Immigration: How Philadelphia’s Public Libraries Can Benefit Foreign Born Residents
Philadelphia has had a long history when it comes to libraries. Benjamin Franklin started the country’s first library, The Library Company, which remains open today, 287 years later. Today, the Free Library of Philadelphia finds itself in a unique position. While most public libraries are operated by local governments, FLP is managed by an independent […]
Technology: New Grant Helps Job Seekers in Southwest Philadelphia
As more job applications migrate to websites, under-served communities struggle to connect with opportunities. At the Southwest Community Development Corporation and the Paschalville Library branch, new computers purchased with grant money offer applicants a chance to find work and learn new skills to explore the digital landscape. The CDC opened a Job Readiness Center to help job seekers in […]
Point Breeze: Soul School Festival, Summer Of Freedom And More This Week
Looking to find out what’s going on in Point Breeze this week? Our calendar round-up lets you know what’s happening in your neighborhood. Hypnobabies Summer II Class: Monday, Aug. 7, 6:15-9:15 p.m. – Lilypad (1234 S. Broad St.) 17th District Captain’s Meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 5:30-7 p.m. – 17th District Police Station (1201 S. 20th […]
Point Breeze: Community Cookout And More Events This Week
Looking to find out what’s going on in Point Breeze this week? Our calendar round-up lets you know what’s happening in your neighborhood. Summer Concert Series: Wednesday, July 12, 6:30-8 p.m. – South Philly Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1700 S. Broad St.) Murph’s VHS Movie Night: Wednesday July 12, 8-11 p.m. – […]
Haddington and Cobbs Creek: Teaching the Philly Bop Dance at Community Libraries
On Saturday afternoons throughout the summer, the Cobbs Creek and Haddington branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia host Philly Bop dance classes. The bop is a style of dance that was popular in the 1950s and throughout the 1960s that was created by African Americans based upon 1920’s era Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and East […]
Mount Airy: Lovett Memorial Library Getting Closer to Completion
In 2013, the Lovett Memorial Library on Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy was selected as one of four Philadelphia branches to be a part of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative. For more than 130 years it has been a staple of the Mount Airy community. Now, nearly four years […]
Center City: New Program Combats Illiteracy Among Philadelphia’s Youth
The Free Library of Philadelphia has long benefited communities around the city. As the adult illiteracy rate in Philadelphia continues to rise, the library system has strengthened a two-year program called Read by 4th to combat illiteracy at a young age. “The statistic we go off of is that less than 40 percent of kids in third […]
Center City: Library Expands Services to Include Health Literacy
The Free Library of Philadelphia offers many services to the community to help improve literacy and overall quality of life. Recently, the Parkway Central Library expanded programming to include health literacy through a program called the Reaching HEALthy Initiative. The initiative is one of the first multi-professional health care programs that works with social workers, nurses […]
West Philadelphia: Free Library Book Bike Rolls into Local Events
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a new branch, but this one has rims, wheels, brakes and a box full of books above a three-speed handlebar. Known as a “Book Bike,” this new outreach initiative is a fully functioning mobile library that attends events around the city. Employees hope to inspire the public to more fully embrace […]
Center City: Five Parks That Make You Forget You’re In Philadelphia
Philadelphia is full of parks and lush gardens that make it easy to forget it’s a large city on the East Coast. Rittenhouse, Graduate Hospital and Logan Square are three neighborhoods within walking distance of each other and include some of the most walker- and biker-friendly areas in Center City. They’re home to some of the […]