Tagged Diversity Equity and Inclusion

¡Celebremos la Fiesta del Libro en Español!

The love for the Spanish language and culture can transcend frontiers! The stories, poems and illustrations of the books can reflect personal narratives that touch our collective unconsciousness. A team of talented community…

Hispanic Heritage Month Begins!

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…

A Space for Civic Dialogue

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…

Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day with Music, Film, and Literature!

Jashn-e-Azadi Mubarak! Happy Independence Day! This past Saturday, August 14, was Pakistan’s Independence Day. Formed in 1947, Pakistan celebrated 74 years of its independence and freedom from British colonialism and the formation…

Lovett Library's Book Walk Continues the Conversation on Race

If you have been to the Lovett Memorial Library recently, you have likely seen the Black Lives Matter book walk prominently displayed in its park. The idea came from Lisa Browne of Colorful Stories . Following the racial justice…

Own More: 19 Voices and Five Books for Middle Grade Readers

We're sharing with you another batch of #ownvoices titles by diverse authors writing from their own experience! Like our previous post , all of these titles can be found in multiple formats through our catalog.   Ancestor…

Poetry: The Art of Expression!

A Voice for Peace, Concord, and Harmony: The XV International Poetry Festival in Philadelphia will virtually congregate poets from Latin America and the United States in an evening of verse and music. The Free Library, Acción…

Own Up: Four Books, Four Voices, for Middle Grade Readers

We all enjoy picking up a book and discovering one of the characters is like us; it's a thrill discovering, "Hey, that could be me!" In books for young readers, making that discovery and finding that thrill is essential.…

Reference Desk: Candid Conversations with Leslie and Dave!

The New Year is a time to reaffirm commitments and resolve to meet new goals. Leslie Walker , Interim Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and Dave Edwards , Interim CEO of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, are…

Meet Your Library Staff: Guy Sims, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

In mid-December, the Free Library welcomed Dr. Guy Sims as the institution’s first full-time Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer . Prior to this appointment, Guy was the Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and…

Announcing the Upcoming 'Hear Me Out' Civic Dialogue Line-Up!

Updated Wednesday, January 27, 2021 12:20 p.m. The Wednesday, January 27 Hear Me Out event is now SOLD OUT. Navigating social distancing and splintering ideological differences across Pennsylvania has not been an easy feat. Debuting in…

Resilience Builds Positive Outcomes

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word resilience as "an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change." Learning how to remain positive, in the face of adversity, is a challenging skill to…

The Free Library Names Dr. Guy Sims Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

The Free Library of Philadelphia has appointed Dr. Guy Sims as its full-time Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, effective December 14. Guy brings experience as Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for…

Chronicling Resistance: Meet the Fellows

by Mariam Williams, Project Director for Chronicling Resistance "I've studied what I could of the Niess and their culture. There isn’t much left, and I have to sift the truth from all the lies. But there was a … a…

Celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights!

Happy Diwali Season! At Donatucci Library , we will be celebrating the Indian Festival of Lights on Friday, November 13, at 3:00 p.m. with stories, songs, crafts, and a stroll through our decorated garden! Diwali, or Deepavali, falls on…

Language Through My Kitchen: Latin Cuisine

The Latin American Book Fair , in partnership with the Culinary Literacy Center , will be presenting Language Through My Kitchen: Latin Cuisine , during a virtual event broadcast on Facebook on Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. to…

Chronicling Resistance

by Mariam Williams, Project Director for Chronicling Resistance Sometimes, the way events merge is uncanny. This is the case for Chronicling Resistance, a project that recently migrated to the Free Library of Philadelphia. …

The Free Library Welcomes 'Hear Me Out' Dialogue Series Program!

Do you know your fellow library patrons? Are you interested in joining an authentic learning space with fellow patrons across Pennsylvania? The Free Library is excited to introduce Hear Me Out : a digital, facilitated dialogue series…

Race in the United States: Social Justice Virtual Workshops for Teens

Updated Friday, July 10, 2020 4:59 p.m. "The Social Justice Symposium Teen Planning Committee supports the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia ! CBWFLP Response to DEI/Board of Trustees' letter We are…

The Free Library Stands Against Racism

Dear Free Library community, We are enraged and heartbroken.  The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police—and the senseless murders of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, among many others—has once again…