Tagged Literacy

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. As with many learning disabilities, there can be a lot of confusion and misunderstanding around what dyslexia is and how best to support learners who are struggling to read. Folks at the library…

The Importance of Reading Banned Books

While "books usually are challenged with the best intentions," for example, to shield children from "difficult ideas and information," the American Library Association (ALA) notes that censorship itself can…

McPherson Square Welcomes the Story Trail Project

In 2023, KABOOM! , the nonprofit dedicated to ending playspace inequity, brought playful learning and literacy organizations together to co-create a Story Trail — an interactive trail with story panels like a book…

New Adult Learning Titles in the Free Library's Catalog

Languages and Learning is the Free Library of Philadelphia's department for adult education support, connecting patrons seeking Adult Basic Education, English Language Learner , and World Language support to the appropriate…

Languages and Learning: Adult Education at the Free Library

The Free Library’s mission is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity for all Philadelphians. You’re probably familiar with our many branches and departments, along with the incredible resources and…

Promoting Literacy with the Free Library of Philadelphia

National Library Week is April 7–13, 2024, and we encourage everyone to visit the Free Library of Philadelphia to celebrate this year’s theme: Ready, Set, Library! But first, let’s take a look at some local…

Helping Philly Youth "March" into Reading

March is designated as National Reading Month to not only celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss  — prolific author of beloved children’s books such as The Cat in the Hat , Green Eggs and Ham , and Horton Hears…

Enjoy Online Reading Challenges Year-Round!

You may have heard of our citywide  Summer of Wonder program full of activities, programs, and prizes for all ages, but did you know that the Free Library offers an  Online Reading Challenge  that runs all year long? And…

Request a Tutor With the Free Library

Do you need one-on-one help to sharpen your reading and writing skills? Then consider requesting a tutor with the Free Library of Philadelphia! The Free Library Tutoring Program pairs adult learners with trained tutors to help…

The Free Library Seeks Volunteer Tutors

Do you want to use your knowledge and experience to give back to the Philadelphia community? Then consider becoming a tutor with the Free Library of Philadelphia! The Free Library is looking for tutors to help adults strengthen their…

Leamos! Adult Literacy for Spanish Speakers

¡Leamos! es un curso gratuito de alfabetización con componentes en línea y presenciales que enseña a adultos hispanohablantes y analfabetos a leer y escribir en español. El curso consta de 43 lecciones…

The Community Impact Awards Are Canceled Due to Unsafe Air Quality Levels

Due to unsafe air quality levels we have canceled tonight's event. Following the recommendation of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to limit outdoor activities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this…

Introducing the Languages and Learning Center’s Participant Advisory Board

The Languages and Learning Center (LLC) is excited to introduce the members of our Participant Advisory Board (PAB) to the Free Library community. Our Participant Advisory Board launched in June 2021, inspired by a similar project at…

Adults CAN Learn to READ

Would you like to teach adults to read? There are many people who need this help and very few places where they can get it. The Free Library is dedicated to advancing literacy for all. To this end, the Library's Languages and…

Adult Literacy Book Club's Winter Book Selection

Join the Adult Literacy Book Club, presented by the Free Library's Languages and Learning Center and Beyond Literacy . Improve your reading skills while reading and discussing interesting books! Don't always have a lot of time…

2021's Words of the Year

Words mean things. We communicate with them, express ourselves with them, define and describe our surroundings and world with them. In the 21st Century, in the absence of physical reference books, we also look them up through online…

Introducing World Language Tutoring

Would you like to learn a new language for an upcoming vacation? Or would you like to share the love of your language with someone? As the New Year approaches, the Languages and Learning Center is providing the opportunity for you to…

The Adult Literacy Book Club's Fall Book Selection

Join the Adult Literacy Book Club, presented by the Free Library's Languages and Learning Center and Beyond Literacy . Improve your reading skills while reading and discussing interesting books! Don't always have a lot of time…

The Adult Literacy Book Club's Latest Book Selection

Join the Adult Literacy Book Club, presented by the Free Library's Languages and Learning Center and Beyond Literacy . Improve your reading skills while reading and discussing interesting books! Don't always have a lot of time…

Virtual Tutoring Programs Flourish This Spring

by Regina Schliep, Logan Library Work-Study Student During this unusual school year, some neighborhood libraries  have joined forces with local schools and community organizations to support virtual tutoring programs for…

Read, Baby, Read Storytime!

Join Miss Liz for  Read, Baby, Read storytime on Monday mornings at 11:30am. Stay after storytime for playtime! Intended for babies and toddlers ages 0-2, but all are welcome. In good weather this event will be held…

Storytime Adventures!

Join Miss Liz for  Storytime Adventures on Thursday mornings at 10:30am, where we'll explore a new theme each week! Stay after storytime for playtime. Intended for preschoolers ages 3+ and their…

Read, Baby, Read Storytime!

Join Miss Liz for  Read, Baby, Read storytime on Monday mornings at 11:30am. Stay after storytime for playtime! Intended for babies and toddlers ages 0-2, but all are welcome. In good weather this event will be held…

Kwanzaa Celebration

Join us for a special Kwanzaa celebration with Mama Carla Wiley. Learn all about Kwanzaa from Mama Carla who will share stories that inform, educate, and enrich while celebrating the African-American oral tradition.  This…

Read Baby Read Preschool Storytime

Join Ms. Susan for stories, songs, and interactive play. (Ages 2-5 years) Read Baby Read is made possible by a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation.

Storytime with Ms. Prather

Join our Children's Librarian for stories, songs, rhymes, dance and play.  Best for infants through preschool aged children, along with their caregivers. Groups must reserve their spot in advance by calling the library.…

Storytime Adventures!

Join Miss Liz for  Storytime Adventures on Thursday mornings at 10:30am, where we'll explore a new theme each week! Stay after storytime for playtime. Intended for preschoolers ages 3+ and their…

Read to a Therapy Dog!

Independent readers and children who are learning to read are invited to practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog from Comfort Caring Canines. Yes, you can pet them, too! Dogs will be accompanied by their handler…

Preschool Storytime & Playgroup

Join us for Preschool storytime every Monday! Enjoy stories, rhythms, and songs. Stay after storytime for playgroup. This program is intended for ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. 

Music and Movement!

Join Ms Naomi for songs, dance, and fun explorations of rhythm and movement! This program is intended for our friends ages 6 and under and their caregivers. Wednesdays at 10:30am in Shakespeare Park, or in inclement weather, in the…

Read Baby Read: Baby and Toddler Storytime with Ms. Susan

Join Ms. Susan for stories & songs perfect for families with infants and young toddlers (0-24 months). Stay afterwards and enjoy playing in our RBR Infant Toddler space.  Read, Baby, Read is made possible by a generous grant…

Preschool Storytime

  Every Wednesday morning, join us for stories, songs, and movement. This program is intended for our friends ages 6 and under and their caregivers. For large groups or classes, please call to schedule a library visit.  

Read Baby Read Storytime

“Read, Baby, Read” on Wednesdays at 10:30 am. Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces. This program is intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby, Read is a…

LEAP into Fun!

Join the LEAP team for craft and construction projects in our Story Hour Room. All ages (12 and under) are welcome!   The Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) offers K-12 out-of-school programming that fosters…

Read, Baby, Read Storytime!

Join Miss Liz for  Read, Baby, Read storytime on Monday mornings at 11:30am. Stay after storytime for playtime! Intended for babies and toddlers ages 0-2, but all are welcome. In good weather this event will be held…

Read Baby Read Storytime and Playgroup

Join us every Monday for lap time with stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Stay after storytime for playgroup. This program is intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. For large groups or…

Read Baby Read: Baby & Toddler Storytime!

Join Miss Mary for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Stay for playtime immediately following storytime! Intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. Nice weather? We'll be in Shakespeare Park, across the…

Read To a Therapy Dog

Readers of all ages can read to Cene, Fig and Huey, our certified therapy dogs!  Both independent readers and those still learning can practice reading skills to gain confidence in reading and interacting with animals.  Yes,…

Read Baby Read Preschool Storytime

Join Ms. Susan for stories, songs, and interactive play. (Ages 2-5 years) Read Baby Read is made possible by a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation.

Storytime Adventures!

Join Miss Liz for  Storytime Adventures on Thursday mornings at 10:30am, where we'll explore a new theme each week! Stay after storytime for playtime. Intended for preschoolers ages 3+ and their…

TumbleBooks

TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. Check out our home user guide

Ready4K

https://admin.parentpowered.com/organizations/246/subscriptions/new?token=d08cdacca574c311809dddfb0935d604 OLD: https://admin.parentpowered.com/organizations/246/subscriptions/new?token=d08cdacca574c311809dddfb0935d604

Overdrive World Languages eReading Room

Download ebooks and audiobooks in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, French, and other languages. Get the Libby app to borrow on the go.

OverDrive Sala de Lectura Electrónica en Español

Descargue libros electrónicos y audiolibros en español para niños, adolescentes y adultos. (Download ebooks and audiobooks in Spanish for kids, teens, and adults.)

Overdrive Kid's eReading Room

Ebooks and audiobooks from Overdrive for young readers. Get the Libby app to borrow on the go.

BookFlix *

A digital literacy resource, for grades preK-3, that pairs animated stories with nonfiction ebooks to build a love of reading. Includes lesson plans for teachers and tips for caregivers

Dennis Yi Tenen | Literary Theory for Robots: How Computers Learned to Write

Dennis Yi Tenen  is an associate professor of English at Columbia University, where he also serves as co-director of the Center for Comparative Media. Affiliated with Columbia’s Data Science Institute, he is a former fellow at the…

Robert Darnton | A Literary Tour de France: The World of Books on the Eve of the French Revolution

Cultural historian Robert Darnton is the author The Great Cat Massacre: And Other Episodes in French Cultural History . His many other books include The Business of Enlightenment , Berlin Journal , The Case for Books , and The Devil in…