OK, maybe not every award ever , but he's won quite a few awards of the literary variety, including the National Book Award (twice), the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National… continue reading John Updike Has Won Every Award Ever

By written by Communications Office    June 4, 2007   

Sherman Alexie--celebrated Native American author, poet , and screenwriter--is touring in support of his first novel in 10 years, Flight , "a hilarious and tragic portrait of an orphaned Indian… continue reading Native Son to Fly into Philly

By written by Communications Office    June 1, 2007   

Best-known as the producer of films about bands like Wilco and Death Cab for Cutie, Gary Hustwit has taken on the role of director with his latest project, a feature documentary about a font.… continue reading Indie Rock Doc Filmmaker Turns Lens on Typographical Superstar

By written by Communications Office    May 31, 2007   

Senator John Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, have written a book together-- This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future --and they will be here at… continue reading John and Teresa Heinz Kerry's Unapocalyptic Vision for the Future

By written by Communications Office    May 30, 2007   

Unable to find organizations that would accept donations of used books, frustrated bookstore owner Tom Wayne of Kansas City, Missouri decided to burn some of his overstock this past Sunday in… continue reading Bookstore Owner Promotes Literacy by . . . Burning Books?

By written by Communications Office    May 29, 2007   

If you want to spend some outdoor-oriented indoor time with an award-winning garden writer this weekend, stop by the Central Library's Montgomery Auditorium tomorrow, May 26 , at 2:00 p.m. Author… continue reading Get Your Green Thumb On

By written by Communications Office    May 25, 2007    2

Ever wonder what celebrated authors like Joyce Carol Oates, Rick Moody, Jennifer Egan, and Francine Prose read when they're lounging in the sun? Satisfy your curiosity here . continue reading Literati Beach Read Recommendations

By written by Communications Office    May 23, 2007   

Shrinking book review sections in print publications around the country have caught the attention of the National Book Critics Circle , and they are not pleased . They've mounted a " Campaign to… continue reading The National Book Critics Circle Is Riled

By written by Communications Office    May 22, 2007   

With The Kite Runner still charting on the New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list--its run currently extends more than one hundred weeks--Khaled Hosseini is back with his second novel, A… continue reading Khaled Hosseini to Visit Central

By written by Communications Office    May 21, 2007   

The Philadelphia Tribune published an article today on the Youth Empowerment Summit hosted here at the Central Library on Wednesday. The theme of this year's summit was "Stand Up for Philly."… continue reading Teens Ready to Stand Up for Philly

By written by Communications Office    May 18, 2007   

Starting this past weekend and running through September 30 of this year, the King Tut exhibition at the Franklin Institute Science Museum is sponsoring a "Geocaching Trail and Scavenger Hunt of… continue reading Don't Say We Never Invited You Geocaching

By written by Communications Office    May 17, 2007    1

Been meaning to read a Don DeLillo novel but don't know where to start? New York Magazine just published a handy, quick-reference critical guide to DeLillo's oeuvre. His latest novel, Falling Man,… continue reading Read Some DeLillo

By written by Communications Office    May 16, 2007   

OK, so maybe they're not evil , but if I were a human employee at Chicago State University's new high-tech library, I wouldn't turn my back on these eerily efficient robotic cranes . Comments:… continue reading Evil Robots Infiltrate University Library

By written by Communications Office    May 15, 2007   

The official Rant press release from Doubleday, Chuck Palahniuk's publisher, claims that Palahniuk's "writing has been known to induce fainting and his events have the feel of a rock concert… continue reading Chuck Palahniuk Wields Wit, Inflatable Moose Heads

By written by Communications Office    May 9, 2007   

Self-described atheists and secular humanists Natalie Angier and Christopher Hitchens will be appearing here at the Central Library this month, discussing their latest respective books, The Canon:… continue reading Ungodly Dispatches from the Secular Set

By written by Communications Office    May 7, 2007   

As demonstrated in this recent interview in the New York Times Magazine . And he'll be appearing at the Central Library's Montgomery Auditorium tonight at 7:00 p.m. Part of the Summer 2007 Free… continue reading Nathan Englander Is Funny

By written by Communications Office    May 3, 2007   

The Free Library’s website and all of its web-based resources will be temporarily unavailable beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday , May 3 , 2007 , during which time the Library will be… continue reading We Miss You When We're Offline

By written by Communications Office    May 2, 2007   

According to the general buzz of the blogosphere, the first annual Philadelphia Book Festival was a success, and it sounds like people are already looking forward to next year’s Festival.… continue reading The Blogosphere Weighs In on the Philadelphia Book Festival

By written by Communications Office    May 1, 2007   

Listen to the Poetcast , "the official podcast of the Academy of American Poets," and let out a wistful sigh. continue reading Farewell National Poetry Month 2007

By written by Communications Office    April 30, 2007   

We love the Friends of the Free Library . We love them not only because of all the wonderful work they do in supporting and advocating for the Free Library--we also love them for supplying us wth… continue reading Go to the Friends' Annual Big Book Sale

By written by Communications Office    April 26, 2007