written by Tyler S. March 12, 2025 7
Get ready for an exciting adventure as we bring the magic of storytelling to life at our Family Bilingual Spanish/English Storytime ! As part of the Languages of Philadelphia series, this special event celebrates bilingualism, cultural diversity, and the power of stories to connect us across borders. When: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.… continue reading Bilingual Spanish Storytime for Families: A Journey to Colombia
By written by Mary Marques February 26, 2025
December is National Learn a Foreign Language Month! To celebrate, Languages and Learning , the adult learning department of the Free Library, is highlighting some of the resources available with your library card . Learning a new language can open up a whole new world, regardless of age. Some advantages include cultural enrichment,… continue reading Learn a Foreign Language With Our Electronic Resources
By written by Meredith M. December 11, 2024
December is National Learn a Foreign Language Month! Maybe you’re looking for something to do over your winter break or already thinking about your 2025 goals. There’s never a bad time to start your language-learning journey. To celebrate, Languages and Learning , the adult learning department of the Free Library, is highlighting… continue reading Celebrate National Learn a Foreign Language Month With Languages and Learning
By written by Meredith M. December 3, 2024
![Cardinell, John D. - Photographer. (1926). Sesqui-Centennial Performance #37. [Silver Gelatins]. Retrieved from the Free Library of Philadelphia's Print and Picture Collection](https://libwww.freelibrary.biz/images/blog/FLPBlog/resized/native-american-family.jpg)
November is National American Indian Heritage Month, also known as Native American Heritage Month . While different single-day observations began across the country early in the 20th century, it was in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution designating the month. Subsequent presidents have issued similar proclamations… continue reading Native American Heritage: Language Resources
By written by Meredith M. November 14, 2024 1
La biblioteca pública de Filadelfia se complace en anunciar una nueva serie de tres partes presentada en español para impulsar su búsqueda de empleo: Conceptos básicos de redacción de currículums, Estrategias de entrevistas activas, y Aplicaciones de búsqueda de empleo y consejos de palabras… continue reading Nueva Serie de Tres Partes Para Impulsar su Búsqueda de Empleo
By written by Lu F. September 26, 2024 2
It’s Welcoming Week ! Every year, from September 13–22, organizations around the country come together to connect and reaffirm their dedication to inclusivity with neighbors of all backgrounds. The City of Philadelphia is an officially designated Certified Welcoming Place , meaning the City is dedicated to policies and programs… continue reading Welcoming Week Resources for New Americans
By written by Meredith M. September 17, 2024
Languages and Learning is the Free Library of Philadelphia's department for adult education support, connecting patrons seeking Adult Basic Education, English Language Learner, and World Language support to the appropriate resources. Spanish is the first language of many Philadelphia residents; according to census data , over 150,000… continue reading New Spanish Language Novels in the Free Library's Catalog
By written by Betsy M. August 19, 2024 1
Languages and Learning is the Free Library of Philadelphia's department for adult education support, connecting patrons seeking Adult Basic Education , English Language Learner , and World Language support to the appropriate resources. Did you know that over 180 languages are spoken in Philadelphia? At the Free Library, we want to… continue reading New World Language Learning Books in the Free Library's Catalog
By written by Betsy M. May 14, 2024
Languages and Learning is the Free Library of Philadelphia's department for adult education support, connecting patrons seeking Adult Basic Education , English Language Learner, and World Language support to the appropriate resources. Philadelphia is a certified Welcoming City , which means that the City of Philadelphia has created policies… continue reading New English Language Learning Titles in the Free Library's Catalog
By written by Betsy M. May 1, 2024
We are so excited to announce that American Sign Language is now available on Mango Languages ! American Sign Language (often called ASL) is used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate. It is a vital part of Deaf culture, the primary language for millions of Americans, and one of the most-used languages in the United States. ASL… continue reading Learn American Sign Language with Mango Languages
By written by Meredith M. March 7, 2024 5
By Tuesday C., Kate G., and Sara P. Hola, bonjour, dzien dobry, ni hao! Welcome to the Kensington / Fairhill / Riverwards Community Cookbook : a treasure showcasing the cultural diversity of our neighborhoods. Food is a great tool for connecting people, and the Free Library of Philadelphia has historically promoted literacy through… continue reading The Kensington / Fairhill / Riverwards Cookbook: A North Philly Community's Labor of Love
By written by Administrator January 24, 2024 5
December is Learn a Foreign Language Month and we’re celebrating at the Free Library. Many languages are in danger of dying out and estimates show about 3,000 languages becoming lost before the end of the century. To help prevent this and encourage endangered language learning, the United Nations launched the International Decade of… continue reading Endangered Language Spotlight: The Okinawan Languages
By written by Kim M. December 28, 2023
December includes International Volunteer Day — which takes place on December 5th — but here at the Free Library, we celebrate our volunteers all year round! Many of the programs offered by Languages and Learning are facilitated by our incredibly dedicated volunteers. Margie Scharf runs one of our weekly English Conversation… continue reading My Experience Volunteering with the Free Library
By written by Marjorie S. December 20, 2023
December is National Learn a Foreign Language Month, but Languages and Learning at the Free Library celebrates language learning all year! Here in Philadelphia, over 180 different languages are spoken around the city. Why learn another language? Studies show that there are many benefits to learning a new language, no matter how old you are.… continue reading December is Learn a Foreign Language Month
By written by Meredith M. December 19, 2023
El Field Teen Center se une a la celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana con el estreno de su nueva colección en español. Ahora podrás disfrutar de novelas, biografías, manga y novelas gráficas en tu idioma y de fácil accesibilidad. El centro de jóvenes expande su colección… continue reading ¡Nueva colección para jóvenes en español!
By written by Verónica M. October 11, 2023
The Languages and Learning Center offers relevant and engaging programs and resources for English language learners. Here are seven great ways we can help you learn, improve, and speak English! Attend an English Conversation Circle Join us for weekly conversation groups across the city and build your confidence in speaking English.… continue reading 7 Great Ways To Improve Your English With the Free Library
By written by Lindsay S. September 27, 2023 7
