There's a new face in Philbrick Hall at Central this week - Michael R. has joined the team to be the After School Leader in the Teen Center. 

Michael graduated from Vassar College in 2011, with a major in Art History and a minor in Urban Studies.  At Vassar, he worked at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, developing and teaching outreach art programming for students at Poughkeepsie Middle School.  Through this experience, Michael became interested in the ways public institutions can engage their communities with innovative, exciting, and relevant programming. 

Since graduation, he has worked at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Brooklyn Museum, and currently works at both the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Free Library.  As an artist and educator, Michael is interested in questioning the way we understand ourselves and those around us. 

Outside of his professional life, Michael enjoys baking cupcakes, exploring new cities, and going to museums as frequently as possible.    

Drop by and get to know him!

Tags: Free Library staff, Parkway Central, Teens

One of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s best and brightest Children’s Librarians can be found at the Independence Branch at 18 South 7^th Street, a neighborhood rich in culture and variety. Margaret Bernardi is known for her great story times for preschoolers and other children, her creative flannel boards, and her expertise in children’s books.

In her “Pre-K Hurray!” story times, children ages 3 to 5 years and their siblings and caregivers are invited to enjoy seasonal stories and songs. One of Margaret’s yearly favorites is “Mardi Gras” story time, which will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21^st. She has some great plans to have the children decorate glittery masks (the gaudier, the better!), dancing to some zydeco music, and of course, sharing great books!

Margaret has a few favorite books that she turns to again and again in story times. One is A Sick Day with Amos McGee, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal. Margaret likes it because:

“It is a very sweet, empathetic sharing experience between adults and children.  I was touched by the attentiveness and thoughtful expression this tender story elicited from our pre-k groups.  Illness is a universal experience; sick children long for the special one-on-one sympathy and caring that loved ones provide.  In addition, when reading Amos, the kids enjoy identifying the zoo animals, the mode of transportation, and the comforting activities shared by a caretaker with a child 'under the weather.'"   

Another of Margaret’s tried and true favorites is The Little Engine That Could, which she pairs with songs like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” or “Down by the Station,” even incorporating a wooden train whistle!

Stop by the Independence Branch to meet Margaret and check out one of her great story times!

Tags: Children's books, Free Library staff, Pre-K, early literacy

Do you have a preschooler and live in the Northeast?  Think about stopping by the Lawncrest Library on Rising Sun Avenue.  Besides offering a wide variety of children’s books and materials, Lawncrest provides some unique and entertaining children’s programming thanks to Children’s Librarian and Branch Head Deb Mikus. 

Deb has worked for the Free Library of Philadelphia for over 20 years, the past four of which were spent at Lawncrest.  When asked about her favorite book for preschoolers, she says it’s “very hard to pick just one or even a few.”  With so many great books for preschoolers out there, who can blame her?  She does like It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw because it can “generate a lot of conversation about clouds and their shapes among children.”  She also likes The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems. 

For her preschool storytimes, Deb comes up with lots of fun themes, often dressing the part.  You might see her dressed as a train conductor, farmer, or even a pirate!  As a result, her preschool storytimes are very engaging and full of adventure!

Click here for Lawncrest Library’s Schedule!

Upcoming Programs at Lawncrest

Preschool Storytime     

Wednesday, October 19^th 10:30 a.m.

Monday, November 7^th 10:30 a.m.

 These programs are for children ages 2-6 and their caregivers.

50^th Anniversary Celebration    

Saturday, October 15^th

There will be face painting for children from 1-3pm!

Tags: Children's books, Free Library staff, Pre-K

Here at the Free Library we’ve had a wonderful few days celebrating how incredibly dedicated (and awesome!) our children’s librarians are. We got so much wonderful feedback from this heartwarming article that ran in the Inquirer, detailing how two children’s librarians, Elizabeth Corbett (Charles Santore Branch) and Heather Warren (Whitman Branch), helped one of their customers—an eight-year-old boy named Hieu—get a new bike after his was stolen. We hope you’ll take the time to check it out.

In addition, we’ve just received word that Robin Muldor, the Children’s Librarian at the Kensington Branch, won a 2011 Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Best Practices Award for her program, “Kensington Library Read Across America Celebrates Dr. Seuss’s Birthday.” The PaLA boasts that her work “is clear evidence of the fact that Pennsylvania’s libraries serve our youngest Pennsylvanians and their families.”
 

Kudos to our incredible children's librarians!

Tags: Free Library staff

Looking for quirky, fun ideas for storytime?  Just ask Northeast Regional’s Christine Cornwall, and you’ll be amazed at what she comes up with!  Christine has worked in the Northeast Regional Children’s Department for the past two and a half years and during that time, she has demonstrated a flair for creating exciting, interactive storytimes, using an assortment of songs and fingerplays and, of course, books!   

One of Christine’s most interesting ideas so far?  I think that would be “Outer Space Storytime!,” which she recently created for a visiting preschool group.  If your preschooler has an interest in space, or you just want to try something a little different, this selection of books and music may be just what you’re looking for.  Blast off on a fun-filled, intergalactic adventure with some of Christine’s favorite space-themed books and songs:

Sheep Blast Off! by Nancy Shaw

Space Boy by Leo Landry

Hush Little Alien by Daniel Kirk

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

CD: Here Comes Science by They Might be Giants

If you’d like to see Christine in action, visit Northeast Regional Library on Wednesdays in March!  Christine will be holding a “Kids in Action” preschool series on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., in the NER Children’s Department Storyhour Room.  (This program is intended for children ages three to five, and their caregiver.) 

Tags: Free Library staff, Pre-K, children's programs, family programs