In celebration of Black History Month, the Free Library's Social Science and History Department is displaying books from the collection that tell a visual history of Reconstruction — the period from 1865 to 1877 that saw some of the most radical changes in American history. The images on display, from books published as early as 1866,… continue reading Collection Spotlight: A Visual History of Reconstruction

By written by Ben R.    February 12, 2024   

• Exhibitions
• History
• Black History Month
• Black Authors

It’s the 50 Anniversary of the blaxploitation film Foxy Brown starring Pam Grier . The film is credited for revolutionizing the way women were portrayed in cinema. To celebrate this milestone, the legendary actress did a special interview for the Free Library and shared a list of some of her favorite books .     "It is… continue reading Pam's Picks: Favorite Books of Legendary Actress Pam Grier

By written by Administrator    February 9, 2024    6  

• Reading
• Recommendations
• History
• Black History Month
• Nonfiction

Lunar New Year is celebrated in some parts of Asia, and is important to many Asian immigrants and communities around the world. Lunar New Year is called Chūnjié (Spring Festival) in China and Taiwan, Seollal in Korea, and Tết in Vietnam. This year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated on Saturday, February 10 , and 2024 is the Year of the… continue reading Celebrate Lunar New Year with the Free Library

By written by Megan J.    February 6, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Family Programs
• Holidays
• Childrens Books
• Immigrant Heritage

Join the Education, Philosophy, and Religion Department on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m. for Inaugurating the Year of James Baldwin: God’s Revolutionary Voice . The event will take place in the Skyline Room on the Fourth Floor of Parkway Central Library .  The inaugural event will include speakers, documentary footage… continue reading The Year of James Baldwin: Kick-Off Event and Programming

By written by Grace D.    February 5, 2024    4  

• Events at the Library
• Black History Month
• Nonfiction
• Literature
• Black Authors

You might not expect to find blenders, cutting boards, or rolling pins in a library. You probably wouldn't expect to find a full commercial kitchen in one either. But on the fourth floor of Parkway Central Library , you can find all that and more in the Culinary Literacy Center  — because the Free Library is home to the… continue reading Join the Culinary Literacy Center for an Open House on February 12

By written by Meredith M.    February 2, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Parkway Central
• Culinary Literacy

This month, the Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) is celebrating and uplifting Black entrepreneurs and their groundbreaking achievements. Join us for one or both of our Black History Month programs in person on the Ground Floor of Parkway Central Library in the BRIC.       Boss: The Black Experience in Business Film… continue reading Black History Month at the Business Resource and Innovation Center

By written by Birch M.    February 1, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Parkway Central
• Black History Month
• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Business

Helen Adele Johnson Whiting (1885 – 1959) was a trailblazer in the education of African-American students, particularly those in rural areas of the South. Her education from Columbia University, Howard University, and several other institutions helped build a foundation as a teacher, supervisor, and mentor to those entering the field.… continue reading Advancing African-American Education: The Helen Adele Whiting Collection

By written by K. Michelle W.    February 1, 2024   

• Children's Literature Research Collection
• History
• Black History Month
• Teachers
• Black Women Authors

Check out these new titles coming to the Free Library's catalog in February! Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storytelller by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by April Harrison Go Forth and Tell is a luminous picture book biography about librarian and storyteller Augusta… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in February!

By written by Rachel F.    January 31, 2024   

• Recommendations
• Monthly New Titles
• New Titles

Recognized with 132 Pulitzer Prizes and appreciated by over nine million subscribers globally, we are happy to announce that the Free Library's daily New York Time s subscription has been added to our PressReader database  — with a backfile of its issues to 2010! This access is in addition to our New York Times at the… continue reading Our PressReader Database Now Includes The New York Times

By written by Sharyl O.    January 29, 2024   

• Databases
• Digital Media
• Newspapers
• Library Resources

Bright and early on January 22, while many of us were still sleeping, breakfasting, or commuting, librarians and other youth literature enthusiasts gathered excitedly in person at the Baltimore Convention Center, or virtually on the webcast, for the announcement of the American Library Association ’s Youth Media Awards .… continue reading The 2024 Youth Media Award-Winners

By written by Jennifer E.    January 26, 2024   

• ALA
• Awards
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• YA Literature

You may have heard of our citywide  Summer of Wonder program full of activities, programs, and prizes for all ages, but did you know that the Free Library offers an  Online Reading Challenge  that runs all year long? And if you’ve participated in the Summer of Wonder online, you already have an account! The Free… continue reading Enjoy Online Reading Challenges Year-Round!

By written by Emily S.    January 26, 2024   

• Reading
• Summer Reading
• Literacy
• Youth Services

By Tuesday C., Kate G., and Sara P. Hola, bonjour, dzien dobry, ni hao! Welcome to the Kensington / Fairhill / Riverwards Community Cookbook : a treasure showcasing the cultural diversity of our neighborhoods. Food is a great tool for connecting people, and the Free Library of Philadelphia has historically promoted literacy through… continue reading The Kensington / Fairhill / Riverwards Cookbook: A North Philly Community's Labor of Love

By written by Administrator    January 24, 2024    5  

• Languages
• Culinary Literacy
• Cooking
• Community

As we dash into 2024, the Free Library is looking forward to another season of its venerable Author Events  series. Brave the cold and warm up with a red-hot slate of talks by some of today’s leading novelists, memoirists, poets, scientists, journalists, politicians, historians, futurists, and thought leaders of many stripes. We… continue reading Upcoming Author Events for Winter/Spring 2024

By written by Jason F.    January 24, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Author Events

Is your 2024 New Year’s resolution finding a new or better job, or improving skills needed in your current job? Then you can count on the Free Library to help you keep this resolution! We are pleased to announce a stream of new in-person and remote programming over the next few months for job seekers and workers looking to… continue reading Upcoming Programs to Jumpstart Your Job Search and Boost Workplace Skills

By written by Annette M.    January 16, 2024   

• Events at the Library
• Careers
• Workplace
• Job Seekers
• Virtual Programs

The Free Library is pleased to announce the addition of three full-time social workers to its Social Services roster. The newly formed Social Services team will provide open office hours in neighborhood libraries, lead public programs, support frontline staff through professional development, and connect patrons to… continue reading Social Services Offered by the Free Library

By written by Administrator    January 8, 2024   

• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Community
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Library Resources
• Social Services

“Dance with me, baby, baby dance with me!” If you’ve ever found yourself enraptured and swaying to the rhythm with your little one, you’re onto something way more profound than just a sweet moment. Dancing with your baby is not only about fun and laughter; it’s a powerful tool that nurtures both their physical… continue reading Dance, Baby, Dance! The World of Movement for Babies and Toddlers

By written by Kimberly G.    January 8, 2024   

• Early Literacy
• Dance
• Read Baby Read

For the last year, the shared offices of the Children's Literature Research Collection and the Map Collection have had a consistent litmus test for visitors. When a new visitor enters (either a researcher or a staff member), almost everyone has said one of two things: 1. What are those? 2. You have The Letter People! I share a kinship… continue reading Spotlight: The Letter People

By written by Chris B.    January 8, 2024   

• Exhibitions
• Reading
• Children's Literature Research Collection
• Early Literacy
• Special Collections

Join the Art Department on Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m. , for a free screening of the documentary film Broken Dreams . The feature documentary  Broken Dreams highlights artist James E. Dupree, his massive art studio in West Philadelphia, and the Mantua community. Dupree's studio had been threatened by eminent domain proceedings… continue reading James E. Dupree: Stolen Dreams Exhibit and Film Screening

By written by Natasha S.    January 4, 2024    2  

• Art
• Film Screenings
• Parkway Central
• Black History Month
• History of Philadelphia

The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music team is thrilled about Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra’s latest album,  Louis Wayne Ballard : a stunning compilation of recorded performances of Louis W. Ballard’s music. Ballard, who was of Quapaw and Cherokee descent, was a classically trained musician who never relinquished… continue reading Rediscovering Louis Ballard at the Fleisher

By written by Danielle T.    January 3, 2024   

• Fleisher Collection
• Music
• Native American
• Indigenous Peoples
• Interview

Free college and test prep programs continue at Parkway Central Library through the spring semester! Field Teen Center in partnership with The Alexander Advantage is offering five Saturday workshops for youth ages 12 to 18. College-bound students, you won’t want to miss these! Spring workshops will take a deep dive into the… continue reading Free SAT Workshops and Other College Prep Resources

By written by Yona Y.    January 2, 2024    4  

• College Prep
• Teens
• Library Resources
• Students