Late summer Sundays, when time seems to run like molasses and the air is thick with stagnant heat—it’s not always the most inspiring time of year, is it? But the Free Library is looking to change all that and inject a little fun into these lazy, hazy days. Did we mention we have air conditioning?

Beginning August 1 through September 12, Parkway Central Library will host storytellers, musicians, magicians, and more as part of Sundays on the Parkway—a new series of free, interactive programs designed for both children and adults. All programs will begin at 2:00 p.m. Check out our awesome line-up!

August 1: Daaimah S. Poole and Victoria Wells | African-American Authors
Daaimah S. Poole was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in journalism in 2003. Her latest novel is What’s His Is Mine. Victoria Wells resides in the Philadelphia area with her husband of twenty years and her three children. She is an adult nurse practitioner, and Key to My Heart is her latest novel.

August 8: Magic by Poly | Sundays on Stage
Howard Polykoff presents a fun-filled magic show that features a dazzling display of illusions, comedy, live animals, music, audience participation, and small gifts for the children.

August 15: How to Select Wine | The Wine School
Whether you enjoy sharing a bottle of wine at a party with friends or you prefer a quiet glass with dinner, The Wine School will share the secrets for pairing and selecting the perfect wine for every occasion.

August 22: Beer Making Demo | Yards Brewing Company
Tom Kehoe, founder and master brewer of Yards Brewing Company, will discuss the art and technique of making beer as well as the history of beer brewing.

August 29: Classical and Jazz Music | Charlie X Band
Music lovers are invited to enjoy an afternoon of jazz and classical tunes performed by Charlie X Band, whose new CD is titled, Axe of God.

September 12: Truth-A-Story | Progeny’s Legacy Jamaa
Progeny’s Legacy Jamaa, an eclectic group of storytellers, spins tales and shares proverbs from Africa and the African Diaspora.
 

Maybe you’ve seen him hanging out on the front steps of Parkway Central Library as you stop by to check out the latest bestseller, attend an author event, or listen to classical recordings in our renovated Music Department. He’s a little hard to miss, with his bright orange jumpsuit, outstretched arms, and, um, unusual facial features. Oh, and his green fur, of course.

One of twenty Phanatic statues in place across Philadelphia as part of the “Phanatic Around Town” public art project, “P. Phanatic Star Voyager” has welcomed customers to Parkway Central since April, but he won’t be around forever! Now through the end of August, be sure to snap a photo with our space-age Phanatic statue the next time you visit the Library--we’d love to feature it on our blog!

Email your photos to stories@freelibrary.org along with a brief comment about why you love your library, and we’ll choose some of the best to highlight. You can also enter your photos in the uwishunu.com photo contest. Say cheese!

Are you looking for in-depth, unbiased information about the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill? Click on the image below to be taken to the Gale website, one of our resource partners. You will find:

• In-depth expert overviews
• 2,000+ news stories, including publications from the Gulf region
• Primary sources of congressional hearings
• Case studies that enable the comparative analysis of this oil spill to others
• More than 250 podcasts and 100 videos
• And much more

A tour de force in children’s literature not only for the Free Library of Philadelphia, but also for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and library systems nationwide, Children's Services Coordinator Carolyn Wicker Field has passed away at the age of 93. She is fondly remembered for her warm spirit and her innumerable contributions to the Free Library and the area of children’s librarianship.

For 30 years, Field served as the Coordinator of the Office of Work with Children at the Free Library until her retirement in 1983. She served as the president of both the Pennsylvania Library Association and the children's division of the American Library Association, now known as the Association for Library Service to Children. Additionally, Field published several reference books, including Subject Collections in Children’s Literature—which catalogues special children’s literature collections throughout the United States—and, along with Jacqueline Shachter Weiss, Values in Selected Children’s Books of Fiction and Fantasy, which discusses the values explored in more than 700 children’s titles. Field also served as an editorial advisor for the title, That’s Me! That’s You! That’s Us! A Bibliography of Multicultural Books for Children.

Throughout her lifetime, Field was honored with numerous awards championing her library service to children. She received the Scholastic Library Publishing Award, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award, and the Catholic Library Association Mary A. Grant Award for outstanding volunteer service. She was also named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania by Governor Milton Shapp in 1974. Additionally, Field has an award named in her honor by the Youth Services Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association— the annual Carolyn W. Field Award recognizes the best book for young people by a Pennsylvania author or illustrator.

Field was a phenomenal librarian and a friend to many who worked in and visited the Free Library. She will be sorely missed.

Veteran broadcast and print journalist Daniel Schorr passed away today in Washington, D.C. at the age of 93. A tenacious and respected reporter, Schorr received three Emmy Awards for his coverage of Watergate and a place on Nixon’s enemies list as a result—“a greater tribute than the Emmys list,” Schorr said in 2009. He began his career at CBS, where he worked for 23 years; he then moved on to CNN and later to National Public Radio, where he remained for two decades as a senior news analyst and correspondent until the time of his death.

Schorr visited the Free Library in January 2008 with his book, Come to Think of It, a collection of essays reflecting on the most notable news stories of the past 50 years. Click here to listen to the podcast of his spirited and engaging author event.