Tagged Free Library staff

The Big Deal about Small Art: No Small Artists, Only Small Artworks

Little Free Libraries have been around since the early 2000’s and many are familiar with their communal “leave a book, take a book” nature. In 2016, Portland artists Erinn Kathryn and Jen LaMastra created the Little…

Celebrating Six Months with Kelly Richards!

Last November, we announced that Kelly Richards would be joining the Free Library as our new President and Director , coming to Philadelphia after serving as the Director of the Muskegon Area District Library in Michigan and…

Introducing BRIC's New Business Librarian: Claire

We are so excited to introduce you to Claire Lutz, the BRIC's newest librarian! Claire started in July. Be sure to say hello when you see her in the Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) at Parkway Central Library .…

National Employee Appreciation Day

March 4th is National Employee Appreciation Day. I wanted to publicly commend our extraordinary staff who continue to keep one of our newest resources alive and well…our Call Center! The Free Library’s Call Center went live…

Q&A with New Free Library Director, Kelly Richards

Today, the Free Library welcomes Mr. Kelly Richards as its new Director . Prior to this appointment, Kelly served as the Muskegon Area District Library Director in Michigan and Michigan Library Association President. He brings with him…

Kelly Richards Named New Free Library Director

The Free Library of Philadelphia is excited to announce that Mr. Kelly Richards, Director of the Muskegon Area District Library in Michigan and President of the Michigan Library Association, has been named as its new President and…

Skills for Community Centered Libraries Curriculum Release

Like many libraries across the nation, the Free Library of Philadelphia is undergoing a paradigm shift . Increasingly, our focus is not only on extensive collections but on how we are engaging with our communities. To address this…

Join the Cobbs Creek Library for a Community Fair!

As Philadelphia students gear up to return to school at the end of the month, we hope you’ll join the Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library on Friday, August 27 from 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. for a Community Fair . The Community…

Happy Book Lovers Day!

In honor of  Book Lovers Day , our staff shared what a perfect day of reading looks like to them, and we're inspired! Here's to a marvelous day of celebrating our favorite pastime and the books we love! "I am an…

Spotlight On the Free Library Call Center

The Free Library of Philadelphia has for years offered the Homebound program as well as  email , chat , and text reference services for those who can't access their local library in person, but amidst the COVID-19 pandemic…

Beat Boredom with the Free Library in July

Did you know that July is Anti-Boredom Month ? If your job or class schedule has eased up for the summer and you find yourself with some extra time on your hands, check out these ways to beat boredom and keep busy with the help of…

Enjoy Free Library Outdoor Events This Summer!

Over the past year and a half, Free Library staff  worked hard every day to bring  virtual events right to your living room while our library buildings remained closed due to the pandemic... but did you know we recently…

Staff Spotlight on Jade Cintron Baez | Immigrant Heritage Month

During Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of those who have immigrated to the United States and their descendants. As Guerline Jozef explains , "I look around me, and I only see three…

Coming Out at Work

Many of us queer people never stop coming out. When we list our emergency contact, when we rent a car, when we take our kids to the playground—we remain surrounded by hetero- and cisnormative people, places, and things. While…

We’re Hiring: Library Facility Guards!

Would you like to work for one of the largest urban library systems in America? The Free Library of Philadelphia circulates more than eight million items to almost 500,000 patrons, and conducts thousands of programs for people of all…

Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box... Cinnamon Apple Cake

Becca at Whitman Library This week we are making Cinnamon Apple Cake ! I was inspired by our first recipe and blog post for Apple Yogurt Cake , but I was not content. I wanted it moister and needed to try another recipe to get me…

Frank Stephens, Jr.: A Free Library Legacy

When Frank Stephens, Jr., passed away in March at the age of 89, many mourned the loss of a friend and colleague. Others were hearing about Frank for the first time. And it was an opportunity for all of us at the Free Library to learn…

Meet Your Library Staff: Mary Westbrook - Children's Librarian

As part of our ongoing series  of blog posts highlighting our awesome staff throughout the Free Library of Philadelphia, today we take some time to speak with Mary Westbrook, a children's librarian at the Parkway Central…

Children's Book Week | Miss Mary Loves This Book! (And This One, and This One, and This One, and This One...!)

Happy Children's Book Week ! Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is an annual celebration of children's books and reading, and is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country! Now celebrating…

Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box... with Apples

Becca at Whitman Library Today at Whitman Library we are baking Apple Yogurt Cake with a Cinnamon Streusel in the middle and on top! Being a baker, I had to start with my strengths. The community box that I got from Christ Church South…