In our continual effort to better serve you, a team of librarians has recently taken a fresh look at our many electronic resources and databases, and has recommended some changes. Public library services have shifted dramatically over the past few years, with not only greatly reduced budgets but also a growth in the information you can connect to online.  Ultimately, we recognize that our electronic databases must be relevant to your needs and provide the excellent library service you deserve.

To that end we will no longer be subscribing to a small selection of our current databases. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! The vast majority of the content available in these databases is also available in similar form at freelibrary.org and through other free resources, like Pennsylvania’s PowerLibrary. 

The databases we will no longer be subscribing to include:

• Freegal (ending as of June 1)
• EBSCOhost, which includes MasterFile Premier, Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, ERIC, Novelist Plus, and Novelist K-8 Plus (ending as of July 1)
• Dun & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Database (ending as of August)

These changes will allow us to focus more on the types of services you value most and continue to be a library that is responsive to your needs.  In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be posting a helpful series of blogs that details just where you can find all the information you need, so check back often to learn how you can maximize your Free Library experience.

To get you started, read our post on Freegal and the many digital music resources available to you through the Free Library and online!

 As always, we welcome your feedback.

Tags: databases, digital collections, music

If you haven't viewed our Extras page in a while, we've recently updated it with some new spring-themed photos from our various digital collections.
Add a touch of spring to your desktop, tablet, phone, e-reader, or mobile device by downloading a new wallpaper or screensaver!

Speaking of digital images, have you visited the Free Library of Philadelphia's Pinterest page?
Pinterest is a social photo-sharing and bookmarking site that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections of events, interests, and hobbies. You can view, re-pin, and comment on hundreds of images that we've uploaded from our collections, Free Library events, What We're Reading book recommendations, and miscellaneous photos that we have found interesting on the web and on other Pinterest pages.

You can always find the Extras page link at the top-right of our website.
We will continue to add more features and images to this page so check back often.
Have a suggestion for our Extras page? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

Tags: digital collections, mobile, tech, website

The Borneman Pennsylvania German Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia is very fortunate to have a very small manuscript, Borneman Ms. 99, about 4" x 3 "  in size, entitled Zimmerspruch beÿm Aufstecken des Straußes or What to Say While Fastening the Garland to the Gable.  It was most likely put together by a master carpenter for a topping out ceremony.  Whoever it was mentions on the last page that he wrote it in haste on September 10, 1787.

A topping out ceremony is a tradition in the building trade that goes back many hundreds of years, and is still much celebrated in the 21^st century on both sides of the Atlantic.  When the outer structure and roof of a building have been put into place by a group of skilled carpenters, it is time for the building owner, his neighbors and friends, the master builder, and the construction team to celebrate the event... Click here for the whole article.

Photo Collage Credits L to R
^{1    L} Free Library of Philadelphia
^{2 UR} Reit- und Fahrverein Grumbach-Wilsdruff
^{3 LR} Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Marienberg

Please be sure to visit our Facebook gallery for more images of Borneman Ms. 99.

Transcriptions/Translations by Del-Louise Moyer

Tags: Pennsylvania German Collection, Rare Book Department, digital collections

We’re so excited to announce the launch of the Virtual Free Library at Suburban Station, an awesome undertaking made possible by the Free Library and our partners at Dunkin’ Donuts, SEPTA, and Titan. The Virtual Library—believed to be the nation’s first in a train station—is featured on more than 70 advertising boards throughout Suburban Station and is home to a selection of classic and bestselling ebooks, as well as podcasts from our ever-popular Author Events Series. More than 50 titles are available for download via QR code right to commuters’ mobile devices.

These hand-picked titles offer just a taste of the Free Library's extensive digital holdings, which include access to more than 80,000 ebooks, 8,00 audiobooks, and 1,000 author podcasts!

In addition to the Virtual Library at Suburban Station, SEPTA will recognize National Library Week by sponsoring the “What are you reading?” giveaway. Through April 16, you can submit the titles of the books you're currently enjoying to SEPTA’s Facebook page and the @SEPTA_Social Twitter feed using the hashtag #enrichyourride to win prizes, including a monthly transit pass, Dunkin' Donuts gift pack, and front-row seats at select author events. 

Enrich your ride with reading! Be sure to pop by the bustling Suburban Station and try out the Virtual Free Library for yourself. Tell us what you think on our Twitter feed, and don’t forget to check out SEPTA’s great giveaway!

Tags: digital collections, ebooks, podcasts

"Be afraid... Be very afraid." is the newest addition to the ever-expanding collection of interactive online exhibitions featured on the Free Library's website.

The exhibition, researched and written by Cameron Dahl, a Librarian 2 in the Literature Department, and Aurora Deshauteurs, Curator of the Print and Picture Collection, spans centuries of historic and harrowing horror tales that can be found in the Free Library's circulating collections, ghastly images from our Print and Picture Collection, terrifying trailers for some of the most frightening films ever made and links to esoteric essays from fellow horror hounds on the web.

Some highlights include the nightmarish world of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, often cited as the first horror film), the definitive literary horror classic, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), the birth of the modern zombie movie with Night of The Living Dead (1968), the low-budget shock of Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), the quintessential "slasher" film Halloween (1978), the body horror and media macabre of David Cronenberg's Videodrome (1983), the self-referential satire Scream (1996), and the "found footage" genre of scare tactics in Paranormal Activity (2007).

Immerse yourself in this interactive exhibition, borrow horror books and movies from our chilling collection, and share the scares on social media.

View this exhibition... if you dare!


 

Tags: Exhibitions, digital collections, tech, website