Toni Morrison’s book explores how childhood trauma twists adult life
Phillytrib.com
When one of the world’s most revered writers hit a bump in her wheelchair heading to the stage of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Toni Morrison covered her face with her latest book and quipped: “A little scary, wasn’t it?”
The capacity audience of over 500 gathered on Wednesday laughed in response. (appeared 4/29)

Free Library Mascot Reimagined with PAWS dog
Phillypaws.org
Philadelphia has always been a city of animal lovers; in the 1930s, the Free Library of Philadelphia had a canine mascot named Knee-Hi. 77 years later, on April 22, 2015, we re-created Knee Hi’s photo with Dottie, a rescued PAWS dog. The photo took place at Knee Hi’s original spot at the Parkway Central Library on Vine Street.

Critics’ Picks
Artforum.com
“Word & Image”—one of two shows together presented as “Framing Fraktur”—sprawls throughout the Free Library’s lobby, corridors, and archives, exploring ties between historical fraktur—eighteenth- to nineteenth-century Pennsylvania German manuscript-based folk art—and the practices of seven contemporary artists who treat words as visual or material compositional elements as much as carriers of verbal information.

3-D Printing: Worth the Hype?
Slj.com
Brandon Klevence, who works with the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Maker Jawn youth initiative, encourages librarians to help users move past “widgets” toward more functional items that serve a role in participants’ learning and derive from users’ own designs. “At the end of the day, you want people making, not downloading something and staring at it like it’s a television,” says Klevence, who cites a tablet stand, cookie cutter, or a prop for a stop-motion animation project as examples of functional items.

David Brooks on making a meaningful and virtuous life
WHYY
New York Times columnist DAVID BROOKS believes that too many of us are focused on “resume” virtues instead of “eulogy” virtues, something he wrestles with himself. (appeared 5/5)

Get married at Free Library of Philadelphia
FOX
Video clip

Sen. Art Haywood offers mobile office hours
Phillytrib.com
One mobile office is open at the Free Library of Philadelphia — Lovett Branch on Mondays, 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The other mobile office is open at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library on Wednesdays, from Noon to 4:30 p.m., and on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

School district, Free Library launch early childhood literacy program
Phillytrib.com
The School District of Philadelphia in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) has launched “Building Bridges with Books,” a library-centered early childhood literacy education program funded through a $1.5 million federal grant.

Residents voice concern over Lovett closing
Chestnuthilllocal.com
More than 25 residents gathered at Lovett Memorial Library in Mt. Airy on April 20 to find out when the library will close and what services will be available to users while the branch is closed for two years for renovations.

Free Library Wedding Venue
FOX
Video clip: live coverage at FLP to preview Wedding Open House (5/6)

Paschalville Library—100 ears of service to Southwest
Swglobetimes.com
Paschalville Centennial, May 1, p.17

Take in the arts this weekend
Delcotimes.com
Rosenbach Museum and Library: Tours of the Rosenbach brothers’ 19th-century townhouse include Dr. Rosenbach’s rare book library and Philip Rosenbach’s sitting room.

Novel explores social change after MLK assassination
Phillytrib.com
Born in St. Louis, Jabari Asim is the author of many works of fiction, nonfiction, essays, poetry and drama. His debut novel — “Only The Strong” (Agate Bolden; $15) — explores urban life in the first years after Martin Luther King’s assassination, using the masterfully intertwined stories of a retired “leg breaker,” an aging kingpin, an altruistic pediatrician and a foster child turned college student. (appears 5/18)

6abc donates books (no digital link)
Philly Ad News
The five thousand books will be awarded to underserved children and their families through the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 61 locations in the city [as part of READ! by 4^th].

May Ticket: What to do (no digital link)
Philadelphia Magazine
Features David Brooks’s author event (5/5)

Radio Times in Review: Dog Edition
WHYY
And lastly, we’ll listen back to Marty’s interview with SUSAN ORLEAN, about one of history’s most famous canines, Rin Tin Tin. (appeared 12/2011)