It's the 13th annual list of my favorite books — the 2024 edition! This year I leaned quite heavily into my three favorite genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Romance. I also seemed to zero in on joyful books. But don’t worry — there are still some dark fantasy/horror books as well as a smattering of historical fiction… continue reading Dena's Favorite Books of 2024
By written by Dena December 31, 2024 1
Hey book lovers! Did you know you can read, read, read, with just a tap of your finger — and without ever having to go to the library? Try digital books, also known as e-books! You can read e-books on your computer, phone, tablet, or e-reader (like Kindle, Kobo, or Nook) anywhere, anytime, even while you’re waiting in line at… continue reading Everything You Need To Know About Free Library E-Books
By written by Sharyl O. August 4, 2023 10
What is Overdrive? Overdrive is the Free Library of Philadelphia’s portal to thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-magazines that you can read for free using your Free Library of Philadelphia library card. In April 2023, the OverDrive app , which accesses Overdrive e-books , e-audiobooks , and e-magazines on your phone, tablet,… continue reading The Overdrive App is Being Replaced with Libby
By written by Sharyl O. March 1, 2023 15
Here are five ebook and audiobook titles about identity, acceptance, love, and loss to consider this month as we celebrate those journeys with our friends, families, and ourselves. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callander (Ages 8-12) An intense tale of love, loss, and friendship as a young man struggles to realize his dreams and find… continue reading LGBTQ+ Middle Grade and YA ebooks and Audiobooks
By written by Jeff B. June 16, 2021
Thank you to Nourishing Literacy (NL) team member Carolyn for writing this blog post! In addition to sharing her experience and findings, Carolyn has included some of the activities and approaches that we use in NL. The NL team enjoys providing interactive food info and ideas that spark curiosity and are inclusive to all ages and skills. Leafy… continue reading Nourishing Literacy | Greens Across Tables
By written by Shayna M. April 13, 2021 4
The Art Department is now hosting a virtual book and art-making club and we're excited to kick off our next topic! Art Book Club Online: Picturing Information starts Tuesday, February 2, meeting 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays throughout February and March, for a deep dive into the various ways different kinds of artists… continue reading Art Book Club Online
By written by Alina J. February 2, 2021 4
Thank you to Nourishing Literacy (NL) team member Carolyn for writing this blog post! In addition to sharing her experience and findings, Carolyn has included some of the activities and approaches that we use in NL. The Nourishing Literacy team enjoys providing interactive food information, ideas that spark curiosity, and that are inclusive to… continue reading Squash Across Tables
By written by Shayna M. January 20, 2021 2
The longest year ever is coming to a close. (Amen.) That means that it’s time to peruse some Best of 2020 book lists! Across the web you can find tons of these kinds of lists. Two of my favorites are Book Riot’s Best Books of 2020 , where they break it down into 11 genres, including everything from children’s to horror. I also… continue reading What Philadelphia Read in 2020
By written by Jamie B. December 30, 2020
For many Philadelphians, library access to free ebooks and audiobooks has been a lifesaver during the pandemic. We may not be able to go anywhere we want, but we can travel vicariously through someone else’s adventures or at least get inspired to declutter the spaces in which we’re stuck . eBooks and audiobooks have been so popular… continue reading How to Recommend a Digital Book
By written by Jamie B. December 14, 2020 5
I wanted to write a blog post about my favorite picture books of 2020; all the books that touched me through their text and art... but that is not an easy thing to do. There are so many wonderful books published every year – how do you even start to choose? Even harder, how do you limit your choice to just 10? There is definitely an… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | My Favorite Books of 2020
By written by Monica C. December 10, 2020
Nowadays, mastering a new language is so much fun—there are so many resources available! Depending on your learning style, you can design a work plan that fits your needs and time. With only five minutes a day, you can build a basic vocabulary that can even help you start a short conversation. Following the Mantra: Repetition and Practice… continue reading ¿Aprendiendo Español? Check Out These Resources!
By written by Mary Marques December 2, 2020
In these difficult times, the birthday of a beloved book, TV, and movie character from childhood feels like the perfect excuse to curl up within the comfort and safety of nostalgia. And boy do we need it! For so many of us, Winnie the Pooh , Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo were beloved childhood friends who taught us… continue reading It's Winnie the Pooh's Birthday!
By written by Administrator October 14, 2020
The new school year starts this week throughout Philadelphia and whether students will be attending school in-person and / or virtually, the Free Library is ready to help with resources and programs to help make the school year a success. Here are some of the many ways the Free Library can help students soar into this September and succeed all… continue reading Back to School Resources and Programs for Students
By written by Valerie S. September 1, 2020 1
¡hurra! 万岁 hoan hô! Ура! hourra! hooray! الصيحة! Let’s celebrate! The Free Library now offers access to ebooks and audiobooks in seven world languages: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, French, Haitian Creole, and Arabic. Through our OverDrive platform, we have created two new specialized eReading Rooms of Spanish… continue reading Hurra! Hourra! Hoan Hô! | ebooks in 7 Languages
By written by Jamie B. August 31, 2020 1
In these times of social distancing and no indoor activities, what better way to spend time than venturing outside and going for a hike in the great outdoors? You don’t have to go far—here in Philly we have both Fairmount Park and Wissahickon Valley Park . Explore nature and breathe in the fresh air. Go ahead, plan an outing with… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Let's Go Hiking
By written by Monica C. August 13, 2020
Something I love about storytelling is the way it brings people together. That is the very reason it can be hard to come by in our current world of social distancing. Many storytellers, including some of our wonderful librarians, have moved their storytimes to a virtual space and discovered creative new ways to connect readers to books in all… continue reading Take a Story Stroll and Enjoy a Book in a Brand New Way!
By written by Rachel R. August 3, 2020 1
Edible Alphabet is a free English Language Learning (ELL) program offered by the Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center. The mission is to teach English language and literacy skills through hands-on cooking projects. While Free Library locations remain closed to the public in the interest of public health and safety , we will be sharing… continue reading Edible Alphabet Recipe of the Week: Vegetarian Cobb Salad
By written by Lindsay S. July 7, 2020 2
Families come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. These wonderful ebooks can help you celebrate the richness and diversity of families today: Baby’s First Words written by Stella Blackstone ; illustrated by Christiane Engel Spend the day with a busy baby and her two dads, and learn the words for things you do and see along the way!… continue reading Celebrating Families During Pride Month
By written by Monica C. June 25, 2020
What are your plans for Father’s Day this year? Even if you’re not able to be out and about, there is something you can do right at home – cozy up and share a good book together! Celebrate as a family with these fun picture ebooks: Hike by Pete Oswald Take to the trails for a… continue reading Stories to Share for Father's Day
By written by Monica C. June 17, 2020
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlights , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And this one is a winner: It’s Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type , written by Doreen Cronin and Illustrated by Betsy Lewin . This year marks the book's 20th… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
By written by Monica C. June 11, 2020 1
