Honor Juneteenth with the Free Library of Philadelphia! This year, we celebrate Juneteenth for the third time as a federal holiday, but it has been an important celebration for nearly 200 years! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in U.S. history. Along with commemorating liberation and freedom, Juneteenth is a… continue reading Honoring Juneteenth at the Free Library
By written by Inaara S. June 9, 2023
Philadelphia is a city full of the history, culture, and contributions of numerous immigrant communities. This June, join the Free Library of Philadelphia as we celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs . This month, let’s honor the diversity of our great city and… continue reading June is Immigrant Heritage Month
By written by Inaara S. May 31, 2023
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May! Also sometimes known as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, it first began during the 1970s with a week-long celebration, and eventually got extended into a full month. May is historically important to the heritage of the millions of Asian and Pacific Americans in… continue reading Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May
By written by Inaara S. May 1, 2023
Did you know that in 1654, 23 Jewish refugees sailed to the port of New Amsterdam (presently New York City) and established the first Jewish community in what we now call the United States? It has been nearly 400 years since this first Jewish community’s arrival and from that point forward, Jewish Americans have been an important… continue reading Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month
By written by Inaara S. May 1, 2023 1
May 1 begins Mental Health Awareness Month; this is a time to think more about our mental health journeys. Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness about the importance of mental health in the lives of people living all across the United States. Mental health can mean many different things to lots of… continue reading Observing Mental Health Awareness Month With the Free Library
By written by Inaara S. May 1, 2023
Howdy, folks! I am one of the many Free Library of Philadelphia Library cards that Philadelphians use in their neighborhood libraries throughout the city. Because I am a part of the Free Library of Philadelphia, that is, the F-L-P, you can call me Flippy for short. You might remember me from last year . I’m back again! To celebrate… continue reading Library Card Sign-Up Month | Flippy's Adventures: A Week in the Life of a Free Library Card
By written by Inaara S. September 13, 2022 1
The Free Library is celebrating Juneteenth! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in the United States and a time when we come together to celebrate this monumental occasion across the country, within our cities, and with our local communities. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned from… continue reading Celebrating Juneteenth!
By written by Inaara S. June 14, 2022
This June, the Free Library is celebrating Philadelphia’s immigrant communities! June is Immigrant Heritage Month , a time when we celebrate the beauty and strength of our city’s many immigrant communities. Philadelphia represents the ways in which immigrants and our contributions have transformed the course of our collective… continue reading Commemorating Immigrant Heritage Month This June
By written by Inaara S. June 3, 2022
This March, celebrate Women’s History Month with the Free Library! Women’s History Month originally began as a celebration of Women’s History Week. Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which designated the week of March 7, 1982, as Women’s History Week. For the next five years, Congress continued to pass resolutions declaring… continue reading March Is Women's History Month
By written by Inaara S. March 1, 2022
Many of us may get our news from online sources these days—social media feeds provide a constant source of information about everything from policy proposals, the weather, celebrity news, and more, as the events unfold in real-time. Moving between the national, the local, and the global within a matter of seconds, we can be connected to… continue reading Newspapers: A Guide Into the Past
By written by Inaara S. February 24, 2022
History is found in the pages of a textbook—or so I thought! This February, celebrate Black History Month by learning more about the history of Black quilt makers! Do you know about the (Quilt) Pieces of Black History series happening this month at Nicetown-Tioga and Philadelphia City Institute libraries? During this series, you’ll… continue reading The Quilts of Gee's Bend
By written by Inaara S. February 16, 2022 1
This February, the Free Library is proud to commemorate Black History Month , honoring the triumphs and achievements of Black Americans throughout U.S. history and celebrating Black history, culture, and heritage. Black History Month offers all of us an opportunity to learn more about the significant contributions of Black Americans, including… continue reading Celebrating Black History Month at the Free Library
By written by Inaara S. February 1, 2022 1
September 24 is International Bollywood Day! So... what exactly is Bollywood? Depending on who you ask, each person defines it differently. In the film My Name Is Khan , an Indian man embarks on a remarkable journey across America to win back the love of his life. Bollywood is a combination of the words Hollywood and Bombay, the former… continue reading What Do You Know About Bollywood? | International Bollywood Day
By written by Inaara S. September 28, 2021 1
Howdy! I am a Free Library of Philadelphia Library Card. Since I am an important part of the Free Library of Philadelphia system, that is the F-L-P, you can call me Flippy for short. I am but one of hundreds of thousands of Library cards that Philadelphians across the city use in their neighborhood libraries on a regular basis. Although I am… continue reading A Week in the Life of Flippy, a Free Library Card | Library Card Sign-Up Month
By written by Inaara S. September 23, 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture through festivals, cuisine, cultural events, and art, encompassing people of various races, ethnicities, nationalities, and traditions across Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and numerous countries in Latin America. The period of September 15 through October 15… continue reading Hispanic Heritage Month Begins!
By written by Inaara S. September 16, 2021
Whether it is eating ice cream, swimming, or visiting your neighborhood library, there are so many great summer pastimes. One of the most exciting parts of summer is listening to all the incredible music! As we approach the end of summer, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best summer albums through the decades, beginning in the 1950s to… continue reading Best Summer Albums Through the Decades
By written by Inaara S. September 2, 2021 1
Two months ago was the first official celebration of Juneteenth as a national holiday. On Thursday, June 17, 2021, Congress passed and presented the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to President Joe Biden, who signed the bill into law. The U.S. government updated Title 5, Section 6103 (a) of the United States Code to include Juneteenth… continue reading We Have a New Federal Holiday — Juneteenth!
By written by Inaara S. August 27, 2021
Jashn-e-Azadi Mubarak! Happy Independence Day! This past Saturday, August 14, was Pakistan’s Independence Day. Formed in 1947, Pakistan celebrated 74 years of its independence and freedom from British colonialism and the formation of Pakistan as a new country. Pakistan is a country of many different cultures and traditions. There are… continue reading Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day with Music, Film, and Literature!
By written by Inaara S. August 18, 2021 3
Summertime is here and the Free Library is offering incredible outdoor and virtual programming! This July marks the second summer we’ve spent during the COVID-19 pandemic and as we gather safely to celebrate this spectacular season of summer fun, this is also a time to celebrate our outstanding Free Library staff who have been offering… continue reading Q&A with Christina Holmes | Children's Summer Programming at Blackwell Regional Library
By written by Inaara S. July 16, 2021 2
The oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in U.S. history, Juneteenth is a day that recognizes freedom and liberation. Juneteenth, a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth, centers Black lived experiences, identity, and history in the United States. Juneteenth remembers the date of June 19, 1865 , when… continue reading The Commemoration of Juneteenth
By written by Inaara S. June 14, 2021 1
