On January 17, our nation commemorates the 27th Annual National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and legacy. Dr. King’s part in the Civil Rights Movement is well-documented. Alongside his wife Coretta Scott King and countless others, his tireless organizing and courageous leadership of the nonviolent… continue reading In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By written by Emily S. January 13, 2022
Nourish your literacy by creating stories from scratch—with a seed starter! Chrissy loves to read, write, and tell stories. Her suggested steps for creating folklore were offered back when she was Talking About Tomatoes ! The story Chrissy started during that time was inspired by tomato seeds. Now this story is a fully grown… continue reading Nourishing Literacy | Planting Story Seeds with Madame Marie and Her Magic Garden
By written by Shayna M. January 11, 2022
It can be difficult to get into the holiday spirit in the midst of so much confusion, fear, and grief. Children and adults alike may find ourselves feeling sad at the loss of a loved one, of normalcy and routines, or of beloved traditions that have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Or maybe those very traditions feel out of place? With… continue reading Giving Back for the Holidays
By written by Emily S. December 23, 2021
Free Library staff recently took the time to chat and answer some of our Library-specific Rebuild questions. Read their insights and enthusiasm about what Rebuild (Rebuilding Community Infrastructure) will bring to select libraries in Philly. Hello! Please introduce yourselves and tell us about your current involvement in Rebuild efforts at… continue reading Free Library and Rebuild: Building Stronger Communities One Park, Recreation Center, and Library at a Time
By written by Jenn D. December 17, 2021
The FDA has approved a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11—just in time for the holidays! The holiday season is usually a time for family and friends to gather and share food and fun. For the past year and a half, however, the pandemic has taken its toll on these types of festivities. Experts continue to advise caution when it… continue reading COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Children and Available in Philadelphia
By written by Emily S. December 8, 2021
WHYY and the Free Library of Philadelphia are working together to make it a little easier to have difficult conversations. Bridging Blocks: Uniting Neighborhoods Through Conversation is a three-year initiative that will gather small groups of Philadelphia residents to talk about issues including gun violence, immigration,… continue reading Free Library Partners with WHYY to Bring Communities Together
By written by Kate C. November 30, 2021
Marian Sosa spent the summer volunteering for the Free Library, with Youth Services , the Summer of Wonder , and on Philadelphia's Play Streets . Here is what she had to say about her experience... Summer in the streets of Philadelphia, like the summer in many cities all across the nation, oftentimes means that there’s going to be a… continue reading A Summer of Service: What I Learned on Philly's Play Streets
By written by Administrator November 17, 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture through festivals, cuisine, cultural events, and art, encompassing people of various races, ethnicities, nationalities, and traditions across Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and numerous countries in Latin America. The period of September 15 through October 15… continue reading Hispanic Heritage Month Begins!
By written by Inaara S. September 16, 2021
In order to boldly move forward our mission to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity the Free Library must hold with great fidelity a space for dialogue, a space for nuance, and a space free of hate. The Free Library recently received concerns over a blog post on freelibrary.org alongside three storytime videos on one of our… continue reading A Space for Civic Dialogue
By written by Administrator September 3, 2021 45
As Philadelphia students gear up to return to school at the end of the month, we hope you’ll join the Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library on Friday, August 27 from 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. for a Community Fair . The Community Fair will include giveaways of books, backpacks, and school supplies while they last, as well as kits for job… continue reading Join the Cobbs Creek Library for a Community Fair!
By written by Kate C. August 25, 2021
Want to help the City of Philadelphia close the digital divide and assist residents with affordable internet access? All you have to do is pick up your phone! The Philadelphia Household Internet Assessment is a one-month-long survey that will collect information on how people view available internet options and barriers to internet… continue reading Support Digital Equity by Taking the Philadelphia Household Internet Assessment Survey
By written by Administrator June 22, 2021 1
This blog post was written by Jeanette Coppinger, Digital Resource Specialist for Lovett Memorial Library. Jeanette was a member of Cohort 10 of the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries training program. The timing of my cohort for the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries training could not have been more unusual. In March 2020, I was a… continue reading Exploring the Neighborhood: Virtual Adventures in Community Asset Mapping
By written by Community-Centered Libraries June 17, 2021
This June we are commemorating Immigrant Heritage Month to celebrate the incredible diversity, beauty, and strength of immigrant communities in Philadelphia! Throughout the month, the City of Philadelphia's Office of Immigrant Affairs is promoting community events that celebrate the resilience of Philly’s immigrant communities.… continue reading Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month this June!
By written by Inaara S. June 3, 2021
Becca at Whitman Library This week we are making Cinnamon Apple Cake ! I was inspired by our first recipe and blog post for Apple Yogurt Cake , but I was not content. I wanted it moister and needed to try another recipe to get me there. I found it in this recipe for a Cinnamon Apple Cake from the blog Sweetest Menu by Jessica Holmes. I… continue reading Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box... Cinnamon Apple Cake
By written by Rebecca M. May 26, 2021 1
Throughout the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries initiative , we have shared experiences from our seven pilot sites as they tested the training series in their own libraries. We were thrilled that our partners in San Francisco and Halifax, Nova Scotia were able to deliver the workshops in their entirety before COVID-19 forced… continue reading A Final Update from Our Skills for Community-Centered Libraries National Partners
By written by Community-Centered Libraries May 18, 2021
by Kait P. with meaningful contributions by Chrissy D. It's Alright to Cry! Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? When was the last time you shed some tears while just trying to make dinner? Onions contain a chemical called syn-Propanethial S-oxide that can turn to gas and trigger tears! You can try to prevent… continue reading Nourishing Literacy | Cooking with Onions: Multi-Layered!
By written by Shayna M. May 12, 2021
Becca at Whitman Library Today at Whitman Library we are baking Apple Yogurt Cake with a Cinnamon Streusel in the middle and on top! Being a baker, I had to start with my strengths. The community box that I got from Christ Church South Philly included apples and yogurt, and I had the rest of the supplies on hand. I researched online and… continue reading Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box... with Apples
By written by Rebecca M. April 14, 2021 2
by Regina Schliep, Logan Library Work-Study Student During this unusual school year, some neighborhood libraries have joined forces with local schools and community organizations to support virtual tutoring programs for students. Wynnefield Library re-designed a popular STEM tutoring program that began in person in spring… continue reading Virtual Tutoring Programs Flourish This Spring
By written by Catherine M. April 12, 2021 1
Baking with Becca began at Whitman Library , nestled between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Snyder Avenue in South Philly. When COVID hit, we had to take a long break. I continued to grow and learn to strengthen this class and to steel myself during an uncertain time. I know we all did the same for what seemed like an eternity, but here we are slowly… continue reading Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box
By written by Rebecca M. April 8, 2021 1
As the pandemic enters its second year, online platforms and virtual learning continue to serve a critical role in our children’s education. Are you the caregiver of a currently enrolled student in the School District of Philadelphia? Do you need an easy way to keep informed about your child’s academics? Want to stay up to date with… continue reading Stay Connected with the School District of Philadelphia Parent and Family Portal
By written by Jennifer E. February 25, 2021
