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

The new year is traditionally a time to start fresh, make resolutions, and name your hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Some share this tradition with friends and family and even introduce it to the young people in their lives. Kids and teens are in their prime habit-forming years, and learning how to add new behavior to their routine or work… continue reading New Year, New Habits

By written by Emily S.    January 2, 2024   

• Holidays

It may be chilly outside, but the Free Library has some titles to warm you up this month! Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there’s only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman — he wants… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in January!

By written by Rachel F.    December 29, 2023   

• Recommendations
• Monthly New Titles
• New Titles

December is Learn a Foreign Language Month and we’re celebrating at the Free Library. Many languages are in danger of dying out and estimates show about 3,000 languages becoming lost before the end of the century. To help prevent this and encourage endangered language learning, the United Nations launched the International Decade of… continue reading Endangered Language Spotlight: The Okinawan Languages

By written by Kim M.    December 28, 2023   

• Languages
• Adult Learning
• Languages and Learning

It's the 12th annual list of my favorite books — the 2023 edition! This year was a good reading year; I read over 300 books for the first time since 2019 (although my TV watching decreased dramatically). There's something to be said for a comfy couch, a cup of tea, and a good book. It's a cliche for a reason! If… continue reading Dena's Favorite Books of 2023

By written by Dena    December 27, 2023    1  

• Romance
• Recommendations
• Catalog
• Sci Fi
• Fiction

The Parkway Central Children’s Department has a fun tradition of giving our favorite books very specific awards crafted just for them, and here they are! These are our best reads of 2023. What did you enjoy reading this year?   Naomi S. - Children’s Librarian   Naomi's Awards   Most 2023 This award goes jointly to… continue reading The Central Children's Department Best Books for 2023

By written by Administrator    December 27, 2023    1  

• Parkway Central
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations

December includes International Volunteer Day — which takes place on December 5th — but here at the Free Library, we celebrate our volunteers all year round! Many of the programs offered by Languages and Learning are facilitated by our incredibly dedicated volunteers. Margie Scharf runs one of our weekly English Conversation… continue reading My Experience Volunteering with the Free Library

By written by Marjorie S.    December 20, 2023   

• Languages
• Volunteers
• Adult Learning
• English Language Learners
• Languages and Learning

Can you believe the holidays are here already? We can't! Although it can be the most wonderful time of the year in many ways, this time of year can also bring stress as you ponder your ever-growing to-do list. Eeep! If you've got a few final gifts to grab and are fresh out of ideas, let the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation… continue reading Last-Minute Gift Ideas from the Free Library Foundation

By written by Kate C.    December 20, 2023   

• Holidays
• Support
• Nonprofit

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 environment and open access to all, delivering world-class exhibitions, eclectic displays, engaging programs, and free daily tours at 11 a.m. — no… continue reading The Rare Book Department's 75th Anniversary Event Series

By written by Joe S.    December 20, 2023   

• Events at the Library
• Free Library Staff
• Parkway Central
• Rare Book Department
• Interview

On the second-floor gallery of Parkway Central Library as part of the exhibition The Art and Influence of John Dowell , there is a tribute to the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles. It was there that Philadelphia artist John Dowell completed his Master Printer training. A giant archival photograph shows a young John Dowell talking to… continue reading The Revolutionary June Wayne and Tamarind Lithography Workshop

By written by Karen K.    December 19, 2023   

• Exhibitions
• Art
• Printmaking
• Print and Picture Collection

December is National Learn a Foreign Language Month, but Languages and Learning at the Free Library celebrates language learning all year! Here in Philadelphia, over 180 different languages are spoken around the city. Why learn another language? Studies show that there are many benefits to learning a new language, no matter how old you are.… continue reading December is Learn a Foreign Language Month

By written by Meredith M.    December 19, 2023   

• Languages
• Adult Learning
• Languages and Learning

In our Manga 101 series , we’ve covered a lot of manga-related topics. We looked at some commonly asked questions , explored demographic categories , reviewed several popular manga genres, and discussed related types of media . In our final Manga 101 post, we'll look at other manga-related materials the Free Library has to… continue reading Manga 101: Manga and Beyond at the Free Library

By written by Meg B.    December 18, 2023    1  

• Reading
• Teens
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Catalog
• Anime and Manga

We were pleased to offer our community so many new Electronic Resources/Databases this year! Here are all of the new resources introduced since January 1, 2023:   Films to Stream : Kanopy → Over 4,000 movies for adults and kids with no monthly viewing limits Access Video on Demand: Master Collection → Over… continue reading Celebrating Our New Electronic Resources of 2023

By written by Sharyl O.    December 18, 2023   

• Databases
• Digital Media
• Library Resources

As the holiday season bears down upon us with what feels like (almost) no warning, we will soon ring in 2024 as if this past calendar year were just a blink of an eye. While it may feel like it snuck past us, 2023 was an incredibly eventful year at the Free Library of Philadelphia and one certainly worth looking back upon. The Free… continue reading The Top Titles Checked Out from the Free Library in 2023

By written by Bridget G.    December 13, 2023    1  

• Recommendations
• Catalog
• New Titles
• Free Library Announcements

The holidays are a great time to support local businesses! No matter who you're shopping for this holiday season, Philly's commercial corridors are the perfect place to check off your list. What is a commercial corridor? Whether you live in South Philly or the Far Northeast, you are most likely near at least one commercial corridor.… continue reading Shop Small in Philly for the Holidays

By written by Birch M.    December 12, 2023   

• Holidays
• Recommendations
• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Business
• Community

Did you know December is National Write a Business Plan Month? The Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) is a great place to start your business planning journey. What is the BRIC? The BRIC is a department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. We serve small business owners, entrepreneurs, non-profit professionals,… continue reading December is Write A Business Plan Month!

By written by Birch M.    December 5, 2023   

• Patent and Trademark
• Business Resource and Innovation Center
• Library Resources
• Job Seekers

The  Free Library Board of Trustees  will be holding its second meeting of FY24 on Friday, December 8, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. View the upcoming meeting agenda.   To access the meeting: Join via Zoom with the following link: https://tinyurl.com/53pszujc Passcode: 722842 Or Join via telephone: (US)  +1… continue reading Free Library Board of Trustees Public Meeting on Friday, December 8 at 8 a.m.

By written by Administrator    December 1, 2023   

• Board of Trustees

At the Free Library, we believe that the holidays should be a time filled with warmth, wonder, and shared experiences for everyone, regardless of age or interests. With this in mind, we've scoured our catalog and digital collections to assemble a festive array of recently released holiday-themed books, movies, crafts, and more, guaranteed… continue reading Handpicked Holiday Entertainment for All Ages From Our Catalog

By written by Bridget G.    November 29, 2023   

• Holidays
• Recommendations