"My name is Shanae. I am a Class of 2015 graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls, and I will be attending Penn State University in the fall. I attribute my foundation for learning to my mother, who was never too hesitant to buy me scholastic reading and math books, as well as other learning materials. She also made sure that I… continue reading My High School Experience - From Summer Reading to LEAP to College!

By written by Aisha A.    June 30, 2015    4  

• College Prep
• Summer Reading

In a perfect world, books dealing with stress and trauma for children would go unneeded.  We are, however, reminded daily that is not the case.  Whether it is anxiety at home or exposure to violence in our community and abroad, trauma affects young people from all walks of life.  Picture books dealing with these difficult… continue reading Dealing With Violence, Trauma and Stress: Books for Children

By written by Sarah S.    June 30, 2015   

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations

An interview with Steve Landstreet From the latest Music Library Association Newsletter Besides having co-workers in the Music Department and the Fleisher Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia that I've really enjoyed working with, I was lucky to be in a library that has large and deep special collections. (Steve retired from FLP… continue reading Free Library in the News: June 22-26, 2015

By written by Samantha M.    June 26, 2015   

The Free Library is happy to announce that we've launched our new Online Catalog ! As we mentioned on the blog and throughout social media last week, our goal was to help make our catalog more user-friendly, encourage exploration, and offer better customer service throughout your online experience. With new features that include a… continue reading Introducing The Free Library's New Online Catalog!

By written by Peter SM    June 24, 2015    3  

• Website
• Tech
• How To
• Catalog

The Free Library has been hard at work upgrading our online catalog to make it more user-friendly, encourage exploration, and offer better customer service. With many suggestions and feedback from both staff and the public, we will be launching our new and improved online catalog on Tuesday, June 23rd! NEW CATALOG FEATURES Online Registration… continue reading New Updates and Features Coming Soon to our Online Catalog!

By written by Peter SM    June 19, 2015    10  

• Website
• Tech
• How To
• Catalog

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ author’s new book mentioned NJ bar Washingtontimes.com Quick will make an appearance at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Central Branch Wednesday launch “Love May Fail,” set largely in South Jersey, with key scenes at Oaklyn Manor. (appeared 6/17)   Adult GED graduation at… continue reading Free Library in the News: June 15-19, 2015

By written by Samantha M.    June 19, 2015   

• Libraries in the News

By Mary W. Juneteenth is a celebration of emancipation from slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. This year marks the 150 th anniversary. Some non-fiction children’s books that explain this holiday include Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Drew Nelson. This book, which reads like a selection of poems, introduces slavery and the… continue reading Celebrating Juneteenth!

By written by Michelle S.    June 19, 2015    2  

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations

Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony grace dollar coins, but the faces on U.S. currency have largely belonged to white men. This is starting, slowly, to change. On June 18, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew announced that Alexander Hamilton’s place on the ten-dollar bill will be vacated for a woman – a woman whose identity will be… continue reading A Woman on the New $10

By written by Timothy F.    June 18, 2015    1  

• Government Information
• E Gov
• Government Publications

There may still be a couple more days left of school this week for students throughout Philadelphia, but at the Free Library we've already jumped into The Summer of Wonder and our 2015 Summer Reading program! Monday, June 8 was the kickoff for this year's festivities, as the lobby of Parkway Central filled with local elementary school… continue reading The Summer of Wonder Has Begun - Summer Reading 2015!

By written by Peter SM    June 17, 2015   

• Summer Reading

Why Public Libraries Matter Thenation.com Beyond mere fairness, there are viable economic reasons for sustaining New York City's public libraries. In 2010, the City of Philadelphia spent $33 million on its public libraries; private donations contributed $12 million more. Subsequent to the funding, the value of an average home located within… continue reading Free Library in the News: June 8-12, 2015

By written by Samantha M.    June 15, 2015   

• Libraries in the News

Post written by Mary W. Most of us have read, or at least heard of, Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman and Laura Cornell, which was recently reissued this year. In addition to this book, there many others that deal with the concept of same-sex parents (please see below for a short list). In the media most recently we’ve… continue reading Helpful Books about Gender Identity for Children

By written by Michelle S.    June 12, 2015   

• Reviews
• Reading
• Childrens Books

Last month, South Philadelphia’s Federal Winds quintet gave a special pop-up performance in the Grand Lobby of Parkway Central.  The group, consisting of some of Philadelphia's most sought-after teaching artists, provide music education through school programs, studios, and after-school sessions. Their first hand experience… continue reading Federal Winds at the Free Library

By written by Perry G.    June 12, 2015   

• Music

With the recent theft of some taxpayers’ personal information, and an even more recent data breach of federal employees’ information, it’s no wonder the U.S. Government is taking an interest in identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission has set up a new website, identitytheft.gov , a comprehensive resource for anyone coping… continue reading Recovering from Identity Theft

By written by Timothy F.    June 11, 2015   

• Government Information
• E Gov
• Government Publications

Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 and grew up poor in Scotland. When he was 12 years old his father moved the family to Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where young Andy got a job as a bobbin boy in a textile mill. He wanted to educate himself but he couldn't pay the $2 subscription for a local library, and he certainly… continue reading The Carnegie Libraries of the Free Library: Past, Present and Future

By written by Kim B.    June 11, 2015    3  

• Digital Collections
• 21st Century Libraries
• Print and Picture Collection

Need another place to find book reviews for great new children’s books? Well, good news! The Free Library of Philadelphia has an exciting new feature in The Notebook , the newspaper for Philadelphia’s Public Schools. The Notebook is a fabulous resourcee for parents, educatros, students and friends of Philadelphia’s public… continue reading Children's Book Reviews now in The Notebook!

By written by Sarah S.    June 9, 2015   

• Reviews
• Reading
• Childrens Books
• Early Literacy
• Storytime

My name is Ericka and I worked as a work study student in the College Prep Program on behalf of seniors in high school, helping them to complete goals to successful enter college! I believe my experience as an undergrad prepared me in so many ways and I would love to share this advise to students who will be attending… continue reading My Advice to High School Seniors! An Undergraduate Perspective!

By written by Aisha A.    June 8, 2015   

• College Prep

Here are the Top 10 ebooks downloaded from the Free Library's OverDrive Digital Library in May 2015. More than 62,200 ebooks were checked out and downloaded for the month! Taking the number one spot this month is  Paula Hawkins' suspenseful debut The Girl on the Train . It along with other Mystery and Suspense Thriller genre titles… continue reading Top 10 ebooks Downloaded from OverDrive Digital Library in May 2015

By written by Peter SM    June 5, 2015    2  

• Ebooks
• Tech

When Tchaikovsky came to Philadelphia: Tchaikovsky’s charm Broadstreetreview.com Written using help from the staff of the Social Science and History/Newspaper Department and extensive resources from FLP’s Newspaper Department’s fee-based service   Movement at last for hulking Market East garage Philly.com Across the… continue reading Free Library in the News: June 1-5, 2015

By written by Samantha M.    June 5, 2015   

The unofficial start of summer is under way and the next few months feature the promise of warm weather, outdoor activities, and time spent with family and friends. Good thing you can download another month's worth of Early Literacy activities and links from the Free Library of Philadelphia's children's librarians to take with you… continue reading June 2015 Early Literacy Calendar

By written by Sarah S.    June 1, 2015   

• Pre K
• Early Literacy

Last week the Internal Revenue Service announced a data breach affecting around 100,000 taxpayers who used the IRS’s online “Get Transcript” application. Those affected (as well as those unsuccessfully targeted) will receive a letter in the coming week outlining the details of this breach; credit monitoring will be… continue reading IRS Data Theft

By written by Timothy F.    June 1, 2015    1  

• E Gov
• Government Publications
• Tax Information