Summer is upon us, and you know what that means: road trips, vacations, relaxing afternoons on the beach, and maybe even a much-needed staycation on your couch. If you’ll be out of town and… continue reading

By Kate C.   June 28, 2017   

On June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter designated the month of June to honor the musical contributions of African Americans, known as Black Music Month. In 2016, President Barack Obama gave a… continue reading

By Camille T.   June 27, 2017   

I was in graduate school when Oprah Winfrey confronted author James Frey about fabricating portions of his memoir,  A Million Little Pieces . Oprah, who had previously defended Frey’s… continue reading

By Sara D.   June 26, 2017   

As summer heats up, stay cool with this fruit soda recipe from Get HYPE! Philly ! Under the guidance of Chef Shawn Murray, teens at our Kensington Library used a blender to learn how to puree… continue reading

By Brittany B.   June 26, 2017   

It may feel like summer has only just began, but at the Free Library we are already prepping for back-to-school and the arrival of our Jumpstart Camp program. Jumpstart is a three-week camp that… continue reading

By Becky F.   June 23, 2017    1

Before the Re-Read... To be honest, I can’t even remember what grade I was in when I first read this book. It was either third or fourth, a time at which I still was a non-reader. I read the… continue reading

By Mary W.   June 22, 2017   

Mid-19th century Philadelphia was booming. Its factories produced iron and steel, locomotives and textiles, and finished goods of all kinds. Immigrants and citizens alike flowed into the city to… continue reading

By Sally F.   June 21, 2017   

You may know him as the recipient of multiple Theodor Seuss Geisel Awards . You may know him as the author of such great books as The Watermelon Seed , Good Night Owl , and Number One Sam . Now… continue reading

By Becky F.   June 20, 2017   

Looking for a book that will help get kids moving? We have a good one for you! Our new selection for Picture Books Highlights – a series of posts where we put the spotlight on a brand-new… continue reading

By Monica C.   June 20, 2017   

While some schools in the area have already let out for the summer, the last official day for Philadelphia School District students is Tuesday, June 20. Woo Hoo! While pools and spraygrounds… continue reading

By Administrator   June 19, 2017   

Today’s #MysteryMonday is also some nostaligia-on-the-19th—we’re catching up with one of our favorite crime capers, the big-hatted, red-coated Carmen Sandiego . She made her… continue reading

By Julie B.   June 19, 2017   

Superheroes aren't supposed to die—they're larger than life, courageous, fight for what's right, and are here to help and protect us. They are immortal. Adam West, whose double… continue reading

By Peter SM   June 16, 2017   

Father's Day is a chance to wish dear old dad or those special men in our lives that helped raise and guide us, a big thank you for your service. While you honor the father figure in your… continue reading

By Camille T.   June 16, 2017   

This month we’re speaking with Robert Goza, Lead Economic Development Specialist/Public Information Officer at the U.S. Small Business Administration Eastern Pennsylvania District Office .… continue reading

By CaitlinT   June 15, 2017   

First a quick synopsis: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is the story of an English boat captain (Marlow) who, in the late 19th century, makes his way up the Congo River into the African… continue reading

By Kelsey B.   June 15, 2017   

It's pretty much summer time and I don't know about you, but in the summer, I get the urge to travel. However, being a grown up comes with the fact that you can't just up and take off… continue reading

By Rachel F.   June 14, 2017   

James Joyce is said to have told his acquaintance, artist and writer Frank Budgen, that he wanted his novel Ulysses to "give a picture of Dublin so complete that if the city suddenly… continue reading

By Sara D.   June 14, 2017   

My eight year old self secretly wished I had a twin sister. I imagined we would do everything together, share clothes, but mostly, trick people with our identity. Naturally I came to terms with… continue reading

By Camille T.   June 13, 2017   

My mom always says she knew she had trouble on her hands when, at the age of about six, I requested a Time Life series of hard-backed books about real-life murderers that I’d seen advertised… continue reading

By Alix G.   June 12, 2017   

"Hate-watching"—watching something you dislike for the oddly enjoyable/satisfying/fun experience of hating on it—has become a staple of our media times. I am typically a… continue reading

By Julie B.   June 12, 2017    1