May 16, 2013
On Wednesday, May 29, esteemed author Alice Walker, will be on hand at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Central Libraryto discuss her newest works, answer audience questions and sign books. Best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple, Walker has been writing novels, short stories, children’s books and poetry for more than 40 [...]
Read more»April 2, 2013
Heads up, bookworms. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s annual Book Festival begins April 14, just in time for National Library Week April 14-20. With events happening at each of the library’s 54 locations throughout the city this year, taking part in this bookish festival will be elementary. Previously held only at the Parkway Central Library, [...]
Read more»January 4, 2013
January 28, 2013 marks the 200th publication anniversary of Jane Austen’s iconic novel Pride and Prejudice. In honor of the special occasion, the Free Library is hosting “Pride and Prejudice at 200,” a day-long celebration of the novel at the Parkway Central Library, neighborhood libraries around the city and online at freelibrary.org. See below for [...]
Read more»December 20, 2012
If you’re gifted with a new e-gadget this season, keep this tip in mind: the Free Library’s gadget gurus can help you make the most of your new device. Stop by the Central Library lobby to meet with a tech pro from 2-4 p.m. on December 26-28 or January 2-4. Learn how to download any of 80,000 ebooks to your Kindle or Nook, or discover the hidden features of your new iPad or Windows 8 tablet. The best part is that they’ll also help you get materials from the library’s extensive digital collections. Don’t have a library card? They can also sign you up for one right on the spot. [Free Library]
December 10, 2012
In celebration of the 200th birthday of one of literature’s most iconic authors, Charles Dickens, the Free Library of Philadelphia has been hosting special Dickensian events all year. The Year of the Dickens still has one whole month of celebrating left. And many of the continuing events coincide perfectly with the winter holidays to make [...]
Read more»November 29, 2012
The Free Library’s Borrowers’ Ball and Raven Society Black Tie Holiday Fête will take place this Saturday, December 1. At the smashingest literary party of the year, the Borrowers’ Ball, guests will enjoy a full open bar, dinner by Brulee Catering and dancing beginning at 7 p.m. Plus, the knowledge that they’re contributing to one [...]
Read more»October 30, 2012
There’s a new event on the fall festival circuit this year, the revitalized 215 Festival, hitting Callowhill November 1-4. Founded in Philadelphia in 2001 and returning after a two-year absence, the 215 Festival is a celebration of the written, spoken and visualized word. Sponsored by DelanceyPlace.com and Philly Homegrown, this year’s 215 Festival is curated [...]
Read more»October 26, 2012
The Free Library of Philadelphia has just announced The Buddha In The Attic by Julie Otsuka as the featured selection for next year’s “One Book, One Philadelphia”. “One Book, One Philadelphia,” a project developed by the Mayor’s Office and the Free Library with the help of hundreds of community sponsors, is now in its 11th [...]
Read more»October 17, 2012
If you’ve ever justified your actions by saying “The devil made me do it!” then you’ll relate to The Screwtape Letters, a witty theatrical production told from the demon’s point of view, at the Merriam Theater, Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20. A sold-out hit in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C, [...]
Read more»October 10, 2012
A one-man theater performance is a challenge most would not step up to, especially when it’s a 70-minute solo interpretation of a classic like Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But this Saturday, October 13, actor/writer Josh Hitchens will step up to the plate. In the eerie outdoor setting of Old City’s Elfreth’s Alley, literature’s most famous vampire [...]
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