Blog Articles
A favorite among fans of science fiction, author Michael Crichton passed away on November 4 at the age of 66 after battling cancer. The author of more than a dozen bestselling books that leaned… continue reading Bestselling Author Michael Crichton Passes Away
By written by Shannon G November 10, 2008 11
The great thing about the wide array of DVDs available at the Free Library is that there is truly something for everyone, from every genre, stretching back to the silent era (look for the… continue reading DVDs – New Arrivals!
By written by Anne L. November 7, 2008 39
On Sunday, Tony Hillerman , the writer who brought the southwest and the Navajo Indian nation to life for many readers, died at the age of 83. I began reading his books many… continue reading Tony Hillerman
By written by Anne L. October 28, 2008
Regular readers of the New York Times may have read this week's article "From the Streets to the Libraries" which described why so many public libraries are buying… continue reading Street Lit at the Free Library
By written by Anne L. October 25, 2008 19
As you may have noticed, we have a presidential election quickly approaching. With less than two weeks until you cast your ballot, it’s crunch time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the… continue reading It's crunch time for voters
By written by Shannon G October 22, 2008 4
The nominees for the National Book Awards were announced on Wednesday morning, and we were excited to see two of the authors from our fall series on the list! Marilynne Robinson’s Home was… continue reading National Book Award Nominees Announced
By written by Shannon G October 17, 2008
Congratulations to the Please Touch Museum , which is currently celebrating its move to a gloriously restored Memorial Hall in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. One of my favorite exhibits… continue reading Centennial Collection and Please Touch Museum
By written by Anne L. October 15, 2008 6
The New York Times has just announced the 2008 winner for the Nobel Prize for Literature: Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio . The Free Library currently owns a limited… continue reading Nobel Laureate named for Literature
By written by Anne L. October 9, 2008 6
The Free Library is pleased to announce a new addition to our Downloadable Media options: MP3 formatted audiobooks are now available for checkout! This collection includes many classics as… continue reading MP3 Audiobooks Now Available for Download
By written by Jen W. October 6, 2008 30
What better day than October 1, the first of a celebrated spooky month, to open an exhibition on the oft-macabre writer, Edgar Allan Poe? Parkway Central Library’s Rare Book Department is… continue reading Rare Book Department Celebrates Edgar Allan Poe
By written by Administrator October 2, 2008 3
This week, libraries across the country are "celebrating" Banned Books Week. Beginning in 1982, the American Library Association, along with booksellers, publisher and… continue reading Banned Books Week
By written by Anne L. October 1, 2008 27
Mayor Michael A. Nutter visited Parkway Central on Monday, September 29 to officially unveil the Library’s new green roof demonstration project. Encompassing 5,000 square feet on the south… continue reading Mayor cuts ribbon on Parkway Central's green roof
By written by Alix G. September 29, 2008 13
Two extraordinary writers have recently released new novels, years after their earlier books established their literary reputations. It's been fifteen years since Fae Myenne Ng's debut, Bone , and… continue reading What I'm Reading Now
By written by Anne L. September 26, 2008 30
The MacArthur Foundation recently named its 25 new 2008 MacArthur Fellows . Two writers made the cut, and the Free Library is proud to have a connection to both. Chimamanda Adichie’s Half of… continue reading Writer Alex Ross named MacArthur Fellow weeks before his Philadelphia appearance
By written by Shannon G September 25, 2008 3
Looking for a spooky read to get you and your kids in the mood for Halloween? Tune into XPN on Wednesday, October 1 from 7 to 8 p.m. and hear the Free Library of Philadelphia's own Joe Hilton… continue reading Spooky Stories with Joe Hilton
By written by Shannon G September 22, 2008 5
Library staff, as well as the literary world, have been saddened this week over the tragic passing of author David Foster Wallace. To keep his memory alive for booklovers, we encourage you to… continue reading David Foster Wallace podcast
By written by Shannon G September 19, 2008 2
The literary world recently lost a significant force whose experimentation with form prompted critics to call him "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last 20… continue reading Writer David Foster Wallace, 46, dies
By written by Shannon G September 15, 2008 4
Amazon.com has changed how people buy books (of course, we know that you borrow MOST of the books you read from the Free Library of Philadelphia!). But even if you don't buy books from… continue reading Best Books of the Year...So Far?
By written by Anne L. September 12, 2008 28
J.K. Rowling , the author behind the wildly successful Harry Potter series, recently won a lawsuit that had been brought against RDR Books , a publisher based in Michigan. The win halted the… continue reading Rowling wins suit against Harry Potter Lexicon publisher
By written by Shannon G September 11, 2008 3
The Fall season brings so many good things ... cooler weather, freshly picked apples ... and the anticipation of a big book publishing season. The Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer (9/7/08)… continue reading Upcoming Fall books
By written by Anne L. September 10, 2008 29