Free Library Blog - Posts by Shannon G

Death of Jose Saramago

Shannon G — 2010-06-18T17:59:00-05:00

Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago passed away today at the age of 87. The first Portuguese-language writer to win the Nobel Prize, Saramago reached international acclaim with 1982’s Baltasar and Blimunda (a Portuguese PEN Club Award winner), and his 1995 novel, Blindness, was later turned into a feature film.

Click here to read the New York Times’ coverage, and visit our catalog to browse our available titles of Saramago’s work.

Stay tuned for more information on this prolific author.

Join Local Authors at Oak Lane

Shannon G — 2010-06-17T12:31:00-05:00

Aspiring writers and avid readers, take note! Next Tuesday, Oak Lane Branch is hosting an evening with the Liars Club, a group of local authors. Don’t miss your chance to learn about the art of writing and the ins-and-outs of publishing from the people that know it best!

Authors that will be visiting include Solomon Jones (Payback, The Bridge); Jonathan McGoran (Blood Poison, Body Trace); Merry Jones (The Borrowed and Blue Murders, Deadly Neighbors); Jonathan Maberry (The Dragon Factory, The Wolfman); Kelly Simmons (Standing Still); and Keith Strunk (Prallsville Mills and Stockton).

An Evening with the Liars Club
Tuesday, June 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Oak Lane Branch
6614 N. 12th St.
215-685-2848

Make Your Voice Heard!

Shannon G — 2010-06-04T15:15:00-05:00

Have you had the chance to be a part of the discussion about the Free Library of the 21st Century this spring? If not, be sure to make it the June 9th event at the Martin Luther King, Jr. High School!

Through a partnership with Mayor Nutter and the Friends of the Free Library, we’ve been hosting public forums on “Libraries of the Future.” The forums, held in neighborhoods across Philadelphia, were planned to help us uncover the needs of our city’s communities and to discuss the evolving role the Free Library plays in the 21st century.

We hope that you will join us and share your thoughts on subjects including how you use your library today and what your vision is for the future of the Free Library! Details below:

Wednesday, June 9, at 6:15 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
6100 Stenton Avenue, 19138

FreeLibrary.org Introduces New Homepage

Shannon G — 2010-06-03T10:04:00-05:00

As you may have noticed, we recently revamped our homepage. Today, our beta-testing period has come to an end, and the homepage is now permanent! We appreciate all of the feedback you’ve given us—it has helped us shape the update and will continue to provide valuable insight as to how you use freelibrary.org.

Our new homepage allows us to provide you with improved updates and access to resources, such as our catalog, digital collections, and branch pages. We now have more calendar events featured on the home page, as well as hand-picked book recommendations from our staff! With a click of the mouse, you can be directed to our profiles on various social media sites, like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

The quick links on the left-hand side provide specific audiences with what they are looking for, whether it’s job-hunting resources for the career-changer or information on ESL classes for new Americans. The Free Library strives to provide free access to knowledge for all Philadelphians, and with these quick links and the new homepage, we have made it easier to find the information YOU want!

Keep supporting the Free Library!

Shannon G — 2010-05-21T12:47:00-05:00

We encourage all of the Free Library of Philadelphia customers and supporters to contact your elected city official and ask that they go back to the table and continue to work to resolve the current city budget crisis. We know everyone wants to see strong Library service continue in every neighborhood. Thank you for supporting this invaluable Library system.

To find out how to contact your officials, click here.

Local businesses support Free Library book drive!

Shannon G — 2010-05-17T16:59:00-05:00

Local businesses are stepping up for the second year in a row and helping the Free Library line its shelves with 10,000 new books during the “10,000 Books for Children” book drive!

Barnes and Noble is hosting a book fair in stores and online—a special code (10208924) allows customers to unlock a cash-back reward for the Free Library! With just a few minutes of your time, you can buy books from the Free Library wish list, enter in the special code, and have your purchases shipped to the Parkway Central Library! Or, print out this flier and purchase books in the store!

Another great way to get involved is to shop at VILLA this coming Memorial Day weekend. The sneaker store is supporting the book drive by donating 10 percent of sales when customers shop at any of their 11 stores with this coupon from May 28 to May 31. Not only will you help the Library, but you’ll also get 10 percent off of YOUR purchase, too!

For more information on the book drive, our goals, and how you can help, click here!

Explore Philadelphia's history through digital images

Shannon G — 2010-05-13T15:57:00-05:00

Want to know what your neighborhood looked like in the late 1800s? Now you can! The Free Library of Philadelphia recently added more than 1,600 historic photographs from the Historical Images of Philadelphia Collection and the Centennial Exhibition Collection to the PhillyHistory.org site. Browse photos from the Centennial Exhibition in Fairmount Park in 1876, or search through street scenes homes, and other events. You can even purchase photos from the site!

The addition of the Free Library of Philadelphia images to PhillyHistory.org is funded by the Advancing Knowledge: The IMLS/NEH Digital Partnership grant program.

How do you envision the Free Library of the 21st Century?

Shannon G — 2010-05-03T12:29:00-05:00

This spring, we’re partnering with Mayor Nutter and the Friends of the Free Library to host a series of public forums on “Libraries of the Future.” These forums, which are being held in neighborhoods across Philadelphia, were designed to uncover the needs of our city’s communities and to plan for the evolving role of the Free Library in the 21st century.

We’re excited to hear back from Philadelphians about their thoughts on a variety of subjects, including how they use their library today and what their vision is for the future of our great Free Library system.

These forums are open to the public, so head to a location near you and get involved! Forums dates and locations are:

Wednesday, May 12, at 6:15 p.m.
Kensington Culinary Arts High School
2463 Emerald Street, 19125

Thursday, May 20, at 6:15 p.m.
Neumann-Goretti High School
1736 S. 10th Street, 19148

Wednesday, May 26, at 6:15 p.m.
Enterprise Center
4548 Market Street, 19139

Wednesday, June 2, at 6:15 p.m.
John M. Perzel Community Center
2990 St. Vincent Street, 19149

Wednesday, June 9, at 6:15 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
6100 Stenton Avenue, 19138

Hope to see you there!

Rock out with the Rock Bottom Remainders!

Shannon G — 2010-04-20T10:44:00-05:00

By day, they are bestselling authors. By night, they turn into jamming rockstars. Each year, the Rock Bottom Remainders put down their pens and pick up their instruments to play a tour of benefit concerts, and this Thursday, the Free Library of Philadelphia is going to rock out with the band of award-winning writers at the Electric Factory! Come out and join us as authors including Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Mitch Albom, Billy Collins, Roy Blount Jr, and special guest Philly's own Jennifer Weiner take to the stage during their first-ever stop in Philadelphia! All proceeds go to the Free Library, and that includes merchandise profits! We'll also be auctioning off a Gibson guitar signed by the authors, roundtrip airline tickets, AND a chance to get up on stage and sing with the band! For your chance to mix and mingle with the authors, buy tickets to the pre-concert V.I.P. reception!

Check out this video of Dave Barry singing during a 2007 show, and read on for concert details!

Rock Bottom Remainders Benefit Concert
Thursday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:30)
421 N. Seventh St.
General admission: $35
V.I.P. reception: $150

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day by Honoring the Irish!

Shannon G — 2010-03-17T16:42:00-05:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In honor of the all-things-Irish holiday, we are thrilled to announce that later this Spring, our very own President and Director Siobhan A. Reardon will be honored as one of 11 inspirational Irish women by the Society of Commodore John Barry (the Irish Center) and the Irish Immigration Center of Greater Philadelphia. The Inspirational Irish Women Award recognizes women of Irish descent in the Delaware Valley who have distinguished themselves in the areas of public and community services, business, charity, philanthropy and the arts.

In celebration of the award, the Irish Center and the Irish Immigration Center have commissioned artist Patrick Gallagher to create a series of portraits of inspirational Irish and Irish-American women from our region. The portraits will be unveiled on May 23 during a reception at the Irish Center and will remain on display in the Commodore Barry Room for several months. Congratulations to Siobhan and the rest of the women being honored!

And in the spirit of St. Patty’s Day, let’s talk about books by the Irish and Irish-Americans. Do you have any favorites? Last year, we mourned the death of one of the most well-known modern Irish-American authors, Frank McCourt. Listen here for podcasts from his visits to the Free Library for 'Tis and Teacher Man.