Posts by Peter SM (308)
Blog Articles
This year's additions to the National Recording Registry were announced last month , which include 25 songs, albums, or audio recordings from the early 20th century up to the present. This… continue reading National Recording Registry Reaches 500 Songs—Take a Listen!
By written by Peter SM April 6, 2018
Just in time for Easter, perhaps the largest collection of "Easter Eggs" to ever be assembled on film debuts in theaters today— Ready Player One . The film is adapted from Ernest… continue reading The Pop Culture Apocalypse of Ready Player One
By written by Peter SM March 29, 2018 1
The YA graphic novel I Kill Giants smashes and crashes its way out of the confines of comics panels this weekend to loom large on the big screen... Firmly in the category of a gritty and somewhat… continue reading Friday Five: Giants Loom Large in Screen Adaptations
By written by Peter SM March 23, 2018
It's the first day of spring ... well, at least according to the calendar. Look outside? Winter still has its grip on much of the U.S., especially here on the east coast . Nevertheless, spring… continue reading Spring Cleaning in the Middle of a Winter Snowstorm
By written by Peter SM March 20, 2018
If you are reading this on March 14 at 1:59 p.m., then it must be Pi Day (Pi at 5 decimal places = 3.14159, natch!) This annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (Pi), or in its… continue reading Pi Day: Stephen Hawking Travels to Infinity
By written by Peter SM March 14, 2018
2018 marks the 38th time little golden statues have been awarded to films of a certain competence... and no, I'm not talking about the Oscars—I'm referring to the Razzies ! The… continue reading Best of the Worst in Film: The 2018 Razzie Awards
By written by Peter SM March 9, 2018 1
Another year, another Academy Awards. This Sunday, March 4 marks the 90th(!) Oscars ceremony, sure to have plenty of pomp , pageantry , and now more than ever, politics . Some will tune in for the… continue reading Oscars 2018: From Book to Screen and Back Again
By written by Peter SM March 2, 2018
Earlier this month in Denver, CO, a room full of children's and teen librarians erupted in cheers, gasps, and wild applause for the newest batch of books chosen to receive Youth Media Awards .… continue reading Here are the 2018 Youth Media Awards Winners!
By written by Peter SM February 27, 2018
Today, February 16, we celebrate the Year of the Dog ! In the video below, Jenifer Chang, Chief of Central Public Services Division at Parkway Central Library , discusses the history and… continue reading Celebrate the Year of the Dog with the Free Library!
By written by Peter SM February 16, 2018 1
209 years ago today, one of the most peculiar poets and apparitional authors to ever hold a pen was born: Edgar Allan Poe . His macabre and gothic tales have fascinated and entertained readers for… continue reading Friday Five: Edgar Allan Poe-inspired Films
By written by Peter SM January 19, 2018 1
Book clubs seem to be more popular than ever—we've even got two right here at the Free Library: our annual One Book, One Philadelphia reading selection creates citywide conversations… continue reading Join the David Bowie Book Club!
By written by Peter SM January 9, 2018 5
Happy New Year! Let’s start this new year right, by singing, talking, playing, writing—and of course reading—with our little ones! Not only did we celebrate New Year’s Day… continue reading January 2018 Early Literacy Calendar
By written by Peter SM January 3, 2018
As another year comes to a close, I'm looking back on one of my favorite hobbies: reading comic books! Whether they were new stand-alone stories, retro reissue collections, original… continue reading 17 Great Graphic Novels from 2017!
By written by Peter SM December 28, 2017
As I've written about on this blog in the past, I'm constantly on the lookout for rare gems, overlooked oeuvres, or just new-to-me films. Whether they are award-winners , cinema classics ,… continue reading 2017 Additions to the National Film Registry
By written by Peter SM December 26, 2017 5
Welp, here we go again... This is what could happen if there are no Net Neutrality laws. Remember Net Neutrality ? If not, here's a refresher: In its simplest terms, Net Neutrality is the… continue reading Rally to Save Net Neutrality and Open Internet for All!
By written by Peter SM December 8, 2017 1
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Frightadelphia's bloodcurdling blog during this most haunted of holiday seasons, Halloween! Did you hear that unsettling sound?… continue reading Something's Skull-king Around the Free Library this Halloween...
By written by Peter SM October 30, 2017 1
We've spent the past week here on the blog celebrating Banned Books and the f READ om to read whatever you want—banned, challenged, or not. If there's one thing possibly more… continue reading From Banned to the Big Screen: Banned Book Adaptations
By written by Peter SM September 29, 2017
Read by 4th is Philadelphia's Grade-Level Reading campaign, aiming to get all kids reading on grade-level by the time they reach 4th grade. Reading happens everywhere—in our schools,… continue reading Help Children Struggling with Reading by Becoming a Reading Captain Today!
By written by Peter SM September 12, 2017
2 + 2 = 4 The Earth is round. Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, not the monster. These are all indisputable facts. Unfortunately, we are currently living in some bizarro, post-truth world… continue reading Library Resources to Help Spot Fake News
By written by Peter SM August 25, 2017
Get ready for a rare celestial happening in the universe (well, at least our known universe ), as a Solar Eclipse will be taking place throughout North American on August 21. But what exactly is a… continue reading A Science Minute: The What, Where, When, Why, and How Guide to Experiencing the Solar Eclipse
By written by Peter SM August 14, 2017 2