Bright and early on January 22, while many of us were still sleeping, breakfasting, or commuting, librarians and other youth literature enthusiasts gathered excitedly in person at the Baltimore Convention Center, or virtually on the webcast, for the announcement of the American Library Association ’s Youth Media Awards .… continue reading The 2024 Youth Media Award-Winners
By written by Jennifer E. January 26, 2024
Due to unsafe air quality levels we have canceled tonight's event. Following the recommendation of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to limit outdoor activities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this evening's Community Impact Awards, which were planned to be held on the terrace at Parkway Central Library. The… continue reading The Community Impact Awards Are Canceled Due to Unsafe Air Quality Levels
By written by Administrator June 8, 2023
Just announced this week from LibLearnX in New Orleans, we give you the Youth Media Awards ! This highly esteemed collection of outstanding books, audiobooks, and materials for children and young adults is honored annually by the American Library Association (ALA). Selected by committees composed of librarians and other… continue reading The 2023 Youth Media Award Winners Are Here!
By written by Emily S. February 3, 2023
The John Newbery Award is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022! Commonly referred to as "The Newbery", the literary award is given each year by the American Library Association (ALA) to the author and their book considered the best in American Children's Literature of the past year. Beginning in 1922, one award winner is… continue reading Award-Winning Black Authors and The Newbery’s 100th Anniversary
By written by Jeff B. February 28, 2022
Librarians, educators, and children’s book lovers have long-anticipated this year’s crop of Youth Media Award winners ! Chosen by the American Library Association, the 2022 award-winning titles were announced on Monday, January 24 during the first installment of a new virtual conference, LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience .… continue reading 2022 Youth Media Award Winners
By written by Emily S. January 27, 2022
Which were the best books you read this year? The Children’s Librarians at Parkway Central Children’s Department have all the extremely specific book awards and recommended reads you never knew you needed! Ms. Becky’s Awards Becky Shaknovich – Department Head of Children's Department and Field Teen… continue reading Best Books of 2021 Selected by Parkway Central Children's Librarians
By written by Administrator December 21, 2021
The Hugo Awards are science fiction’s most prestigious prize. Books (and other media) nominated for a Hugo are always a stellar read, and you can read (and watch!) many of 2021's Hugo Award nominees for free through the Free Library! In some categories, many of the nominees are available to read for free online through their… continue reading Hugo Award Nominees Announced for 2021
By written by Shelley R. May 20, 2021
Ursula K. Le Guin 's award-winning writing often depicted futuristic alternative worlds steeped in the themes of politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality, and ethnography. Now her legacy will live on in a different future as a Forever Stamp from the United States Postal Service ! The stamp, the 33rd in USPS’s… continue reading Women's History Month | Ursula K. Le Guin Honored with Commemorative Stamp
By written by Peter SM March 29, 2021
Lillian Marrero Library , under the leadership of Branch Manager Mieka Moody, has been named the 2020 winner of ALA's Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation ! Branch Manager Mieka Moody The award, supported by the Penguin Random House Foundation, recognizes U.S. libraries and librarians who create lasting innovative… continue reading Lillian Marrero Library Wins ALA's Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation!
By written by Administrator July 6, 2020 5
The gleam in her eyes reveals her spunk as she stares up at me. She always had more courage than I did – completely unafraid to speak her mind to grown-ups, to ask questions, and to actually get answers. I admired her and loved having her as a companion because she understood the troubles I faced – getting sick at school, being… continue reading Happy 104th Birthday, Beverly Cleary!
By written by Karen O. April 9, 2020 10
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
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Award , honoring African American authors and illustrators in children’s and young adult literature. Noted by their familiar emblem, the Coretta Scott King Award comes in a variety of colors. The bronze and black emblem is the original insignia, denoting a winner of the… continue reading Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Book Award’s 50th Anniversary
By written by Gennifer R. December 20, 2019
The Free Library is excited to announce that Trapeta Mayson has been appointed the 2020-2021 Philadelphia Poet Laureate . A committee of poets, educators, and arts-organization professionals selected Trapeta from a wildly impressive group of applicants. Her two-year term begins on January 1, 2020. As Philadelphia’s fifth Poet Laureate,… continue reading A New Poet Laureate for Philadelphia...
By written by Andrew N. December 12, 2019 2
"Today I plan on taking steps that go beyond being a part of the conversation, but a part of the solution," Sixers forward Tobias Harris said as he kicked off his 2019 Community Draft . The event, at Mastery Prep Elementary, was organized to model an NBA Draft, for the nine community-based organizations of Tobias’s choosing. A… continue reading 76ers' Tobias Harris Donates Money to Read by 4th at Community Draft!
By written by Enni A. October 24, 2019 3
I’ll let constellations form and fall off this tongue Mold planets out of clay with clay with these hands, Create a whole universe behind these eyes I’ll spread myself across the sky in thick, bright strokes, and leave a trail of light behind me, Don’t you know I’m a shooting star? – Mia Concepcion, 2019-2020… continue reading Meet the 2019-2020 Youth Poet Laureate!
By written by Andrew N. September 4, 2019 3
On Saturday, June 29, join us in Germantown's Vernon Park from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the inaugural Unity Day ! On Unity Day, the North Central Philadelphia community will to come together to recognize unsung heroes and celebrate our strengths. The event’s history is rooted in recent and vibrant collaborations happening in the… continue reading Join Us for Unity Day on June 29!
By written by Andrea S. June 20, 2019 2
It is the absolute pleasure of the Free Library of Philadelphia to add our congratulations to Benjamin Volta . His work Diligence was recently recognized by the Americans for the Arts as one of 50 outstanding public arts projects from 2018. And where is this stunning, award-winning mural to be found, you ask? Well, at our very own Tacony… continue reading Congratulations to Artist Benjamin Volta on Award-Winning Mural at Tacony Library!
By written by Jenn D. June 19, 2019
Parkway Central Library Senior Services will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards for excellence in African American children’s literature with a five-part discussion series called Conversations In Color . These conversations take place throughout the month of June and center around the influence that images… continue reading Conversations in Color: The Coretta Scott King Awards Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence
By written by Lisa-Jane E. May 29, 2019 2
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) and Culinary Literacy Center (CLC) will receive a Community Partner Award from Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB) at the Louis Braille Awards luncheon on Friday, May 3. In its 59th year, the Louis Braille Awards honors… continue reading Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB) to Honor the Free Library
By written by Kate C. May 1, 2019 1
Here's some exciting news to close out National Poetry Month : Philadelphia Poet Laureate Raquel Salas Rivera has been selected by the Academy of American Poets as one of 13 recipients of a new fellowship award ! Rivera, who was appointed to their two-year term as Poet Laureate in 2018, is one of 13 poets in nine states receiving the… continue reading Raquel Salas Rivera Receives Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship
By written by Kate C. April 30, 2019
