I was first introduced to Star Trek during my summer vacation in 9th grade.  It was 1994 and science fiction was big business, the television show The X Files had developed a huge following, and aliens were back in vogue. Every week day I spent the afternoon watching re-runs of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes and was amazed at this future world, where star ships traveled at warp speed (faster than the speed of light) and their only mission was the exploration of the galaxy (“to go where no man has gone before”) and provide help where needed. For a slightly geeky teenager this was paradise.

But Star Trek wasn’t just an adventure show, it explored the controversial topics of war, peace, use of technology,  democracy, economics, religion, human rights, feminism, xenophobia, and racism,  and presented them all in allegories which left you to ponder and make your own decisions. The Next Generation caused me to watch the original Star Trek series (the one led by Captain Kirk and Spock). The television series was so successful (despite only being on air for three seasons) that it spawned five additional television series, 11 feature films, and a host of novels, comic books, and merchandise. The latest Star Trek film was released this month to great fanfare. Even Philadelphia’s own The Franklin has an exhibit on Star Trek, running from May 16 through September 20.

Below you will find a couple Star Trek films and books in the Free Library’s catalog. Please keep in mind many of these items have a limited quantities, so be prepared to place items on hold. But I’m sure if you’re a Star Trek enthusiast or just want to dig deeper into this fictional world, you won’t mind the wait. To find more Star Trek titles try searching our catalog.

 Movies 

Have you ever wondered:

“Where can I get cool Free Library wallpaper?”

“Is there a way to search the library catalog from my browser?”

“I wonder if the Library Twitters?”

“I need more friends on Facebook... who can I add?”

“Where can I watch Free Library videos?”  

Well, don’t worry; the library’s web development team answered all these questions with our new Extras page!

The Extras page allows you to download Free Library widgets (which can be embedded on a blog or website), desktop wallpaper, link to our social networking sites (twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube), and install a search plug-in which allows you to search our catalog directly from your browser.

You can always find the Extras page by clicking "Extras" at the top-right of every page.

Check out the page and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below!
 

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I may not be a bona fide history nut—I certainly don’t know who was the fourth King of England—but I can spend hours poring over photographs and historical accounts of places I’m familiar with in present-day. Take the Parkway Central Library for example—there’s a certain level of nostalgia and intrigue that surrounds the history of a library, and Parkway Central doesn’t fall short. As media and technology (and the way we access them) evolve throughout the years, so does our Library.

Explore history hands-on and roam the halls of Parkway Central Library. Many departments display photographs of the original space, allowing visitors to study the differences that have shaped the departments over the years. I recommend starting your self-guided tour with a stop in Philbrick Popular Library, a bustling room full of new releases, DVDs, and popular literature. Then check out the "then and now" poster that shows the room how it once was—a sparse periodical space with dozens of heavy metal tables and chairs!

For a historical account without walking the halls, visit the digital collections the Free Library developed to celebrate the building’s 75th anniversary in 2002. Choose from blueprints, photographs, a timeline, and more in the 75th anniversary archives and explore the Parkway Central of the early 20th century.