Tagged
Summer Reading with Dena!
Yes, it’s that time of the year again, to head to the beach (or a heavily air conditioned reading nook) and dive into some fun reading! Here are some new and newish books that are perfect for giving yourself a mental vacation:…
Local Athletes Competing in the Summer Olympics
After the postponement of the 2020 Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the torch will be lit once again this year as the rescheduled Summer Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan starting today, Friday, July 23, and run through…
Broccoli Has Flower Power!
Broccoli is a delicious, nutritious flower! With its different textures, vibrant green color, and good flavor, broccoli can ignite ideas both in and out of the kitchen. Blanching is a way to quickly cook vegetables in hot water. This…
Central Senior Services Joins Moore College of Art to Fight Social Isolation During Pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has studied the impact of loneliness and social isolation on American seniors and the results are deeply disturbing. Extensive studies of the subject reveal that social isolation of…
Picture Book Highlights | Family Reunions
Summer is for get-togethers—the perfect time for vacations, celebrations, and family reunions. This is especially true this year, as the pandemic postponed many events, so getting together now is even sweeter. Is your family…
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…
Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer with the Free Library!
The summer is heating up! As we all try our best to deal with the rising temperatures in our area, don't forget that the Free Library is a great place to cool off! From access to books and other materials to computers and wireless…
Philly Versus the World: A Battle Over Ice Cream
Recognize and represent our city for its contributions to the popularization of ice cream in the US! And be sure to join us at the Haddington Library on Friday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. for a demonstration, tasting, and celebration . Water…
Q&A with Christina Holmes | Children's Summer Programming at Blackwell Regional Library
Summertime is here and the Free Library is offering incredible outdoor and virtual programming! This July marks the second summer we’ve spent during the COVID-19 pandemic and as we gather safely to celebrate this spectacular…
Picture Book Highlights | Let's Go to the Beach!
It’s beach time! Grab your bathing suits, towels, sunscreen, and go to the beach. Here are some books to get you in the mood for some sand, sun, and fun! Board Books Beach Baby written by Laurie Elmquist ; illustrated by…
Read, Baby, Read Presents Early Literacy Ideas: Shapes!
Read, Baby, Read is a Free Library initiative focused on encouraging early literacy development among infants and young toddlers under two years old. We work with 12 participating libraries across Philadelphia to reach caregivers of all…
Bring Your Furry Friend to Free Library Dog Day, Featuring Author-Illustrator Sarah Jacoby!
Each year, the Free Library celebrates the "Dog Days of Summer" with a social media campaign, inviting our community members to post pictures of their dogs who love to read and tag them with #FLPDogDays ! This year, the…
10 Great Reads from the Holmesburg Library Book Club
Since 2019, the Holmesburg Library's Book Club has met biweekly to discuss great modern literature, nineteenth-century classics, and historical nonfiction, to name just a few genres. Not even the pandemic could stop the book club…
Summer of Wonder | Program Highlights for Families
Summer is here, and we know you’re ready for some fun! Whether you’re looking for outdoor, in-person programs or virtual adventures, the Free Library’s Summer of Wonder has got you covered. Last summer, we learned how…
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…
Are You Ready for Shark Week?
Up from the depths and onto your screen, it's... Shark Week ! The Discovery Channel's annual feeding frenzy of shark-related media kicks off its 33rd year with shows featuring comedian Tiffany Haddish ( Tiffany Haddish Does…
Edible Alphabet Recipe of the Week: Hummus and Flatbread
by Breshay Woods, Culinary Literacy Center Intern Edible Alphabet is a free English Language Learning (ELL) program offered by the Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center. Our mission is to teach English language…
The Rainbow Pantry... from Scratch!
Inspired by June’s Pride month and our LGBTQIA+ community members, we are celebrating the Rainbow Pantry again! Check out previous blog posts for more ideas on keeping and using colorful kitchen staples. This round, we are…
Picture Book Highlights | Fun in the Water!
Back in 2014, I wrote a blog post suggesting books that can help kids feel comfortable playing in the water. Some of us have no problem getting in the water from the get-go, while others need a little time and encouragement, and that is…
New Titles Coming to the Free Library in July!
This July we are celebrating America, we’re making wishes, we’re gaming, we’re walking the red carpet, we’re learning about the relationship between plants and brains, and we’re exploring race and…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
VIRTUAL - Anthony Doerr | Cloud Cuckoo Land
TICKETS ON SALE HERE | SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 AT 10:00 A.M. Books with signed book plates will be available to the first 100 book with ticket buyers. Anthony Doerr won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for All the Light We Cannot See , “a…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Adult Literacy Book Club
Join The Languages & Learning Center and Beyond Literacy as we read Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. Concrete Rose is the prequel to the author's debut novel and feature film, The Hate U…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
Read, Baby, Read! Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories and songs. All programs are for children ages birth through 24 months and their caregivers. Expecting parents and siblings welcome. This program will appear on…
“Oklahoma: The Show That Changed American Musicals Forever”
If ever a musical show seemed marked for disaster, it was Oklahoma. Since the producers had insisted on casting singers who could act, rather than actors who could sing, the show opened without a single star in the cast. As…
Adult Literacy Book Club
Join The Languages & Learning Center and Beyond Literacy as we read Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. Concrete Rose is the prequel to the author's debut novel and feature film, The Hate U…
Headshots at the BRIC!
Get a FREE headshot photo taken at the Business Resource and Innovation Center! Headshots are a unique service for entrepreneurs, nonprofit professionals, job seekers, and more. Use your photo to enhance your professional…
2021 Eisner Award Nominees and Winners
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Oscar Awards. They are named in honor of the pioneering writer and…
Sequential Philly’s Sequential Art Assortment
Explore some of the ways that comics and cartooning have solid connections to other forms of visual art! From sequential structure to graphic elements to deliberate borrowing, you can find aspects of the comics approach to storytelling…
Floyd Cooper
The award-winning author-illustrator, widely lauded for his evocative and luminous paintings depicting the African American experience, died on Friday, July 16, after being ill with cancer. He was 65. His book, "Max and the Tag-Along…
Sequential Philly’s Biographical Bonanza
Where do cartoonists get their ideas? Don’t ask them, because they hate that question. But you may find answers in these biographies! Follow Sequential Philly on Instagram to keep up with comics creators and events in the Philadelphia…
Sequential Philly’s Stormy Weather Selections
Thunderstorms, heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, floods…summer is a time for wild weather events. So why not go with the flow, and sample some graphic novels that resonate with meteorological mayhem? Follow Sequential Philly on…
Sequential Philly's Independence Day Reading Roster
With July 4th upon us, what could be more appropriate than sampling some biographies of notable Americans, visiting key moments in American history, and sharing a sliver of the diverse stories that make up the American experience? Follow…
MOVE Bombing
This list accompanies Episode 10 from Season 1 of Story Search from Special Collections, a podcast series exploring stories based on, inspired by, or connected to material artifacts. |…
Sequential Philly's Pride Month Picks
Don't let Pride Month pass by without sampling the breadth of LGBTQ narratives that comics have to offer! From memoir to YA to superheroes to slice-of-life, you'll find a diversity of stories in the FL collection. Follow Sequential…
Sequential Philly’s Digital Comics Cavalcade
Your FL library card grants access to an amazing trove of digital comics and graphic novels. These can be downloaded instantly, and you can access them offline using your mobile device with the free Hoopla and Libby apps. And they return…
MY SOUL'S COMFORTS
ALL OF MY COMFORTS WILL BE MADE WHOLE & COMPLETE IN GODS NEW TIMING FOR ME AND HIS WORLD.
Fully Enjoying Sex with My Prospective HUSBAND
I LOVE THE MEANING THAT IS IN DEEP-SEX. AT TIMES I FEEL AS IF I COULD GO FOR HOURS AND THROUGHOUT OUR MANY NIGHTS TOGETHER.
beaten, battered and killed
I DON'T FUCK WIT NO IGNORANT ASS PEOPLE. I TOLD THEM TO DEPART FROM ME IN THE SWEETEST WAY. THEN, I HAD TO BUY A SODASTREAM CANISTER.
MOMMY LOVES HER FAMILY
I Love My Children's Father in a much more lowly way than I Love and Appreciate Our Children. He Feels it and it Makes Me even more Mad because He Thought that he was Fully In Christ _ Not Like Me Though. HE HAS TO LEAVE THAT…
FULLY WILLING TO COMPLETELY ADORE MY HUSBAND
I Have been working on my Marriage since before I can Recall Right Now.
Color rainbow of books
For the Culinary Literacy Center's June 2021 series
YA Pride at Coleman Library
Young adult offerings that celebrate LGBTQ+ folks - both fiction and non-fiction. All books are available at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library.
Value Line
Research, recommendations, rankings & financial information on 3,500 stocks, more than 2,000 mutual funds, as well as options, convertibles, & OTC special situations.
U.S. History In Context
Covers themes, events, individuals and periods in U.S. history from pre-colonial times to the present. The material also includes access to the citations for over 180 additional history journals from the Institute for Scientific…
U.S. Congressional Serial Set (1817-1980)
The bound, sequentially numbered volumes of all the Reports, Documents, and Journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives constitutes a rich source of primary source material on all aspects of American history. Upon…
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
TrueFlix *
Student Resources In Context
"Thousands of curriculum-targeted primary documents, biographies, topical essays, background information, critical analyses, full-text coverage of 800 magazines, over 10,000 photographs and illustrations, and more than 8 hours of audio…
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is an authoritative, comprehensive Web-based reference work about philosophy, useful to scholars of all levels as well as the general public. Published through Stanford University’s Center for the…
Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries
With an extraordinary array of more than 35,000 individual tracks of streaming music, spoken word, and natural and human-made sounds, users can listen to performances by American folk icons such as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger…
Slavery in America and the World: History, Culture, and Law
This HeinOnline collection brings together a multitude of essential legal materials on slavery in the U.S. and the English-speaking world. It includes nearly 2,000 titles, with every statute passed by every colony and state on slavery,…
SimplyAnalytics
A mapping and data visualization application that makes it easy to create interactive maps and reports using powerful demographic, business, and marketing data. Watch this video to learn more
Sanborn Maps, 1867–1970 (Formerly Sanborn Maps Geo Edition)
Explore America’s building history through over 660,000 black-and-white, large-scale maps, which chart the growth of more than 12,000 towns and cities. Read this blog post to learn more.
Omar El Akkad | What Strange Paradise
Omar El Akkad is the author of American War , a “poignant and horrifying” ( Washington Post ) dystopian novel that imagines a future civil war born from the U.S.’s current destructive policies and impulses. It was an international…
Jessamyn Stanley | Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance
In conversation with adrienne maree brown Internationally sought-after wellness expert Jessamyn Stanley is the author of Every Body Yoga , “a clever memoir of a millennial woman’s search for self-acceptance” ( Elle ) wrapped inside a…
Robin DiAngelo | Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm
In conversation with Resmaa Menakem, bestselling author of My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Robin DiAngelo ’s New York Times bestseller White Fragility , a “methodical,…
William di Canzio | Alec
In conversation with Wendy Moffat, Professor of English and Curley Chair of Global Education at Dickinson College and author of the prize-winning biography, A Great Unrecorded History: A New Life of E.M. Forster A professor in the…
Yaa Gyasi | Transcendent Kingdom
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition Celebrated for her “stellar instincts, sturdy craftsmanship and penetrating wisdom” ( San Francisco Chronicle ), Yaa Gyasi is the author of Homegoing . Winner…
T.J. Newman | Falling
A former bookseller turned flight attendant, T. J. Newman flew for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 until this year. While her passengers were asleep on cross-country red-eye flights, she began to write a novel on whatever…
Scott Ellsworth | The Ground Breaking: An American City's Search for Justice
In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning journalist and broadcaster Scott Ellsworth is the author of Death in a Promised Land , an in-depth book about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of modern history’s most horrific…
Bobby Rush | I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story
In conversation with Jonny Meister, host of The Blues Show on WXPN In his five decades in blues music, Grammy-winner Bobby Rush has recorded hundreds of his own songs, collaborated with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and…
Sarah Schulman | Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987–1993
In conversation with Jason Villemez, editor of the Philadelphia Gay News A decades-long activist for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s empowerment, Sarah Schulman is the author of more than twenty novels, nonfiction books, screenplays, and…
Joshua Cohen | The Netanyahus with Rivka Galchen | Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch
Joshua Cohen ’s acclaimed novels include Moving Kings , Witz , and Book of Numbers , “a fascinating look at the dark heart of the Web” and “one of the best novels ever written about the Internet” ( Rolling Stone ). One of Granta ’s Best…
Elias Rodriques | All the Water I’ve Seen is Running
In conversation with Rachel Ossip Co-sponsored by n+1 and Blue Stoop Elias Rodriques currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and in the fall of 2021 will start as an assistant professor of African American literature at…
Alex Michaelides | The Maidens
In conversation with David Baldacci, global #1 bestselling author whose books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. Alex Michaelides is the author of the #1 New York…
Laura Raicovich | Culture Strike: Art and Museums in an Age of Protest
In conversation with Seph Rodney, PhD, opinions editor and managing editor of the Sunday Edition for Hyperallergic , author of The Personalization of the Museum Visit , and winner of the 2020 Rabkin Arts Journalism Prize. The interim…
Elizabeth Hinton | America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s
In conversation with Jill Lepore, historian and bestselling and award-winning author of These Truths: A History of the United States , The Secret History of Wonder Woman , and If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future…
Emily Rapp Black | Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg
In conversation with Katie Ford, author of If You Have to Go and three previous collections of poems. Ford is the recipient of a Lannan Literary Fellowship and she teaches at the University of California, Riverside. Bestselling…
Jason L. Riley | Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell
In conversation with Anthony B. Bradley, Professor and Chair of Religious and Theological Studies at The King's College (New York) and a Research Fellow at The Acton Institute Jason L. Riley ’s books include Let Them In: The Case for…
Ursula M. Burns | Where You Are Is Not Who You Are
In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning broadcaster and journalist The first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Ursula M. Burns headed Xerox from 2009 to 2016. She was the chair and CEO of VEON from 2017 to early 2020,…
Paul Farmer | Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History
Pine Tree Foundation Endowed Lecture In conversation with Dr. Steven Larson, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Acclaimed for his “exceptional empathy and care” ( Boston Globe )…
Lawrence Wright | The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition Acclaimed for bringing “a clear-eyed, investigative fearlessness” ( The Washington Post ) to a diverse range of topics, Lawrence Wright is a longtime staff…
Carol Anderson | The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America
In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning journalist and broadcaster In appreciation of the George S. Pepper Society Carol Anderson is the author of the National Book Critics Circle Award winner White Rage , “a riveting and…
ZOOM Trivia Games
ZOOM-from PBS Kids! A game to play with your friends or family. For grades 4 and up.
ZOOM
ZOOM from PBS-by kids, for kids. Lots of fun science activities. Grades 2 and up; may need adult supervision.
Ziggity Zoom
This site offers a variety that will appeal to preschool and younger elementary age children. Online and printable activities are available.
Zero to Three
The mission of Zero to Three is to promote the healthy development of infants and toddlers. This website provides a breadth of behavioral and developmental information for parents, as well as suggestions for creating positive learning…
Zenkaikon
The Philadelphia-area Anime Convention.
ZDNet
A wholly-owned subsidiary of CNET networks, ZDNet aims to be the "premier 'full service' destination for people looking to buy, use, and learn more about technology." On its site, the company offers news, product reviews, downloads, free…
Zamzar
Free Online File Converter
Yves St. Laurent
Yves St. Laurent launched his label in 1962 and turned the fashion world on its ear with his mix of pantsuits and fitted gowns. The line is now supervised by Stefano Pilati, whose innovative designs continue the legacy of St. Laurent…
Yuckiest Site on the Internet
From Discovery.com - The Yuckiest Site on the Internet! Join Wendell the worm and check out his buggy scrapbook! For grades 3 and up.
Youthspeaks.org
Provides safe spaces to empower the next generation of leaders, self-defined artists, and visionary activists through written and oral literacies.
YouthSpeak Newsletter
YouthSpeak is a grassroots citizen organization working to empower youth and to allow youth to make the democratic choices that affect their lives.
YouthRules!
Information from the U.S. Department of Labor for teens, parents, educators, employers and the public on Federal and State rules regarding young workers, to help ensure a safe and positive work experience for young people.
Youth work Links and Ideas
This site's author has a Master's Degree in Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work, and 20 years experience working with adolescents. The site is comprehensive and contains frequently updated links pages for youth and…
Youth Violence Fact Sheet
This site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists current statistics on youth violence, including risk factors.
Youth United for Change (YUC)
Youth United for Change (YUC) is a democratic organization primarily made up of working class youth of color, which builds the “people power" necessary to hold school officials and government accountable to guarantee the educational…
Youth Service America: National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador Program
Year-long program helps young leaders (ages 16-22) create change around critical issues facing youth today.
Youth Health Empowerment Project (Y-HEP)
Y-HEP's mission is to help young people grow into healthy adults by supporting them in empowering themselves to make healthy choices. They offer outreach and drop-in services.
Youth Health Empowerment Project
Youth Drop-In Center
YourDictionary
Provides an easy-to-use search engine for words and the results are quite detailed. Also offers 400 different language dictionaries.
You Can Play Sax
Community video lessons by and for saxophone players. Watch video lessons to improve your skill or upload a lesson yourself to help others learn the instrument! A space for instructors and students.
American Presidency Series
Join the Free Library for a series of compelling provocative programs that examine the untold stories of, unconventional approaches to, and contemporary concerns about the world's most difficult job. The 2016 American Presidency Series…
Anime and Manga
Anime is an animation style originated in Japan that is characterized by distinctive characters and backgrounds. Storylines may include a variety of fictional or historical characters, events, and settings. Manga is Japanese for "comics"…
Asian Americans
Asian American resources for teens, cultural traditions and celebrations, biographies on famous Asian Americans, history of different Asian ethnic groups in America, lesson plans for teachers to explore a variety of Asian cultures, Asian…
Back to School
The start of another school year is underway here in Philadelphia! Get ready for school with these helpful resources for students, teachers, parents, and caregivers to help make the school year easier. Learn new study skills,…
Bestsellers
Find out about the latest bestsellers from many well known resources.
Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month and African American History as a whole, explore our resources on African American history and culture including famous African Americans From Philadelphia, Poets and Poetry, Speculative Fiction,…
Black Lives Matter
The #BlackLivesMatter movement began in 2013 after a jury acquitted the armed civilian who murdered seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin. Though activists and organizers have resisted the long history of police and state-sanctioned…
Cutting Clutter
Are you constantly trying to find papers you placed down on your desk? Is your closet overflowing with junk? Are you drowning in clutter and don't know where to begin to cleanup? Take charge with these books and resources on clutter,…
Digital Media Guide
Borrowing ebooks and audiobooks, downloading podcasts, and streaming media such as movies, music, and even comic books, from Free Library has never been easier. In this guide, we'll offer tips and information to get you started or…
Fantastic Planets
The void that exists between celestial bodies is vast. How many rings does Saturn have? Where did galaxies come from? What is Dark Matter? How do astronauts travel through space? Where does science fiction end and science fact begin?…
Fix It Yourself
Resources on how to do your own repairs on everyday items: Grab the scissors for sewing projects, drapery, upholstery, or even a haircut! View a list of do it yourself videos and tackle some of those household chores on your to-do list!…
Freedom Train
From July 1st through November 1st, the Rosenbach will feature Freedom Train 1947-1949, an exhibition on the history of the Freedom Train that toured the continuous 48 states in the post-war years. The topics of freedom, liberty, and…
Genealogy
This series of guides, web links, book lists, and resources will introduce you to the genealogical resources available through the Free Library of Philadelphia and to other important libraries and archives throughout the Philadelphia…
Graphic Novels
Graphic novels are, simply defined, book-length comics. Sometimes they tell a single, continous narrative from first page to last; sometimes they are collections of shorter stories or individual comic strips. Comics are sequential visual…
Green Living
Green living allows you to become an everyday environmentalist. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption, and diet. Go green with these…
Grimm
Explore the world of the Brothers Grimm and their legendary tales.
Halloween
Hello boils and ghouls! It's that time of year again—Halloween! We've concocted a creepy cross section of spooky stories from our chilling collections of boo-ks, mad monsters in macabre movies, and scary soundtracks, as well as links to…
Health
What are your health questions? The Free Library can connect you with resources to help you live a healthier lifestyle, including research tools, cooking classes, resources to help you quit smoking or increase your exercise, and…
Health Literacy Month
October is Health Literacy Month, a month dedicated to promoting the importance of understandable health information. The month was first honored as an annual worldwide event in 1999 and continues to be an important initiative in…
Healthy Communities
Healthy Communities, a partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention , increases the library’s capacity to offer free, accessible cooking, physical activity, gardening…
Honeybees
The third Saturday in August is National Honeybee Day, a day to celebrate this small but vital insect. Philadelphians should be especially proud; the modern beehive, known as the Langstroth hive, was invented in the City of Brotherly…
Jerry Pinkney
Philadelphia born and raised, Jerry Pinkney is one of the most beloved artists in children’s literature, illustrating more than 100 books that have delighted children—and adults—for generations. This year, as the American Library…
Job Seekers
The Free Library supports job seekers within the Business Resource & Innovation Center (BRIC). We provide current information and resources on changing careers, job searching techniques, and emerging employment fields to help career…
LGBTQ
The Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June with book and film recommendations, events for all ages, and resources in Philadelphia. Through this Explore Topic, you can also find lesbian, gay, bisexual,…
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important voice of the American civil rights movement, which worked for equal rights for all. He was famous for using nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice, and he never got tired of trying to…
Medieval Manuscripts
Are you interested in learning more about the history of people who lived in Europe between 500 and 1500 A.D.? Below you can find helpful information for your research or check out our Medieval Manuscript Digital Collection with over…
Philadelphia Cooks
Explore diverse cooking styles and cuisine throughout Philadelphia, read cookbooks by renowned Philly chefs, learn about the latest nutritional values and advancements, search or browse through The Philadelphia Inquirer's restaurant and…
Poetry
Poetry in all its forms including classic selections from our Literature Department, Haikus, poetry for children, and poetry with special appeal for tweens and teens. Read poets from diverse cultures and in other languages, as well as…
Remembering September 11th
On September 11th, 2001, the world changed. For those of us who experienced it as a current event, life can be divided between a before and after, and we can clearly remember where we were when the news first reached us. For those not…
Returning Citizens
Resources for returning citizens in the transition from incarceration to society including information on job training, housing assistance, and counseling services. One such resource is Bridges, which offers returning citizens from jails…
Season's Greetings
It's that time of year again, full of many diverse holiday celebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and New Year's. This Explore Topic features lists of great books, music, and movies to share and learn…
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, born in 1564, was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Poet Ben Johnson wrote “He was not of an age but for all…
STEM
An acronym referring to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields of study. The term was created for schools from kindergarten through college to improve competitiveness in learning and workforce development. "Science"…
Talking About Consent
As librarians, we are frequently asked to offer advice about resources that help explain current events to young children. When a disturbing story appears in the news, parents and caregivers may struggle to find age-appropriate…
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November throughout the United States. It originated as a harvest festival of giving thanks and although it has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions,…
The Olympics
The Olympic Games are the world's foremost sports competition, featuring thousands of athletes from around the world who participate in a variety of events. More than 200 nations participate every four years, alternating between the…
U.S. Elections and Politics
The United States presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. In addition to candidates for U.S. president and vice president, the Pennsylvania ballot includes candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, the PA…