The Criterion Collection is widely known as one of the most eclectic film collections ever assembled. For close to 30 years, they've specialized in showcasing and curating cult, foreign, and critically acclaimed films, from classics to contemporary cinema.

In a day and age where special features on a movie's DVD or Blu-ray release really aren't always so "special" anymore, Criterion was the original pioneer of presenting special editions of films with the correct aspect ratio for home video viewing (i.e. "letterbox" / widescreen format), theatrical trailers, documentaries, bonus materials (deleted scenes, alternate takes, production stills, and artwork), and commentary tracks endorsed by and involving the filmmakers themselves.

Here's a "Friday Five" of some of the weirdest, funniest, trashiest, most "out-there" films in the Criterion Collection:

	Repo Man (1984) The very definition of a "cult classic," Alex Cox’s Repo Man ups the weird factor by mashing together sci-fi, comedy, action, Reagan-era politics, consumerism, nuclear war, punk rock, and... car repossession in desolate downtown L.A. Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez play off each other like the Odd Couple version of a buddy cop flick, both with enough quotable lines to last a lifetime ("The life of a Repo Man is always intense!"). Special features include a restored digital transfer of the film approved by the director, new audio commentaries and interviews with cast and crew, and a booklet featuring essays an amazingly illustrated production history by Cox. Lastly, this movie was produced by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees!
	The Blob (1958) One of the classic creatures of the '50s sci fi and horror movie boom, The Blob is a gooey, gelatinous being from another world that crash lands in a small town in Pennsylvania (Phoenixville, represent!) and basically runs... er, slimes amok. Only one man in town can stay cool enough to save everyone, the "King of Cool" himself, Steve McQueen! It should be noted that another cool character wrote the groovy theme song for this film, legendary composer Burt Bacharach. Special features include a high-def digital restoration of the film, audio commentary with director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., the theatrical trailer, and Blobabilia!, a gallery of stills, posters, and props from the movie. This movie is so loved, the town of Phoenixville holds a Blobfest every year to celebrate!
	Videodrome (1983) David Cronenberg's Videodrome is a surreal sci-fi horror film about a cable access video feed showing extreme scenes of sex and violence that when watched not only takes over your mind, but also transforms your body (sometimes in grotesque fashion, a theme through most of Cronenberg's films). But is it real or is it all a hallucination? And who's behind the "Videodrome" signal? The mystery and madness draw Max Renn (James Woods) into a global conspiracy to find out. Years later, the film has become eerily prophetic with its social commentary on media. Special features include a high-def transfer of the unrated version of the film, audio commentaries with the director and stars James Woods and Deborah Harry, a documentary on Rick Baker's groundbreaking video and prosthetic makeup effects, and photo galleries featuring rare behind-the-scenes production photos. "Long Live The New Flesh!"
	Slacker (1991) The very essence of D.I.Y., no-budget filmmaking, Slacker takes the viewer on a weird trip through an underground scene of artists, musicians, poets, and all around bohemians in Austin, Texas during the alternative heyday of the early '90s. There's really no plot in this movie, per se, but more a bunch of quirky vignettes featuring crazy characters that weave a larger narrative. Director / writer / producer Richard Linklater shot the film on 16mm for a mere $3,000, helping to launch the prolific independent film movement of the time. Special features include audio commentaries with Linklater and members of the cast and crew, casting tape “auditions” from the over one-hundred-member cast, a copy of the "script", and information about the Austin Film Society.
	Rushmore (1998) This highly entertaining and inventive film from Wes Anderson is a coming-of-age drama that plays like a slapstick comedy, and vice-versa. Private school student Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a legend in his own time--at least in his own mind. He's on the verge of getting expelled from school, until he meets a cantankerous millionaire (the hilarious Bill Murray), falls in love with a school teacher twice his age (Olivia Williams), and writes his magnum opus (yet completely and inappropriately over the top) play based on Vietnam, "Heaven and Hell". The soundtrack to the film, full of British Invasion-flavored garage rock, totally compliments the teenage loudness and adolescent awkwardness of its protagonist. Special features include a director’s cut of the film, audio commentary featuring the director, co-writer Owen Wilson, and actor Jason Schwartzman, a "making-of" documentary, audition footage, and Anderson’s hand-drawn storyboards for the film.

Search through over 500 Criterion Collection titles in our catalog and have yourself a movie marathon that would make a film school student jealous!

Leave a comment below and let us know some of your favorite cult films.

Tags: Friday Five, film

You may have noticed a few of our librarians' shining faces around town lately on buses, billboards, subway placards, and more, as part of our ad campaign in partnership with ADLOOP. We thought you may want to get to know a little more about these awesome information gurus who smile back at you every day on your commute home. So without further ado, meet Adam!

Your favorite thing about your job:
It’s very satisfying when patrons approach me with questions, curiosities, or in-depth research problems, and I am able to lead them successfully to an answer. Or alternatively, introduce them to new voices weighing in on the topic. Not only is it satisfying to help someone come to those breakthrough moments, but it’s also rewarding to be learning all the time with them.

Your librarian superpower:
Dudes, I’m the people's professor. You’ve been to school. It’s the law after all. Maybe you’ve been to university, or are taking classes now. I know for a fact that teachers and professors have wielded their own position of power against you as a matter of course. Well, my librarian superpowers include the fact that I’m an educator who has no unnatural authority over you. At least no authority beyond my duty to ensure that everyone else in the community can share in the skills we have and the resources we can unlock. If you have the desire to learn, I will join you in your quest.

Most pervasive (and incorrect) librarian stereotype:
I find the idea that we would somehow be scared of the internet hilarious and a little bit sad. It’s as preposterous as a doctor being afraid of nanotechnology or an MRI device. All technologies are tools that make us more powerful at what we do. The folks who think the internet will replace libraries let alone librarians rather than strengthen the two are living in a cave. They are mistaking the flickering of shadows on the walls for the life out in the sunshine. Or something like that.

Most pervasive (and, okay, maybe a *little* correct) librarian stereotype:
Shushing. For a minute it was hip in the professional literature to rag on quiet. I do profoundly agree that the library ought to be a place of collaboration, but a public space where contemplation, reflection, and quiet study can be had is essential too. Basically, I’m excited to witness the conversations that are constantly sparked in the library, but I’m also not afraid to ask you to take your phone call and at least some of your drama outside.

Insider tip about the Music Department:
First and foremost, the librarians who work in the Music Department are extremely knowledgeable and fluent masters of the full spectrum of musical discourses. When you see one of us working at the Reference Desk, please don’t be shy about asking us questions. You’re never interrupting. We’re all enthusiastic about questions big and small.

Secondly, there’s a wealth of print, audio, and digital resources behind the scenes that we can unearth for you. If you stop by to ask, we can reveal everything from lost tunes buried in fakebooks and Tune-Dex cards, to vinyl records not yet digitally catalogued, and on to print or digital journals and magazines and the indexes that get you deep into them.

Finally, recently we’ve been experimenting with a friendly sort-of book club for musicians we’ve been calling Readings from the Chamber Music Collection. This collection represents complete part sets for about 30,000 or so works from the across the chamber music repertoire. Musicians have been forming impromptu groups, checking out the music to take home, and then gathering once a month at the library to “read” through works or movements of works. They form new connections, put together new ensembles, and then the process repeats. Audiences are welcome to check out the Readings.  The next one is Sunday, May 26, after that it’s the second to last Sunday of each month 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Room 108 next to the Home Page Café.
 

Tags: Check Us Out

As part of its 21st Century Libraries initiative, the Free Library will be holding a series of forums to welcome feedback from community members about how they use and value their neighborhood libraries. Attendees will also be able to view and discuss images of modern libraries from around the world. Feedback from the forums will inform and help to shape future renovations to these neighborhood libraries.

Community forums will be held at the following libraries:

Lillian Marrero Library
6th and Lehigh Avenues
Thursday, May 16 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Tacony Library
6742 Torresdale Avenue
Monday, May 20 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Logan Library
1333 Wagner Avenue (just off North Broad Street)
Thursday, May 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Lovett Memorial Library
6945 Germantown Avenue
Monday, June 10 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

In our continual effort to better serve you, a team of librarians has recently taken a fresh look at our many electronic resources and databases, and has recommended some changes. Public library services have shifted dramatically over the past few years, with not only greatly reduced budgets but also a growth in the information you can connect to online.  Ultimately, we recognize that our electronic databases must be relevant to your needs and provide the excellent library service you deserve.

To that end we will no longer be subscribing to a small selection of our current databases. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! The vast majority of the content available in these databases is also available in similar form at freelibrary.org and through other free resources, like Pennsylvania’s PowerLibrary. 

The databases we will no longer be subscribing to include:

• Freegal (ending as of June 1)
• EBSCOhost, which includes MasterFile Premier, Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, ERIC, Novelist Plus, and Novelist K-8 Plus (ending as of July 1)
• Dun & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Database (ending as of August)

These changes will allow us to focus more on the types of services you value most and continue to be a library that is responsive to your needs.  In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be posting a helpful series of blogs that details just where you can find all the information you need, so check back often to learn how you can maximize your Free Library experience.

To get you started, read our post on Freegal and the many digital music resources available to you through the Free Library and online!

 As always, we welcome your feedback.

Tags: databases, digital collections, music

This is a great time for music lovers. Not so long ago, we had relatively few choices when it came to how we heard our music. We could buy it, which is ideal if you’re sure you’re going to like it once you get it home; listen to the radio or watch MTV, OK as long as you’re content to hear what someone else decides you should hear; or go see it live, again wonderful, but depending on where you live and the kind of music you like, maybe not possible.  And those examples only take into account our very recent history.  Go back much further and people who wanted to hear music had to play it themselves (also not such a bad option, as any musician will tell you). 

Now though, anyone with access to the Internet also has access to a nearly limitless amount of music, much of it free and entirely legal.  I don’t mean that online music can or should take the place of buying CDs and records, seeing music live, or making music yourself, just that it’s awfully nice to be able to satisfy your musical curiosity so easily.  So, while the Free Library will no longer be offering the Freegal database of downloadable music, there are still plenty of great ways to access your favorite tunes.

Let’s look at some of your options. 

Library Streaming Services
While music on the open web is great and the amount of content is growing every day, you still can’t find everything. That’s where the library can help. Check out our streaming music service over at the Download Media page. Online Music from Alexander Street Press is comprised of six individual collections focusing on jazz, classical, traditional, and world music.  You can stream all day, create playlists, and more.  A library card is required to login and a world of great listening awaits.

Online Streaming Services
Subscription services like Spotify, Pandora, and Last.fm are also a great way to hear music online. These services are free and supported by advertising – just like radio – except that here you get to choose what you want to hear.  Spotify lets you listen to the specific songs, artists, and albums you choose without limitations, while Pandora and Last.fm offer you the ability to create custom radio stations based on the music you love.  At the basic (ad-supported) level each of these services are free. Even better, all indications are that the market for streaming music online is about to get even bigger with recent reports that Amazon, Apple, and Google are all hoping to get into the market. 

Embrace the video wormhole!
As if listening to your favorite music weren’t addictive enough, there is also a nearly endless stream of music video on sites like YouTube and Vevo. Vevo is sponsored by three of the “Big Four” major record companies and serves up new music videos and hits from some pop’s biggest starts. YouTube, of course, is also a great source for today’s hottest videos, as well as your old favorites from the video era, but the real fun begins when you discover one of YouTube’s many hidden corners of music arcana.  From lost dance floor gems,  to Afro-rock greats, to forgotten Philadelphia A-sides, these fan created videos offer a music wormhole too fun not to allow yourself to fall into now and then. 

Of course, all this is only the beginning.  You can also find new music on aggregators like The Hype Machine; search out tomorrow’s hits on Bandcamp, or hear a little of everything on SoundCloud.  Please share your favorite sources for online music with us in the comments below. 

Tags: databases, music