7 Days: Regional arts and entertainment
Philly.com
He's either a short-story master in the guise of a graphic artist, or vice versa. In his new book, Killing and Dying, Adrian Tomine looks at modern life and its discontents. He discusses his work on a double bill with the wonderful poet and novelist Ben Lerner (10:04), just named a MacArthur Grant winner, at 7:30 p.m. at the Free Library (appeared 10/15)

A conversation with U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill
WHYY
CLAIRE McCASKILL grew up in rural Missouri, the daughter of a father who gave her permission to be opinionated and bossy. As the first woman elected to the Senate from Missouri and one of only twenty women currently serving in the Senate, McCaskill is just what her father wanted her to be — outspoken, candid, ambitious and savvy. (appeared 10/13)

When I knew gay marriage would win
Philly.com
Roberta Kaplan and Lisa Dickey are the authors of "Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA" (W.W. Norton & Co.), from which this excerpt, in which Kaplan describes her view from inside the Supreme Court, was taken (appeared 10/13)

Dan DeLuca looks at an explosion of rock-and-roll memoirs
Philly.com
M Train takes a different approach. It's a series of jewel-box essays without the continuous narrative - or heartbreaking denouement - of Just Kids, about Smith's relationship with the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. (will appear 11/6)

Steven Rea’s Picks
Philly.com
Poet and novelist Ben Lerner will lead the conversation with Tomine, who, in a New Yorker interview this year, talked about his evolution as an artist and storyteller (appeared 10/15)

Geraldine Brooks’ ‘Secret Chord’: Daring, vivid, flawed
Philly.com
In The Secret Chord, her interpretation of the life of the biblical King David, novelist Geraldine Brooks has taken on her meatiest challenge yet. (10/14)

Talking race, hope, and writing with Ta-Nehisi Coates
Philly.com
The dark and vibrant best-seller Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is part memoir, part jeremiad, and part prose poem, written to his son Samori about the world in which African Americans live, a world of constant threat to the African American body. (appears 10/16)

‘Alice in Wonderland’: A Philly original?
Philly.com
Alice's Adventures Under Ground, the original version of the children's classic that, 150 years ago, was published as Alice in Wonderland, returns to its onetime home, at 20th Street and Delancey Place, for four days, tomorrow through this weekend. The Rosenbach's exhibit about the book, featuring its local connection, lasts until May 15.

The Free Library Of Philadelphia To Host Block Party This Weekend
CBS
The Free Library of Philadelphia is holding a block party Saturday in North Philadelphia and it’s all about words. The goal is to close the literacy gap between lower income and higher income families.

Getting Penn students to the polls on Election Day
Thedp.com
Those living around Pine Street and Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets vote at Penn’s Civic House, while those directly north between Pine and Walnut vote at the nearby Walnut Street West branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

On the Boards
Philly.com
The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation named Greg Redden, regional president at Wells Fargo, to its board.

Columbus Day Closures in Philadelphia Area
NBC
In Philadelphia, free library locations, public schools and municipal courts closed in observance of the holiday honoring Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.

Carrie Brownstein at Free Library
WHYY
Audio clip

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Drive at Olney
NBC
Video clip

The Rosenbach Celebrates 150 Years Of Alice In Wonderland
CBS
Rosenbach Curator Judith Guston peered into the display case and read an excerpt from Lewis Carroll’s original manuscript of what he called Alice’s Adventures Underground. Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, wrote it for Alice Liddell after making up the story during a boat trip.

Top Free Things to Do in Philadelphia This Fall
Uwishunu.com
The Free Library of Philadelphia hosts a variety of authors for free talks at the library throughout the year. And, of course, the Free Library of Philadelphia is, as its name states, always free to visit.

All in to support young readers
Thenotebook.org
Philadelphia has embarked on an ambitious campaign, called READ! by 4th, to ensure that all city students are able to read by the time they enter 4th grade, which numerous studies have shown is a make-or-break point for future success.

Literacy campaign stresses importance of teacher training at schools of ed
Thenotebook.org
To make this work, READ! by 4th is going to need the continued support of those in higher education and philanthropic organizations said Jenny Bogoni, the campaign’s executive director.

Local organizations receive funding to support entrepreneurship
Phillytrib.com
Corzo Center for the Creative Economy at the University of the Arts received $15,000. In partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, the center will offer an interactive program to those considering a business based in the creative economy.

Conference this week on "Education in Black and White"
Thenotebook.org
"Education in Black and White" is billed as a "citywide festival" and is part of the "hidden history" project of the Moonstone Arts Center, an arts education organization with a focus on the history of the African American community in Philadelphia. Events will be held at Local 1199C of the Hospital Workers Union; the Writing Project at the University of Pennsylvania, the African American History Museum, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and branches of the Free Library.

‘Alice’ manuscript visits Rosenbach
Philly.com
The original handwritten manuscript of Alice's Adventures Underground is on display at the Rosenbach Museum and Library on the 2000 block of Delancey Place from Wednesday through Sunday only, on special loan from the British Library.

Chef Michael Solomonov on finding his career path
Philly.com
Chef Michael Solomonov, who together with Steven Cook owns a group of restaurants (Zahav, Percy Street Barbecue, Federal Donuts, Abe Fisher, and Dizengoff), appeared at the Free Library of Philadelphia last week to promote his new book, Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking.

Rosenbach begins at the beginning with 'Alice' exhibit featuring original manuscript
Newsworks.org
"They have a great sense of immediacy," said Judith Guston, curator at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, who put together "Down the Rabbit Hole: 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland." "The rabbit is really rabbity. The girl is really girlish. It's charming beyond belief."

White House TechHire initiative comes to Philadelphia
Technical.ly/philly
Last month’s Pitch Contest, in which four teams of nontraditional IT talent worked to propose a solution to a technology problem at the Free Library of Philadelphia, was an early example of Philly TechHire’s goals. Each team, sponsored by either Comcast, PNC, Randstad or the City of Philadelphia, researched and presented their idea, with the winners receiving iPads and paid internships at the Free Library, where they will work to implement their proposed technology strategy.

The Rosenbach Of The Free Library Of Philadelphia Marks The 150th Anniversary Of Alice In WonderlandWith Down The Rabbit Hole
Uwishunu.com
Literary roots run deep in Philadelphia, a city that has inspired countless authors and continues to nurture their legacies. Of special note, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates the occasion to raise up its incredible collection of more than 600 Lewis Carroll books, letters and rare photos.

Poe & Philadelphia: How the city shaped history's spookiest writer
Phillyvoice.com
Among the furnishings Gimble used for the home is Grip, mounted and now on display at the Philadelphia Free Library’s Rare Book Room -- a fine place to ponder quaint and curious volumes.

STRESS TESTING FOR INNOVATION: HOW TO GAUGE YOUR LIBRARY’S PROGRAMS
Urbanlibraries.org
The Free Library of Philadelphia recently won a 2015 Top Innovator in Organization Change and Strategic Management for their innovation — Strategic Initiatives: A Hatchery for Innovation. Listen in as the FLP Strategic Initiatives department shares details about the stress test tool they built to support the library’s focus on statistics and measurable outcomes, and how they have improved the library overall by stress testing over seven library programs and reviewing more than 80 staff suggestions for library programs.

ASU uses digital storytelling to grapple with science and society
Asunews.asu.edu
Current collaborators in the study include The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia and The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis, along with the Museum of Science, Boston.

Ta-Nehisi Coates on ‘Between the World and Me’
WHYY
It’s been a good year for TA-NEHISI COATES. He was recently awarded a Macarthur “genius” grant, and his new book, Between the World and Me, was just announced as a finalist for the National Book Awards in the nonfiction category. (appeared 10/16)

Radio Times in Review: Author Roddy Doyle, actress Rita Moreno, atheist Richard Dawkins
WHYY
Lastly, we’ll listen to a portion of Marty’s conversation with evolutionary biologist, writer and prominent atheist, RICHARD DAWKINS.  He recently published a follow up to his memoir called Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science. (appeared in 2006 and 2009)

Alice at the Rosenbach
FOX
Video clip

Free Library Block Party, Reading Terminal Market Expands, Failed Norristown Movie Studio
Iradiophilly.com
Thirty million words — that's the difference in the vocabulary of a child from higher income versus a child from an economically challenged one. The Free Library’s Words at Play Vocabulary Initiative is hoping to close the gap.