Posts in “rare-book-department” (101)
Blog Articles
This blog post is in honor of Charles Dickens' birthday. The prolific Victorian author of "epic stories" like Oliver Twist and David Copperfield , was born on Portsea… continue reading Spotlight on Special Collections: When Dickens Met Poe
By written by Mharlyn M. February 7, 2020
What do Charles Dickens, cuneiform tablets, and James Bond have in common? The answer is Hands-on History at the Free Library, which wraps up its inaugural year with a holiday program on… continue reading Hands-On History Wraps Up 2019 With Charles Dickens... and Introduces a New Line-Up For 2020
By written by Joe S. December 12, 2019
Prints were popular in American colonial homes. Among the decorative luxuries available, they were the most affordable. They would be hung in hallways, entrance halls, stairwells, and kitchens.… continue reading Spotlight on Special Collections: Five Unstudied Prints from the American Revolutionary War
By written by Joe S. November 7, 2019
Archives shield us from a world saturated with fake news and misinformation. But what are archives? How are they different from libraries? Where are they? How do they work? How are they… continue reading Design in the Archives: A Free Evening of Fun and Learning for All Ages!
By written by Joe S. October 21, 2019
The Free Library of Philadelphia at Parkway Central Library has eight special collections for visitors of all ages to enjoy, either in person through engaging exhibitions and… continue reading A Spotlight on Special Collections: The Artwork of Pennsylvania Germans-Fraktur
By written by Joe S. October 3, 2019
The work of two scholars has led to the astounding discovery that a Shakespeare First Folio housed in the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Book Department likely belonged to English poet… continue reading Free Library to Display Rare Shakespeare First Folio Now Believed to Have Belonged to John Milton
By written by Kaitlyn F. September 16, 2019 4
Our Five Senses , a new exhibition in Parkway Central Library's Dietrich Gallery opened last month, and we have the honor of sitting down with some of the authors and illustrators… continue reading Our Five Senses - A Conversation with Book Artist Eriko Takahashi
By written by Chris B. June 14, 2019 1
Take a free tour of Our 5 Senses , a fully-interactive exhibition that connects the science of the senses with the mind and the literary experience. Tours begin at 3:00 p.m.and finish at… continue reading Take a Free Family Tour of Our Five Senses, a Fully-Interactive Exhibition
By written by Joe S. May 30, 2019 3
In a recent CNN article titled, "Why touching art is so tempting — and exciting," Fiona Candlin, a professor of museology at Birkbeck College in London and author… continue reading Learning Through Touch: Connecting with Objects in Our Special Collections
By written by Joe S. May 28, 2019
In preparation for the opening of Our Five Senses , a new exhibition running now through November 2 in Parkway Central Library's Dietrich Gallery , we've had the honor of sitting down with… continue reading Our Five Senses | A Conversation with Author and Illustrator Aliki
By written by Chris B. May 14, 2019
What do you think of when you hear the words "May Day"? (And no, I don’t mean the distress call "mayday," which comes from m’aidir , French for "help… continue reading May Day! Mayday? May Day!
By written by Clare F. May 1, 2019
On May 13, the Free Library's Special Collections Division will present Our Five Senses , the first family friendly, fully-interactive exhibition at the Free Library. The exhibition connects… continue reading Our Five Senses | A New Family Friendly, Fully-Interactive Exhibition
By written by Chris B. April 29, 2019 5
Joe Shemtov is a Special Collections Coordinator and Primary Source Specialist, and a participant in Cohort 1 of the Skills for Community-Centered Libraries trainings. In October. I had the… continue reading Connecting Special Collections with the Cultural and Educational Needs of Philadelphia’s Islamic Populations: Starting the Dialogue
By written by Community-Centered Libraries March 18, 2019 6
Can you name five women artists off the top of your head? (Not counting Frida Kahlo or Georgia O’Keeffe.) Try. Surprised if you can’t? Don’t be. It happens. But let us help… continue reading #5WomenArtists from Our Special Collections
By written by Karen K. March 8, 2019
The late and great Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell once sang, "Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby." These words hold true for how to best experience our material culture. People… continue reading Take History in the Palm of Your Hand with this New Series from the Free Library's Special Collections
By written by Joe S. January 7, 2019 1
Tomorrow is National Bird Day and it's making me reflect on my connection with birds and nature in general. I’ve never been able to have a relationship with birds growing up in the city.… continue reading Happy National Bird Day!
By written by Kamilah C. January 4, 2019
“Tell me and I forget.Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” - Xun Kuang, philosopher Imagine trying to learn to knit. Would you learn best by reading a book about… continue reading Skills for Community-Centered Libraries: Learning through Experience
By written by Community-Centered Libraries December 6, 2018 1
One of the most popular items in the Rare Book Department that resonates with visitors the world over is not what you would expect. It is not a rare manuscript or a printed book from one of our… continue reading Grip, Philadelphia's Pet Raven
By written by Joe S. December 3, 2018 6
Now more than ever , students and teachers at our schools need the information and skills that librarians and libraries can provide. This year, the Free Library is working to spread the word about… continue reading Better Together: The Free Library Partners with Schools
By written by Jess P. October 26, 2018
What do food and books have in common? I can certainly name three things: They are organic, can grow mold, and can be preserved. Those three things were key elements to a lesson taught to third… continue reading What Do Food and Books Have In Common?
By written by Paul M. October 17, 2018