Looking for some great books for your children? Our children’s librarians are excited to share their expert reviews with you.  First in our series of monthly children's book reviews, Jamie Bowers from the Paschalville Branch in Southwest Philly brings us the story of a girl and a squirrel by Philadelphia's own Kate DiCamillo,… continue reading Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo: The Story of a Girl and a Squirrel

By written by Sarah S.    January 8, 2014    2  

• Childrens Books

Today, in the lobby of the Parkway Central Library , the Free Library of Philadelphia, in partnership with The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre and numerous other cultural organizations from around the region, kicked off the Year of the Bard: Shakespeare at 450 --a year packed full of engaging, enlightening, and entertaining programs and events… continue reading Celebrate William Shakespeare During the Year of the Bard

By written by Michelle S.    January 8, 2014   

• Year of the Bard

Need health insurance? Not sure how to sign up? The Free Library is a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) Designated Organization, meaning we are here to help! With more than 30 trained staff, Library CACs are available to work one-on-one with customers to offer assistance signing up for a health insurance plan online, via phone, or with a… continue reading Health Insurance Help at the Free Library

By written by Autumn M.    January 6, 2014    5  

Happy New Year! We're back after the holidays and ready to kick off a brand new year of great Early Literacy programs and events that emphasis Reading, Writing, Talking, Singing, and Playing. The January Early Literacy Calendar from the Free Library of Philadelphia's children's librarians is full of fun suggestions for early… continue reading January 2014 Early Literacy Calendar

By written by Jennifer W.    January 2, 2014   

• Pre K
• Early Literacy

Hi, my name is Dena and I’m a fiction librarian in Philbrick Hall at the Parkway Central Library. You might have seen me there excitedly recommending the best vampire book ever written ( Sunshine by Robin McKinley - trust me) or convincing a teen and her dad that they really want to have a good cathartic cry while handing them copies… continue reading What Dena Reads: 2013 Favorites

By written by Dena    December 31, 2013    5  

• Recommendations

2013 was another great year for readers and fans of comic books, specifically graphic novels. While not necessarily a "Top 10" (especially since I selected thirteen!) and definitely not in any order of importance, the following are just thirteen really cool, fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking graphic novels I read and enjoyed in… continue reading 13 Great Graphic Novels from 2013

By written by Peter SM    December 31, 2013   

• Recommendations
• Comics and Graphic Novels

Continuing our series of blog posts on the topic of Digital Literacy , today we'll discuss the difference between Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives and the possible issues both groups face when dealing with technology. One of the ways people talk about Digital Literacy is in terms of its origin and popular words connected with the… continue reading Discussions on Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives

By written by Debra E. J.    December 23, 2013    2  

• Digital Literacy

If you are looking to get ahead at work or at school, interested in learning something new or brushing up on your existing skills, the Free Library is pleased to offer you access to Universal Class .  Universal Class is an online learning platform that allows you to take courses at your own pace while you interact with a live… continue reading Take Online Classes Through the Free Library with Universal Class

By written by Jamie W.    December 23, 2013    111  

• Databases
• Literacy
• Digital Literacy
• Online Learning

With Zinio the Free Library is pleased to offer you free access to current issues of popular magazines to read on your tablet, smartphone, or computer. Your SEPTA ride to work just got so much better! Here's what you'll need to get started: Two accounts created using the same email address First, make your Free Library-sponsored… continue reading Download Digital Magazines with Zinio and the Free Library!

By written by Jamie W.    December 20, 2013    24  

• Databases
• Reading

The holidays are nearly here and one thing we've come to expect at this time of year is a flood of requests from people looking for help reading library ebooks on their computers, phones, tablets, and devices.  Those of you who've been reading library ebooks for a few years now already know the process works much more smoothly than… continue reading Overdrive READ: the easiest way to read an ebook

By written by Jamie W.    December 20, 2013    9  

• Ebooks

Baking cookies is a great activity to share with your little one.  It involves so many aspects of learning disguised as complete fun!  Literacy, mathematics, and fine motor skills are all exercised and enhanced as your child follows instructions, measures ingredients, and works with dough.  Creativity and imagination play a big… continue reading Let's Bake Some Cookies!

By written by Megan W.    December 19, 2013   

• Childrens Books
• Pre K

View and listen to the Top 10 Author Event Podcasts Downloaded in November 2013 . There were more than 28,500 podcast downloads from our website for the month of November. Don't forget to view our schedule for upcoming Winter and Spring 2014 author events! Donna Tartt | The Goldfinch Recorded 10/30/2013 Listen to MP3 audio Donna Tarrt burst… continue reading Top 10 Author Event Podcasts Downloaded in November 2013

By written by Peter SM    December 19, 2013   

• Tech
• Podcasts
• Author Events

Getting comfortably literary on a chilly day must be one of life’s great pleasures. Here is one librarian’s handpicked recommendations for snow day reads with an emphasis on heavy page counts and books that bring forth that melancholy feeling which seems to accompany the year’s shortest days. Put the kettle… continue reading Snow Day Reading Favorites for Winter

By written by Jamie W.    December 18, 2013   

• Holidays
• Music
• Reading
• Recommendations
• Spotify

We are delighted that OverDrive ebook circulation continues to grow -- a 33% increase in use over this same time a year ago-- and we anticipate continued growth. This great increase comes at a time when the Free Library's materials budget is flat and some popular ebook titles have long waits.  To ensure everyone has more access we… continue reading EBook Loan Changes

By written by Anne L.    December 17, 2013    39  

With the holidays in full swing and snow on the ground throughout the city, it seemed like the perfect time to compile a new playlist on our Spotify channel. Also, in the perfect timing department: Spotify announced last week that they were expanding their free streaming option to all mobile devices, so now you can listen to all of our… continue reading Seasonal Sounds - A Holiday Playlist from Free Library's Spotify Channel

By written by Peter SM    December 17, 2013   

• Tech
• Holidays
• Music
• Social Media
• Spotify

Kindles, tablets, laptops, and smartphones will top many holiday gift lists this season. Sadly though, lessons are not included with these devices. If you or someone you know needs a little help setting up or getting acquainted with a new gadget (or an older gadget that you’ve never quite figured out), stop by the Parkway Central Library… continue reading Ho, Ho, Ho My Goodness! How Do you Work This Thing? FLP Gadget Help Desk to Offer Extended Holiday Hours

By written by Jamie W.    December 16, 2013    1  

• Ebooks
• Tech
• Holidays
• Digital Literacy

If it's December, it must be time for another film full of hobbits, elves, dwarves, wizards, orcs, trolls, dragons, and other fantastic creatures to debut at movie theaters! For five out of the past twelve years now, since 2001's initial Lord of the Rings adaptation by director and special fx guru Peter Jackson , beloved author J.R.R.… continue reading Friday Five: The Hobbit

By written by Peter SM    December 13, 2013    1  

• Film
• Friday Five

"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." - Nelson Mandela , speaking at the Rivonia Trial in South Africa, 1964.… continue reading A Celebration of Nelson Mandela's Life Through Word and Song

By written by Peter SM    December 12, 2013   

• Music
• Recommendations
• Film
• History
• Spotify

Here are the Top 10 ebooks downloaded from the Free Library's OverDrive Digital Library in November 2013. There were more than 45,000 ebooks checked out and downloaded for the month! Donna Tartt's highly acclaimed novel The Goldfinch took the #1 spot for November 2013. Overall, romance ruled this past month, taking 5 out of the top 10… continue reading Top 10 ebooks OverDrive Digital Library November 2013

By written by Peter SM    December 10, 2013    2  

• Ebooks
• Tech

John Derstine Souder (1865-1942) was raised on a Mennonite farm near Telford in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  He was a storekeeper, postmaster, and poultry dealer before retiring.  Souder spent the final five years of his life copying original Fraktur loaned to him by his neighbors and friends, and/or found in museums, as well as… continue reading John Derstine Souder’s Fraktur in the Henry Stauffer Borneman Pennsylvania German Collection

By written by Del-Louise M.    December 9, 2013   

• Art
• Rare Book Department
• Pennsylvania German Collection
• History
• Manuscripts