Are you a creative, engaged student who is passionate about writing, reading, performing, and experiencing poetry? Are you equally passionate about working with your peers and other students to bring more poetry to Philadelphia? If so, apply to become the 2021-2022 Youth Poet Laureate! The Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia serves as a leader… continue reading Are You Philadelphia’s Next Youth Poet Laureate?

By written by Autumn M.    April 12, 2021   

• Poetry
• Philadelphia Poet Laureate

Through the challenges of 2020, one of the abiding sources of relief for many of us has been poetry. More people than ever are looking to the written word for strength, wisdom, and comfort. Even before the pandemic struck, Trapeta B. Mayson , Philadelphia’s 2020-21 Poet Laureate , knew poetry held this power and wanted to share its… continue reading Healing Verse Philly: a Project from the Poet Laureate

By written by Autumn M.    January 5, 2021    7  

• Poetry
• Literature
• Philadelphia Poet Laureate

Are you a creative, engaged student who is passionate about writing, reading, performing, and experiencing poetry? Are you equally passionate about working with your peers and other students to do the same? If so, apply to become our next Youth Poet Laureate! The Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia serves as a leader in our city’s young… continue reading Philadelphia is Looking for Its Next Youth Poet Laureate

By written by Autumn M.    May 11, 2020   

• Teens
• Poetry
• Philadelphia Poet Laureate

As we close out April and National Poetry Month, while many of us are in slow-down mode and many others of us are working extremely hard, let’s give ourselves a moment to pause and breathe and hear something good.  You may have seen recent articles and comments about the restorative power poetry can have in moments of crisis and… continue reading Listen to Poetry

By written by Autumn M.    April 30, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Podcasts
• Poetry
• Digital Media
• Audiobooks

Do you need help finding healthcare or signing up for federal benefits? Do you have questions about resources for free or low-cost food? Are you worried about the mental health of a family member? Find support and get your questions answered at Parkway Central Library on Wednesday, December 19 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Community… continue reading Health Support at the Free Library

By written by Autumn M.    December 13, 2018   

• Healthcare
• Health

In July, the Free Library launched its new strategic plan for the next three years. This plan is a refresh of our prior five-year plan and keeps the same mission: Advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity and vision: Building an enlightened community devoted to life-long learning The mission and vision are supported by three… continue reading Check Out Our New Strategic Plan!

By written by Autumn M.    October 18, 2018    5  

• Literacy
• Community
• Neighborhood Libraries

At the end of the film Dead Poets Society , the students who loved their professor, Mr. Keating (played by Robin Williams ), stand up on their desks and proclaim, "O Captain, My Captain" as a sign of allegiance and respect. Back in the early 90s, as the credits rolled, my best friend and I snuck away from the group of teens watching… continue reading YAWP! Happy 199th birthday, Walt Whitman

By written by Autumn M.    May 24, 2018   

• Poetry
• Author Birthdays

It’s April, everyone, and you know what that means – it’s National Poetry Month ! Each year, the Academy of American Poets "highlights the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets" by celebrating with a host of readings, events, and activities. Check out their fun, thoughtful ways to participate… continue reading Celebrate National Poetry Month

By written by Autumn M.    April 3, 2018   

• Poetry
• Author Events
• Rosenbach

Did you know the Free Library has trained mental health professionals on site at Parkway Central Library to help patrons who are in need of social services and other referrals? Because of all the great work being done, and in honor of National Social Work Month in March, we took a few moments to catch up with Michael Rabb, one of our onsite… continue reading Spotlight on Michael Rabb for National Social Work Month

By written by Autumn M.    March 15, 2018    6  

• Healthcare
• Community
• Social Services

The Free Library’s Cultureshare is nearly here! Don’t miss your chance to subscribe to this exciting new venture that pairs art, music, and writing from locals with pieces from the Free Library’s collections – all in a digital format. Sign up to receive Cultureshare content and to have the chance to be part of the launch… continue reading Why Not Join Cultureshare?

By written by Autumn M.    September 13, 2017    1  

• Cultureshare

Imagine this: Your friends, and your associates, and the people around you, and the environment that you live in, and the speakers around you, and the communicators around you are the poetry makers. If your mother tells you stories, she is a poetry maker. If your father says stories, he is a poetry maker. If your grandma tells you stories, she… continue reading There's Poetry Everywhere!

By written by Autumn M.    April 12, 2017   

• Poetry

When UNESCO declared March 21 World Poetry Day in 1999, they had in mind building connections through our oral and written traditions and finding commonality among the feelings and questions that make us human. What better way, in this current social, economic, and political climate of uncertainty, can we seek to understand one another? Poetry… continue reading It's World Poetry Day!

By written by Autumn M.    March 21, 2017   

• Poetry

"How to Triumph Like a Girl" , a poem by the dynamic Ada Limón , won’t get out of my head (and I don’t want it to). I read it the day after the election and it stuck fast. I sent it to a few friends, read it five or six times, and have kept reading it since. Though it was published a few years ago, it seemed like… continue reading Poetry Room: Listening through Reading

By written by Autumn M.    November 28, 2016    1  

• Reading
• Poetry

The United States is about to enter its fourth year of Health Insurance Open Enrollment. This year, consumers can sign up for health insurance between November 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. In order to be insured on January 1, 2017, you must enroll by December 15. Did you know that Pennsylvania expanded its Medicaid program last year? If… continue reading Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Starts November 1, 2016!

By written by Autumn M.    October 28, 2016   

• Healthcare
• Health

2016: It's an election year and Philadelphia is hosting the Democratic National Convention!  The Free Library wanted to get in on the fun, so join us as we launch an exciting new event series: The American Presidency. This compelling, provocative programming series for the whole family will examine the untold stories of,… continue reading The 2016 American Presidency Series

By written by Autumn M.    April 25, 2016   

• Elections
• American Presidency

Information and books and podcasts and programming and computers and Wi-Fi and a great place to hang out: All of this and more make up the Free Library of Philadelphia. But what does the Library mean to you? If you’re not sure, we aim to help you find out. From March 5-12, the Free Library is participating in the 7 Days of Genius Festival… continue reading 7 Days of Genius Festival: Find Your Path to Genius at the Free Library

By written by Autumn M.    March 3, 2016   

• Events at the Library
• Recommendations

I wrote an essay for an anthology by poets on poetry a couple of years ago about owning one’s subject matter, taking responsibility for the themes that continually crop up, and stewarding and loving them, no matter that they might be “too poetic” or “too weird” or too anything…  and my subject was (is.… continue reading Poetry Room: Joy and Grief in Poems

By written by Autumn M.    December 31, 2015    2  

• Poetry

The Free Library continually seeks ways to provide the best health information and resources for our users. One of our exciting ventures is the newly established Health Corners in three neighborhood libraries in West Philadelphia. These dedicated areas at Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional , Kingsessing , and Paschalville… continue reading Check Out Our New Health Corners!

By written by Autumn M.    December 8, 2015   

• Healthcare

Philadelphia’s 2015 general election is Tuesday, November 3rd and it is an important one! Registered voters will have the opportunity to select a new Mayor , City Council members , Judges (for PA Supreme Court , Superior Court , Commonwealth Court , Court of Common Pleas , and Philadelphia Municipal Court ) City Commissioners , Sheriff ,… continue reading VOTE on Tuesday, November 3rd!

By written by Autumn M.    October 29, 2015   

• Elections

The United States is about to enter its third year of Marketplace (Affordable Care Act / Obamacare) Open Enrollment. This year, consumers can sign up for health insurance between November 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016. In order to be insured on January 1, 2016, you must enroll by December 15. Did you know that Pennsylvania expanded its… continue reading Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Starts Soon!

By written by Autumn M.    October 26, 2015   

• Healthcare