Posts by Joe S. (28)
Blog Articles
The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia are old friends. For over 100 years, they have lived across from each other on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, educating… continue reading From Sloths to Sleuths: The Academy of Natural Sciences Free Pass Program!
By written by Joe S. June 24, 2024
2024 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Since its inception in 1949, Rare Books has prided itself on providing a warm and welcoming… continue reading The Rare Book Department's 75th Anniversary Event Series
By written by Joe S. December 20, 2023
![Frontispiece of Lewis O 165 showing Chapter 1 (the Fatiha) and the beginning of chapter 2 of the Qur’an.]](https://libwww.freelibrary.org/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/sussexquranfigure2.jpg)
Books have long occupied a central place in the visual culture of the Islamic world. This seminar, held during Temple University’s Fall 2021 semester, traced the key developments in the… continue reading The Art of the Book in the Islamic World: Four Studies by Temple Graduate Students
By written by Joe S. December 5, 2022
In the Path of Islam is a community-driven project amplifying the diverse voices of Philadelphia’s indigenous Muslim community, born and raised in the city, while engaging all Philadelphians… continue reading In the Path of Islam: An Exhibition and Experience
By written by Joe S. February 18, 2022 11
In the Path of Islam, in collaboration with Al-Bustan Seed of Culture, are excited to announce the return of the well-received, virtual, free Arabic conversation classes this February and… continue reading Free Virtual Arabic Language Programs Return in February and March!
By written by Joe S. January 25, 2022 3
Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Al-Bustan Seeds of Cultural are offering free, virtual Arabic Conversational Classes! There are many reasons to learn conversational Arabic... There are over… continue reading Let's Speak Arabic!
By written by Joe S. October 5, 2021 7
What are the most popular Googled questions about Ramadan? Here's what we found: When does Ramadan begin and end in 2021? What is allowed and not allowed during Ramadan? What does Ramadan… continue reading Happy Ramadan: Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Beyond!
By written by Joe S. April 6, 2021
Vanguard and the Free Library of Philadelphia will present a lively panel discussion in celebration of Women's History Month on Monday, March 22, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Sharon Hill, Ph.D.,… continue reading Women and Investing: A Panel Discussion in Celebration of Women’s History Month
By written by Joe S. March 16, 2021 1
Hannah Cho is a University of Pennsylvania Work-Study student from Davis, CA. During the Fall semester, she studied, recorded, and edited the Story Search podcasts remotely from South Korea.… continue reading Story Search from Special Collections: An Interview by Hannah Cho
By written by Joe S. January 6, 2021
On Thursday, April 8, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the unprecedented closure of K-12 schools for the remainder of the year due to the outbreak of COVID-19 . In lieu of… continue reading Going the Distance: Remote Learning and Online Resources for Educators
By written by Joe S. April 24, 2020
What do Charles Dickens, cuneiform tablets, and James Bond have in common? The answer is Hands-on History at the Free Library, which wraps up its inaugural year with a holiday program on… continue reading Hands-On History Wraps Up 2019 With Charles Dickens... and Introduces a New Line-Up For 2020
By written by Joe S. December 12, 2019
Prints were popular in American colonial homes. Among the decorative luxuries available, they were the most affordable. They would be hung in hallways, entrance halls, stairwells, and kitchens.… continue reading Spotlight on Special Collections: Five Unstudied Prints from the American Revolutionary War
By written by Joe S. November 7, 2019
Archives shield us from a world saturated with fake news and misinformation. But what are archives? How are they different from libraries? Where are they? How do they work? How are they… continue reading Design in the Archives: A Free Evening of Fun and Learning for All Ages!
By written by Joe S. October 21, 2019
The Free Library of Philadelphia at Parkway Central Library has eight special collections for visitors of all ages to enjoy, either in person through engaging exhibitions and… continue reading A Spotlight on Special Collections: The Artwork of Pennsylvania Germans-Fraktur
By written by Joe S. October 3, 2019
Take a free tour of Our 5 Senses , a fully-interactive exhibition that connects the science of the senses with the mind and the literary experience. Tours begin at 3:00 p.m.and finish at… continue reading Take a Free Family Tour of Our Five Senses, a Fully-Interactive Exhibition
By written by Joe S. May 30, 2019 3
In a recent CNN article titled, "Why touching art is so tempting — and exciting," Fiona Candlin, a professor of museology at Birkbeck College in London and author… continue reading Learning Through Touch: Connecting with Objects in Our Special Collections
By written by Joe S. May 28, 2019
Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens! The celebrated author was born February 7, 1812 in Landport near the city of Portsmouth, England. Dickens professional writing career began in the early… continue reading Happy Birthday to You, Charles Dickens!
By written by Joe S. February 7, 2019
The late and great Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell once sang, "Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby." These words hold true for how to best experience our material culture. People… continue reading Take History in the Palm of Your Hand with this New Series from the Free Library's Special Collections
By written by Joe S. January 7, 2019 1
One of the most popular items in the Rare Book Department that resonates with visitors the world over is not what you would expect. It is not a rare manuscript or a printed book from one of our… continue reading Grip, Philadelphia's Pet Raven
By written by Joe S. December 3, 2018 7
![L.A.W. Local Cycling Map, 1897, Map [recto]](https://libwww.freelibrary.org/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/changingcity-cycling.jpg)
Come and learn about Philadelphia's exciting, dynamic, and often forgotten history with a free guided tour of the Philadelphia: The Changing City exhibition. The tour will be led by… continue reading Free Tours of Philadelphia: The Changing City Exhibition
By written by Joe S. November 5, 2018