This past month, Bob Edwards has been airing a fascinating, multi-part program series on NPR titled, "Shhhh...Libraries at Work!" In the series, he speaks with current ALA President Roberta Stevens about how libraries have changed over the past 20 years and about their struggles to keep up with customer demand in the wake of slashed budgets; he explores prison library systems and their positive effects on inmates; and he studies school library systems--which also face closure and under-funding--and how they are changing to meet the needs of 21st-century students.

It's a fascinating series, and I encourage everyone to listen. Each program is available for free download as a podcast from iTunes, or you can listen here (though you'll have to scroll through other Bob Edwards Show segments to find the "Shhhh... Libraries at Work! series).

In what ways have you noticed libraries change over your lifetime? What do you see when you envision your ideal 21st  century library?

Looking for some great kid-tested, librarian-approved books for autumn? The children's librarians at the Free Library have put together a list of a few of their favorites. 

Title: Fall Leaves Fall!
Author: Hall, Zoe 
A pretty picture book for ages 2 to 5. 

Title: Leaf Jumpers 
Author: Gerber, Carole 
Illustrations and rhyming text describe different leaves and the trees from which they fall.

Title: From Seed to Pumpkin
Author: Pfeffer, Wendy
Kids grow pumpkins, from seeds to pies and jack-o-lanterns. Ages 4 to 8.  

 Title: Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin
Author: Serfozo, Mary 
Peter the tiger's pumpkin wins a prize. Ages 3 to 7.

Of course, story time at the Free Library isn't just about sitting and listening to a great book. Here are some terrific autumn songs and rhymes, courtesy of the children's librarians, for kids to sing and recite.  Some of them have actions, too--try them out!

Leaves On The Trees - To the Tune of: Wheels on the Bus

"The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, orange and brown, orange and brown. The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, all through the town.

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down. The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down, all through the town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish. The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all through the town."

Once I Had A Pumpkin - To the Tune of: Did You Ever See a Lassie

"Oh, once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.
With no eyes and no nose and no mouth and no teeth,
Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.

So I made a jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern,
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face.
With big eyes and a big nose and a big mouth and big teeth,
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face."

Ten Little Pumpkins

Ten little pumpkins, standing in a row (Hold up fingers)
They bow their heads to the children so (Bend fingers)
They run to the left, they run to the right (Move fingers in each direction)
Then they close their eyes and say goodnight. (Put hands together and rest head on them)

Five Little Pumpkins Fingerplay 

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (Hold up five fingers)
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late." (Touch a wrist where a watch would be)
The second one said, "There's a chill in the air." (Wrap arms around self and shiver as if it’s cold)
The third one said, "But I don't care." (Shrug shoulders and turn palms up)
The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!" (Rub hands together mischievously or wave arms in the air)
The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run." (Pretend to run or stomp feet)
“Wooooooosh" went the wind, (Cup hands around mouth.)
 And out went the lights. (Chop hands through air like an umpire making a "safe" sign)
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. (Roll fists around each other.)

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, Recommendations

Election day is Tuesday, November 2. Don't forget to vote!

Several key races are taking place in Pennsylvania this election year, including the races for Governor and Lieutenant Governor; U.S. Senate and House of Representatives; as well as several Pennsylvania House and Senate seats. If you’re still deciding which candidates would best represent you in office, check out the Free Library's Elected Officials Guide! Additionally, the nonpartisan Pennsylvania League of Women Voters has a thorough guide to candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and United States Senator, and the nonpartisan Committee of Seventy also has an excellent website that consolidates information about the candidates running in all state and Philadelphia-area races. You can also find your polling place on the Committee of Seventy's website.

Be informed about the issues and exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, November 2!

Tags: Elections

We're excited to announce that Sherman Alexie's War Dances has been chosen as the 2011 One Book, One Philadelphia featured reading selection! Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, War Dances is a collection of short stories and poems that examine with humor and grace the intricate facets of modern relationships. Skillfully crafted and at turns shocking, funny, and poignant, War Dances takes readers on a grand tour of life in all its complexity.

The One Book selection committee has paired War Dances with a companion title, Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, winner of the National Book Award. The Absolutely True Diary is filled with candid observations drawn from Alexie's life as a teenager on the Spokane Indian Reservation and provides a compelling cultural framework for the many issues explored in War Dances.

The One Book, One Philadelphia reading period starts now, and the program series will run from January 19 through March 17, 2011. Mark your calendars now: Sherman Alexie will be appearing at the Free Library on March 16, 2011!

Tags: One Book One Philadelphia

It’s that time of the year again. High school seniors are scrambling to finish their college applications and hoping to get into the college or university of their choice. If you are currently going through the application process or are thinking of applying to college, don’t overlook the importance of writing a stellar college essay.  

Practically every college or university requires its applicants to write an essay to be considered for admission. The essay is a key component in the college application process because it gives you the opportunity to establish personal connections with admissions officers (and if you are fortunate enough, the entire admissions committee). Some colleges and universities will require you to write multiple essays, each with its own set of instructions. In this case, you will be writing an essay based on a prompt, question, or hypothetical situation provided in the application.

While a high GPA and strong standardized test scores are important aspects of the college application process, a quality essay may strengthen your chance of admission at the school of your choice. Although other candidates may have higher SAT or ACT scores, you can impress admissions officers by writing a stronger essay. An essay written for admission to any college or university should be grammatically flawless, structurally coherent, and contain some of the applicant’s personal life story. Essays that provide examples of perseverance through harsh conditions and long odds may warrant special consideration from the admissions committee. An essay may also stand out if it highlights an attribute in the candidate which may add diversity to the college or university in question.

For example, if you are employed and successfully maintain your job while attending school, you may want to emphasize how this reflects your strength of character and ability to succeed. Feel free to also share a unique aspect about yourself that may enhance the diversity of the college or university. If you play an unusual instrument, such as the harp, or can speak multiple languages, let the admissions officers know! The admissions committee wants to know what sets you apart from other applicants. Every applicant has a personal story, and if your story is expressed the right way on paper, it may greatly increase your chance for admission. Take advantage of this opportunity and use the essay to share what makes you special.

Before you go, read on to find out about the Free Library of Philadelphia’s College Prep Program! And we’d like to know more about you... Feel free to answer the question below as a comment as well.

If you would like to receive personalized, one-on-one help with any aspect of the college application process—including writing your college essay—feel free to drop by the Free Library of Philadelphia’s College Prep Program. A College Student Coach will be available on most Saturdays to answer any of your questions and even review your essay if you would like!

Workshops and drop-in sessions are offered on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. at the following locations: Walnut St. West Branch, Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, Northeast Regional Library and the Widener Branch. (Formal workshops are also offered at the Parkway Central Library on select Saturdays). For more information, please email Collegeprep@freelibrary.org or call 215-686-5372 Monday-Friday, between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Question: Where are you in the college application process? Are you a freshman in high school who is interested in attending college or a senior in the midst of finalizing college applications­­­­­—or somewhere in between?

Tags: College Prep