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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…
Philly Jazz Legends: Lee Morgan
This is the seventh in a series of posts highlighting major figures in jazz history who were from Philly (even if most ended up in New York City). A virtual book discussion of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American…
Greens Across Tables
Thank you to Nourishing Literacy (NL) team member Carolyn for writing this blog post! In addition to sharing her experience and findings, Carolyn has included some of the activities and approaches that we use in NL. The NL team enjoys…
Five Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit
Are you thinking about starting a nonprofit organization? In the Regional Foundation Center (RFC), the Free Library’s resource center for nonprofits, we see lots of folks who are committed to helping their community and want…
Are You Philadelphia’s Next Youth Poet Laureate?
Are you a creative, engaged student who is passionate about writing, reading, performing, and experiencing poetry? Are you equally passionate about working with your peers and other students to bring more poetry to Philadelphia? If so,…
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…
Edible Alphabet Recipe of the Week: Dumplings
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 and…
Poetry: The Art of Expression!
A Voice for Peace, Concord, and Harmony: The XV International Poetry Festival in Philadelphia will virtually congregate poets from Latin America and the United States in an evening of verse and music. The Free Library, Acción…
Baking with Becca: Cooking Outside the Box
Baking with Becca began at Whitman Library , nestled between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Snyder Avenue in South Philly. When COVID hit, we had to take a long break. I continued to grow and learn to strengthen this class and to steel myself…
Spring has Sprung with New Upcoming Author Events!
Spring has sprung, and so has the Free Library’s Author Events calendar! Our events are, of course, still virtual, so you can enjoy our diverse array of authors from the comfort of wherever you’re social distancing. Most are…
It’s Library Giving Day!
This National Library Week , we have reflected on the many fantastic resources, programs, and events the Free Library offers. This past year, staff faced the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding virtual…
Happy Ramadan: Manuscripts of the Muslim World and Beyond!
What are the most popular Googled questions about Ramadan? Here's what we found: When does Ramadan begin and end in 2021? What is allowed and not allowed during Ramadan? What does Ramadan celebrate? What can’t you do…
Thank You, Free Library Staff!
Today as part of National Library Week , we’re joining with the American Library Association (ALA) in celebrating National Library Workers Day and the real heroes behind who we are and what we…
Making Her Mark Spotlight: Poetry and Movement Building
by Suzanna Urminska and Sam Perduta Our words carry power—whether as balm or as burnish, our words have the power to come together to form poetry that recalls and reconnects a range of human experiences both personal and…
Happy National Library Week!
It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year— National Library Week ! Founded in 1958, this annual celebration is a time to reflect on the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, and the role…
New Titles Coming to the Free Library in April!
This April, our children and teen titles explore curiosity and adventure while our adult selections are taking us into complicated realms... Young Children (up to 2nd Grade) What’s Inside a Flower? And Other Questions About…
Free Library Launches New Job Seeker Resources
The Free Library is pleased to announce the launch of a number of new resources for Philadelphians in search of a new job or career! Workshops, career fairs, and a new website are part of the Free Library’s expansion of services…
March Monster Madness: Godzilla vs. Kong
Dracula vs. Frankenstein Alien vs. Predator T-800 vs. T-1000 These are just a few of the most over-the-top sci-fi b-movie fight scenes ever filmed, but the main event will finally take place when Godzilla squares off against King Kong…
Newest Episode of "Book Feast" Invites Women to the Table
Coinciding with Women’s History Month, the newest episode of Book Feast uses the luncheon in Virginia Woolf ’s proto-feminist essay A Room of One’s Own (1929) to discuss women’s legacy in literature. The…
Sign Up Now for This Year's Summer Camp Challenge!
Free Library Youth Services is excited to announce a new Summer Camp Challenge season! Are you working with the youth of Philadelphia at a camp program this summer? The Free Library is here to help Philly kids prepare for the future by…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
In-Person Baby Storytime with Miss Mary!
Join Miss Mary Mondays at 10:30 am at Shakespeare Park (across the street from the library on Vine St) for Baby Storytime! Enjoy stories, songs, and fun! This program is intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. As…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights.…
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Picture books created by Asian authors and/or illustrators in 2020 and 2021
Godzilla vs. Kong
Who will win and be crowned the new King of the Monsters?
Making Her Mark booklist
Titles of interest related to the Making Her Mark exhibit and poetry reading.
Beverly Cleary
The beloved children's author created some of the most authentic characters in children's literature — Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse, and the irascible Ramona Quimby, to name just a few. 91 million copies of her books have been sold…
Larry McMurtry
In a career that spanned more than five decades, he wrote more than 60 novels and screenplays. The prolific novelist and screenwriter demythologized the American West with his unromantic depictions of life on the 19th-century frontier…
Resources to Prevent Gun Violence
This catalog list gives voice to stories of gun violence, the history of gun laws, and strategies to prevent, reduce, and end gun violence.
Read Alouds | Summer Camp Challenge
Explore the Read-Alouds that we'll be sharing with camps who sign up for the Summer Camp Challenge in 2021!
Women's History Month
Picture books and ebooks celebrating women in science, women in the arts and women in action
Resources to Combat Anti-Asian Racism
After the recent racist attacks against Asian Americans in Atlanta, and the increase in Anti-Asian violence and discrimination during the pandemic, we call for solidarity with AAPI communities and to fight back against white supremacy.…
Trans Reads in the Teen Collection
Our favorite teen fiction and nonfiction for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31, and all year long.
Yaphet Kotto
Yaphet Kotto was a beloved character actor of numerous films, but perhaps most well known as Parker, the chief engineer of the spaceship Nostromo from the groundbreaking science-fiction/horror film ''Alien'' (1979).
Inspiring BIPOC Women
This list, inspired by LEAP Teen Leader Brianna Arce's blog post, shares children's and YA books that highlight some of the amazing accomplishments by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color women.
Folklore Fridays
Materials used for the Folklore Fridays program at the Lit Dept.
Making Her Mark Selecting Readings
This list is inspired by the Free Library's exhibition, Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote, now on view online at www.freelibrary.org/exhibitions
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.
Sonia Sanchez | Collected Poems
In conversation with M. Nzadi Keita, Poet-in-Residence, Associate Professor; co-coordinator, African-American/Africana Studies at Ursinus College, and author of Brief Evidence of Heaven: Poems from the life of Anna Murray Douglass…
Blake Bailey | Philip Roth: The Biography
In conversation with Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Border , The Force , The Cartel, Power of the Dog , Savages, and Broken , his new collection of six short novels. Blake Bailey is acclaimed for his…
Richard Thompson | Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975
NOTE: SIGNED BOOKS ARE NOW SOLD OUT. ALL TICKETS BOUGHT AFTER 5:50 P.M (EST) ON EVENT DAY ARE FOR ENTRY WITH AN UNSIGNED BOOK INCLUDED. PURCHASE TICKETS In conversation with musician, novelist, and teacher Wesley Stace “One of rock’s…
Quiara Alegría Hudes | My Broken Language
In conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel Introduced by Virginia Sanchez Quiara Alegría Hudes won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Water by the Spoonful , a story of “shimmering, sustaining…
Walter Isaacson | The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
Pine Tree Foundation Lecture In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning broadcaster and journalist “A renaissance man…driven by a joyful desiredrive to discover” ( The Times of London ), Walter Isaacson is the author of…
Reem Kassis | The Arabesque Table: Contemporary Recipes from the Arab World
In conversation with Deb Perelman Reem Kassis is the author of The Palestinian Table , a guide to Middle Eastern cooking woven together through recipes, regional history, and three generations of family traditions. Praised by fellow…
Jonathan Zimmerman and Signe Wilkinson | Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn
In conversation with Bob Mankoff, cartoonist, cartoon and humor editor for Esquire, and former cartoon editor, The New Yorker Across the political spectrum, throughout history, the U.S. public has demanded the suppression of ideas and…
Deborah Willis | The Black Civil War Soldier: A Visual History of Conflict and Citizenship
Deborah Willis, Ph.D. , is the author of Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present ; Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present ; and Michelle Obama: The First Lady in…
Kate Masur | Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction
Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning broadcaster and journalist Kate Masur is the author of An Example for All the Land , a Lincoln Prize finalist that examined Washington, D.C.’s role as a…
Viet Thanh Nguyen | The Committed
In conversation with Alexander Chee, author of Edinburgh , The Queen of the Night , and How To Write An Autobiographical Novel , and associate professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College Viet Thanh Nguyen won the 2016…
Don Lemon | This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition America’s sole Black primetime news anchor, Don Lemon has hosted CNN Tonight since 2014. Before joining the respected cable network in 2006, he worked for…
Hala Alyan | The Arsonists’ City
In conversation with Alix Gerz, Vice President of Communications, Free Library of Philadelphia Hala Alyan’s novel Salt Houses , a “heart-wrenching, lyrical and timely” ( Dallas Morning News ) study of three generations in a Palestinian…
Madeleine Dean and Harry Cunnane | Under Our Roof: A Son's Battle for Recovery, a Mother's Battle for Her Son
In conversation with Action News anchor, Jim Gardner On the eve of the biggest professional risk of her life—running for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives—Madeleine Dean discovered that her son, Harry Cunnane, was…
Yaba Blay | One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race
In conversation with Imani Perry Referred to by Michael Eric Dyson as “one of the most brilliant and committed critics and advocates writing and thinking and working on behalf of Black people today,” Dr. Yaba Blay is a scholar,…
Beth Kephart | Wife | Daughter | Self: A Memoir in Essays
In conversation with Jacinda Barrett, Traveler, Actress on Netflix Bloodline, Writer, Mother, Wife and all the rest of it. Beth Kephart is the author of more than 30 books across a wide range of genres, including poetry, young adult…
Joby Warrick | Red Line: The Unraveling of Syria and America's Race to Destroy the Most Dangerous Arsenal in the World
Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Endowed Lecture Joby Warrick won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction for Black Flags , “a revealing, riveting and exquisitely detailed account” ( San Francisco Chronicle ) of the rise of ISIS and its…
Brontez Purnell | 100 Boyfriends
In conversation with Kaitlyn Greenidge Brontez Purnell is the author of Since I Laid My Burden Down , a debut novel about growing up gay in 1980s Alabama that “not only holds its own as queer literature, but also expands upon it” ( San…
Amelia Pang | Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America’s Cheap Goods
In conversation with Tracey Matisak, award-winning broadcaster and journalist In 2017, Amelia Pang earned the first place award in investigative journalism from the LA Press Club for her undercover exposé on the exploitation of…
Michael Eric Dyson | Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America
In conversation with Jon Meacham Meelya Gordon Memorial Lecture Michael Eric Dyson is the author of Tears We Cannot Stop , an “eloquent, righteous, and inspired” ( Philadelphia Inquirer ) call for racial change that was named one of the…
Maria Kefalas | Harnessing Grief: A Mother's Quest for Meaning and Miracles
In conversation with Ashley Fox, Writer. Speaker. Entrepreneur. Athlete. Mom. ESPN alumna. In 2012, Maria Kefalas’s daughter, Calliope, was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative, and incurable genetic disease called metachromatic…
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…