Hi, my name is Gillian and I’m an accidental music librarian. Specifically, I’m an accidental orchestral music librarian. I recently joined the staff of The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music (Fleisher Collection). The Fleisher Collection represents the largest lending library of orchestral performance material in the… continue reading Confession: I’m an Accidental Music Librarian
By written by Gillian R. May 9, 2023 2
Howllo Boils and Ghouls... welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's boo-log, as we draw near to the most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! This year is a monstrously momentous occasion for celebration, as two of the most popular film icons of all time are marking their 90th anniversaries— Dracula and Frankenstein !… continue reading Famous Monsters of the Silver Scream: Dracula and Frankenstein
By written by Peter SM October 29, 2021
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 country is again facing a choice: What do we owe our neighbors? What does our country owe us? The Great Depression was a national crisis that affected… continue reading For the Greatest Number: The New Deal Revisited
By written by Administrator August 31, 2021 4
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's boo-log, on this most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! Usually, during this time of year, we'd be discussing and dissecting all-things monsters , zombies , ghosts , haunted houses , and the supernatural ... but this accursed year of 2020 has… continue reading Halloween 2020: I Want Candy!
By written by Peter SM October 30, 2020 2
by Natalie Hartog and Deborah Ahrens A Blue Moon occurs when two full moons occur within the same month. These are relatively rare, happening once every two to three years. October 2020 is one such Blue Moon month, featuring full moons on both October 1 and October 31! In celebration of these celestial occurrences, we've created… continue reading Once in a Blue Moon
By written by Natalie H. October 1, 2020
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's blog, on this most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! It would seem to be that 2019 is the Year of the Monster—whether in books, films, or music, some moldy-old-monster has been reborn or some new monster(s) taken shape... Godzilla turns the ripe old… continue reading Monstermania!: A Monstrous Halloween Playlist
By written by Peter SM October 31, 2019 1
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's blog, on this most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! Besides the usual seasonal scares that arise from the grave this time of year, 2018 marks two historical milestones of the macabre: the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the return… continue reading This Is Halloween 2018!
By written by Peter SM October 31, 2018 1
This year's additions to the National Recording Registry were announced last month , which include 25 songs, albums, or audio recordings from the early 20th century up to the present. This year's selections bring the total number of recordings in the registry to 500! What is the National Recording Registry , you ask? Similar in scope to… continue reading National Recording Registry Reaches 500 Songs—Take a Listen!
By written by Peter SM April 6, 2018
Another Brooklyn is so rich with sound that I can hear it. I want to slide it onto a record player and spin myself back to white go-go boots and Al Green . 1970s. Inimitable young August has moved from Tennessee with her father and brother to Bushwick, where "a tinny radio from somewhere on the block seemed to play 'Rock the… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Another Brooklyn Beats (A Reading Playlist)
By written by Brittanie S. November 15, 2017
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Frightadelphia's bloodcurdling blog during this most haunted of holiday seasons, Halloween! Did you hear that unsettling sound? Perhaps it was just the wind... or perhaps it was something skull-king around the library stacks late at night... Don't let that stop you from… continue reading Something's Skull-king Around the Free Library this Halloween...
By written by Peter SM October 30, 2017 1
Well, it's that time of year again: The Holidays—or as I like to refer to them—The Holidaze. Whether you celebrate Christmas , Hanukkah , Kwanzaa , Winter Solstice , Festivus , or nothing at all, life in general around this time of year can be overwhelming and definitely throw some people into a daze. Some spend time with family… continue reading Have a Happy Holidaze with Free Library's Spotify Channel
By written by Peter SM December 23, 2015
Howl-lo F(r)iends, Welcome back once again to the Free Library of Frightadelphia's bloodcurdling blog! It would seem that you have survived previous playlists and have come back for more maddening music for your aural amusement? Well boils and ghouls, this year we've concocted a cross section of lurid literature from our chilling… continue reading Read (and Listen) Between The Lines: A Halloween Playlist from Free Library's Spotify Channel
By written by Peter SM October 30, 2015 1
This is really weird, but the Music Department got a call from Nicola Sturgeon , First Minister of Scotland, to come look through a mysterious box found in a dormitory room in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland. It was a great trip! Inside the box we made an amazing discovery. There was a neatly wrapped and bowed present… continue reading Harry Potter's Top of the Pops 1980 - 1999
By written by Adam F. July 31, 2015
The Free Library offers a plentiful amount of resources that are easily accessible for citizens of Philadelphia. As a result, the Library enriches individual’s worldly knowledge, increases their exposure to new information, and encourages exploration of the resources around them. We all know the Library contains thousnads of books; many… continue reading Some Alternative and Independent Music Selections from Free Library
By written by Brittney M. July 21, 2015
Howllo Boils and Ghouls, Welcome back to the Free Library of Frightadelphia's bloodcurdling blog on this most haunted of holidays, Halloween ! If you survived last year's playlist , then you're in for a (trick or) treat this All Hallows' Eve . We've thrown open the dungeon doors to our chilling collections , finding the most… continue reading Macabre Movies and Sinematic Sounds: A Halloween Playlist from Free Library's Spotify Channel
By written by Peter SM October 31, 2014
You might think, in keeping with a certain stereotype, that librarians are so old-school that the only music we listen to comes from the Library’s vinyl collection . And though there may be a kernel of truth to that sterotype of librarians being all about the analog (we do love listening to our LPs, and we invite you to listen to them too… continue reading Summer Highlights from New Albums
By written by Perry G. July 3, 2014
Getting comfortably literary on a chilly day must be one of life’s great pleasures. Here is one librarian’s handpicked recommendations for snow day reads with an emphasis on heavy page counts and books that bring forth that melancholy feeling which seems to accompany the year’s shortest days. Put the kettle… continue reading Snow Day Reading Favorites for Winter
By written by Jamie W. December 18, 2013
With the holidays in full swing and snow on the ground throughout the city, it seemed like the perfect time to compile a new playlist on our Spotify channel. Also, in the perfect timing department: Spotify announced last week that they were expanding their free streaming option to all mobile devices, so now you can listen to all of our… continue reading Seasonal Sounds - A Holiday Playlist from Free Library's Spotify Channel
By written by Peter SM December 17, 2013
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." - Nelson Mandela , speaking at the Rivonia Trial in South Africa, 1964.… continue reading A Celebration of Nelson Mandela's Life Through Word and Song
By written by Peter SM December 12, 2013
Howllo Boils and Ghouls, Do you know what today is? Why, it's Halloween , of course! What better way to celebrate this haunted holiday then with songs about zombies , monsters , grim reapers , cemeteries , witches , spooky spells , psycho killers , nightmares , and devils ? From petrifying pop and rabid rock to sinister soundtracks and… continue reading Do The Monster Mash with this Halloween Playlist from Free Library's Spotify Channel
By written by Peter SM October 31, 2013 1
