Posts in “rare-book-department” (36)
Blog Articles
The Free Library is pleased to announce that the Rare Book Department in Parkway Central Library will reopen to the public on Monday, June 16 , following the successful completion of a… continue reading The Rare Book Department Reopens on Monday, June 16
By written by Administrator June 13, 2025
The Rare Book Department , located on the Third Floor of Parkway Central Library , is closed as of November 4th, 2024 for the installation of a new HVAC system. Climate control is of the… continue reading Temporary Closure of the Rare Book Department
By written by Allison F. December 2, 2024
The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is to "provide resources and advocacy to advance the mission of The Free Library while stewarding and promoting our special… continue reading Discovering Rare Books and Special Collections at the Free Library
By written by Free Library Foundation October 1, 2024
It’s Spooky Season, and the Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates Halloween all month long! There are fun, Halloween-themed activities coming to several of our branches, and… continue reading Celebrate the Spookiest Month of the Year with the Free Library
By written by Anthony T. September 30, 2024
If you're a history- and vegetable-lover who DOES NOT suffer from coulrophobia, then we have a program for you! If you do suffer from a fear of clowns, then we *might* have a… continue reading Will This Make Me Eat My Vegetables?
By written by Chris B. May 30, 2024
2024 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Since its inception in 1949, Rare Books has prided itself on providing a warm and welcoming… continue reading The Rare Book Department's 75th Anniversary Event Series
By written by Joe S. December 20, 2023
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the proud custodian of an astounding literary artifact in our Rare Book Department : a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio that belonged to English… continue reading “Making Shakespeare: The First Folio” - Featuring a Cherished Free Library Artifact
By written by Bridget G. November 21, 2023 1
In the Path of Islam, in collaboration with Al-Bustan Seed of Culture, are excited to announce the return of the well-received, virtual, free Arabic conversation classes this February and… continue reading Free Virtual Arabic Language Programs Return in February and March!
By written by Joe S. January 25, 2022 3
Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2021 4:20 p.m. One of the most popular attractions of the Free Library's Rare Book Department is Grip the Raven, the late lamented pet of author Charles… continue reading Grip: A Poem, Book, and Raven
By written by Chris B. December 3, 2021
Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Al-Bustan Seeds of Cultural are offering free, virtual Arabic Conversational Classes! There are many reasons to learn conversational Arabic... There are over… continue reading Let's Speak Arabic!
By written by Joe S. October 5, 2021 7
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From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the intrepid agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service—James Bond, designated Agent 007—has epitomized masculine cool. Everyone knows how he… continue reading Uncovering the Real James Bond in the Rare Book Department
By written by Mharlyn M. September 20, 2021 3
by Laura S. and Caitlin G. It’s been ninety years since the crisis of the Great Depression inspired the New Deal’s government investment and aid. But it’s not just history. The… continue reading For the Greatest Number: The New Deal Revisited
By written by Administrator August 31, 2021 4
The Rare Book Department has some true treasures within its collections, but perhaps one of its most special collections is the First Folio of William Shakespeare . What is the “First… continue reading Who Said It: Shakespeare, Milton, or Shake Milton?
By written by Peter SM April 28, 2021
What are the most popular Googled questions about Ramadan? Here's what we found: When does Ramadan begin and end in 2021? What is allowed and not allowed during Ramadan? What does Ramadan… continue reading Happy Ramadan: Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Beyond!
By written by Joe S. April 6, 2021
“And, of course, men know best about everything, except what women know better.” - George Eliot In honor of Women’s History Month, we are excited to spotlight a woman who… continue reading Women's History Month | Spotlight on Mary Ann Evans aka George Eliot
By written by Karen K. March 19, 2021 9
Hannah Cho is a University of Pennsylvania Work-Study student from Davis, CA. During the Fall semester, she studied, recorded, and edited the Story Search podcasts remotely from South Korea.… continue reading Story Search from Special Collections: An Interview by Hannah Cho
By written by Joe S. January 6, 2021
What do books and objects from 800 years ago have to do with our present-day concerns? An exhibition taking shape online and in the Rare Book Department 's William B. Dietrich Gallery… continue reading "Medieval Life" Comes to Parkway Central
By written by Janine P. September 2, 2020
You may have heard the recent news that Free Library cardholders now have access to ProQuest’s Historical Black Newspapers , featuring coverage of The Philadelphia Tribune (the oldest… continue reading Philadelphia History from Home: Digital Access to Primary Sources
By written by Caitlin G. August 25, 2020
For more than 25 years, libraries have been digitizing their collections, and the Free Library has digital collections in abundance—providing the opportunity to browse through roughly 50,000… continue reading Diving into Digital Collections
By written by Janine P. May 1, 2020
The Free Library of Philadelphia is home to a myriad of Special Collections . Since mid-March, we have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that those of us who work with the… continue reading #SpecialCollectionsAtHome
By written by Megan M. April 27, 2020