While this Sunday, February 9, marks the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, it was recently revealed by a Gallup Poll that in 2019— more people went to the library than the movies ! Is it any coincidence that the majority of this year's Oscar-nominated films are adaptations from books? Well, yes and no. Ever since the invention of film,… continue reading Oscars 2020: from Book Adaptation to Academy Award Nomination!

By written by Peter SM    February 7, 2020   

• Awards
• Film
• Pop Culture
• Adaptations

This blog post is in honor of  Charles Dickens' birthday. The prolific Victorian author of "epic stories" like  Oliver Twist and David Copperfield , was born on Portsea Island off England's south-central coast on February 7, 1812. Dickens loved to celebrate his birthday by sharing a sumptuous dinner with his… continue reading Spotlight on Special Collections: When Dickens Met Poe

By written by Mharlyn M.    February 7, 2020   

• Rare Book Department
• Charles Dickens
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Special Collections
• Literature
• History of Philadelphia

Back in 2018, Denene Milner, children’s book writer and publisher, wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times lamenting the scarcity of children’s books that "celebrate the humanity and everyday experiences of black children and families."  She has a point. The demand has always been there. And so has the reality… continue reading Celebrating Everyday Experiences of Black Children and Families

By written by Monica C.    February 6, 2020    6  

• African American
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Black History Month

Attention teens in Northeast Philly!  It's time to rediscover the Northeast Regional Library ! The Everything Teen Center is a brand new section of the library just for teens, ages 12 to 19. Located on the second floor, the ETC is a cozy spot to chat with friends, read, study, check out titles from our Young Adult collection, or attend… continue reading Introducing the Everything Teen Center at Northeast Regional Library!

By written by Peter L.    February 5, 2020    2  

• Free Library Staff
• Teens
• Neighborhood Libraries

On February 11 , the Culinary Literacy Center and One Book will bring together panelists who reflect a range of involvement in Philadelphia’s commitment to economic justice, food education and land sovereignty, and cultural foodways and traditions. We’ll hear from Jena Annise (J.A.) Harris, a Black, Queer, Femme, Chef and Organizer… continue reading One Book Food and Community Conversation

By written by Hannah B.    February 5, 2020   

• Community Events
• One Book, One Philadelphia

Please Note: The Treasury Department has moved the IRS deadline for filing taxes from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will now have additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties. Tax Form Changes and Where You Can Get Them January 27, 2020, marked the start of the new tax season. Besides the annual… continue reading Tax Season 2020: What's New, What's Changed, and Everything Else You Need to Know!

By written by Marija G.    February 4, 2020   

• Government Information
• E Gov
• Government Publications
• Tax Information
• Library Resources

The Free Library is proud to honor Black History Month ! We’ll be celebrating, learning, and reflecting together, with a multitude of programs for the whole family at neighborhood libraries across the city. Explore local history on the Free Library’s blog , where you can find a firsthand account of Dr. King’s visit to… continue reading Explore Black History with Your Family at the Free Library!

By written by Emily S.    February 4, 2020   

• Events at the Library
• Childrens Programs
• Teens
• African American
• Black History Month

If you have yet to experience an afternoon with Sundays on Stage , you’re really missing out! One of the Free Library’s longest-running programs, this free-to-the-public event series features talented performers from all walks of life. While many modern entertainments are passive activities, live performance offers a fun, enriching,… continue reading Come Out for Sundays on Stage this Winter Season!

By written by Emily S.    February 3, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Music
• Sundays on Stage
• Teens
• African American
• Black History Month
• Dance

These new titles coming to a library near you in February are, for the most part, inspirational, speak out against injustice, and strive for a better world. And then there’s the film Doctor Sleep , which is none of those. Take your pick and enjoy!   Young Children (Up to 2nd Grade) A Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson, illustrated by… continue reading New Titles Coming to the Free Library in February!

By written by Paul A.    January 31, 2020   

• Recommendations
• New Titles

With the shortest month of the year upon us, how about a book list full of short yet spectacular fiction reads to match? You’ll be sure to whiz through these stories in no time, and the limited page counts (with each title clocking in under a streamlined 220!) in no way limits the literary power contained in these slender volumes.  … continue reading Short Books for the Shortest Month!

By written by Alix G.    January 31, 2020    1  

• Free Library Staff
• Reading
• Recommendations

For this month's Digital Media Spotlight , we turn our attention towards ebooks and the news that in 2019, the Free Library reached the 1 million+ ebook checkout mark ! And it would seem public libraries, in general, were having a record high ebook checkout moment in 2019 as well. Here are some more interesting stats from OverDrive : Total… continue reading Digital Media Spotlight | New Year, New ebooks!

By written by Peter SM    January 30, 2020    2  

• Ebooks
• Recommendations
• Digital Media

We are happy to announce the new Autism 365 Collection at the Wynnefield Library! Autism 365 was an idea that Ethel Funches, LA1 and Mary Kachline, LA3, came up with to make Autism Awareness 365 days a year and not just during National Autism Acceptance Month in April. We have worked hard to gather materials and plan programming for… continue reading New Autism 365 Collection at Wynnefield Library!

By written by Mary K.    January 29, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Free Library Staff
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Special Collections
• Autism

New year, new you! Let one of our new Home Gym Kits help support your health and fitness goals. You can use your library card to borrow the kit for up to two weeks.  Inside the kit you will find: A non-slip yoga mat A resistance band for strength training A jump rope for a warm-up or cardio workouts A Workout Log to… continue reading Stay Fit—Borrow a Home Gym Kit!

By written by Aurora S.    January 29, 2020    8  

• Culinary Literacy
• Health
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Healthy Communities

Dress for Success? Just Be Yourself? How should you dress for a job interview to look professional and still look like you? Men have it fairly easy when deciding what to wear. A suit, dress shirt, tie, and polished shoes should work for interviews in a professional environment. Women have a few more choices, including skirt suits, pantsuits,… continue reading How to Dress for Job Interview Success

By written by Karen H.    January 28, 2020    1  

• Workplace
• Job Seekers

"This athlete is only nineteen years old, but he is six feet, two inches high, and weighs 210 pounds," noted the March 1918 issue of The Crisis , the NAACP’s flagship publication. Their "Man of the Month" is dark-complexioned and handsome, towering over his coach as he cradles a football in his large hand. He wears a… continue reading Portraits of Heroes, Portraits of You: Black History Month at the Free Library

By written by Kalela W.    January 28, 2020   

• African American
• Black History Month
• Black Authors

At a moment of growing awareness around the importance of representation and diversity in children’s books , the African American Children’s Book Fair continues the effort it has been devoted to for nearly three decades: bringing the books of award-winning Black authors and illustrators to the families, communities, and young… continue reading Kick-Off Black History Month with Philadelphia’s African American Children’s Book Fair

By written by Emily S.    January 27, 2020    2  

• Childrens Programs
• Community Events
• Teens
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Black History Month

Have you ever wanted to hear some of your favorite authors speak live and in person? A new month means a new wave of authors excited to talk about their new books on love, politics, food, music, and fun. The best part is that you can find tickets to some of these events on the Experience Pass – totally for free! If you’ve ever… continue reading “Rev Run” Simmons in the House!

By written by Dennis M.    January 24, 2020    3  

• Author Events
• Library Resources

The Free Library is thrilled to welcome librarians, authors, publishers, businesses, and educators to Philadelphia this weekend for the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting ! This annual conference gathers professionals from all corners of the library world to learn about, discuss, and shape the future of our field. It’s… continue reading Welcome to Philadelphia, ALA Midwinter!

By written by Clare F.    January 24, 2020   

• ALA
• Conferences

Part of my job is to show Parkway Central Library ’s private spaces to those who are interested in renting them for events . At the end of those tours, I often take them to the Heim Center , one of the new public library spaces that opened in April 2019. Even though it is not available for rent, I want people to know that this space… continue reading New Monthly Game Night Series to Take Place in Heim Center

By written by Kamilah C.    January 23, 2020    4  

• Events at the Library
• Community Events
• Free Library Staff
• Parkway Central
• Games and Gaming

The Rosenbach was delighted to have writer, actor, and director Mark Gatiss visit in June to shoot scenes for his In Search of Dracula documentary, which was just released on the BBC. Along with Stephen Moffat , Gatiss created a new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula which also aired on the BBC over the first three days of the new year… continue reading Mark Gatiss Visits The Rosenbach to Film New Dracula Documentary

By written by Ed P.    January 22, 2020    1  

• Television
• Rosenbach
• Literature