Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love! Per WHYY and Pew Charitable Trusts’s 2024 State of the City report, "immigrants now make up the largest percent of Philadelphia’s population since the 1940s" (15.7% or 1,550,000 residents, to be exact). If you were born in another country and want to connect with other new Americans, learn more about preparing for citizenship and naturalization, or simply find resources to help with getting settled in Philly, the Free Library is the place to be!

The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation proudly supports many of the incredible resources, programs, and services offered to residents across Philadelphia, including the Culinary Literacy Center’s Edible Alphabet program and Languages and Learning. Read on to learn more about these helpful resources for new Americans at the Free Library. 

The Culinary Literacy Center and Edible Alphabet Program

Founded in 2014, the Culinary Literacy Center is the first space of its kind in a public library and serves as a model for libraries worldwide. When you pull up a seat at our table, you will have an opportunity to dive into math, science, history, languages, and diverse cultures, as well as new recipes and delicious new dishes.

Monthly programming is based in our kitchen classroom at Parkway Central Library and also offered at many neighborhood library locations, with topics that promote healthy cooking, building community, and promoting civic dialogue. If you are a new American, be sure to join us for Edible Alphabet, a free English Language Learning (ELL) program that teaches English and literacy skills through hands-on cooking projects.

Languages and Learning

As the Free Library of Philadelphia's center for adult education resources, Languages and Learning offers a range of programs and classes and connects city residents to the services they need in a welcoming and accessible environment. Classes for new Americans include English as a Second Language (ESL), English for Beginners, English Conversation Group (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced), Practical English for Life in Philadelphia, and more. Find Languages and Learning programs by visiting the Free Library’s Calendar of Events.

Do you know a Spanish-speaking adult who wants to learn to read or write? Leamos™ (Let's Read) is a FREE Spanish literacy course that teaches adults how to read and write in Spanish. For more information, call 215-868-8664 or email adultlearning@freelibrary.org.

The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and we are proud to support vital programs and resources that positively impact our city, including the Culinary Literacy Center’s Edible Alphabet, and Languages and Learning. Please donate to the Free Library Fund to help our mission, and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn!

The Free Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. While the City of Philadelphia provides public funds for the operations of the Free Library, it is through the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and the generosity of private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations that the Free Library can offer many of the Library’s incredible programs and activities that advance literacy, guide learning, inspire curiosity throughout the region, and help deliver on the promise of an equitable future for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and communities.