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Pride Month at the Library |
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 This June, the Free Library commemorates LGBTQ+ Pride Month with events, programs, and resources that amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories! Celebrate with programs like LGBTQ+ crafting clubs, Quizzo, music events, reading circles, drag storytimes, and plenty of opportunities to interact with and learn about LGBTQ+ history. View the full Pride Month calendar at freelibrary.org/pride.
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Start your Summer of Wonder |
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Are you ready to join the Free Library for another exciting Summer of Wonder? This flagship program engages Philadelphians in virtual and in-person activities that encourage reading and help prevent out-of-school learning loss for students! In 2023, Summer of Wonder will take place in person from June 5 through August 11 at neighborhood libraries, while online offerings will extend through August 31. Children can access Summer of Wonder activity passports at their local library to track progress and set reading goals, while adults and teens can enter raffles by reading, attending programs, and more!
From June 5 through June 10, each neighborhood library will host a Week of Play event to help kick off Summer of Wonder citywide. The week-long celebration of playful learning will culminate with a kickoff event at the Cecil B. Moore Library on Saturday, June 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Stay tuned to the events calendar for details.
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Juneteenth in Philadelphia
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In 2021, we celebrated Juneteenth as a national holiday for the first time! On Thursday, June 17, 2021, Congress passed and presented the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to President Joe Biden, who signed the bill into law. The Free Library is proud to mark this occasion by honoring Juneteenth's history, offering events and programs, and sharing book lists for children and adults.
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Immigrant Heritage Month
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June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and the Free Library will proudly partner with the Office of Immigrant Affairs to celebrate and honor Philadelphia's vibrant immigrant communities. This year's One Book, One Philadelphia featured title, Interior Chinatown, and related programming at libraries across the city, provide many opportunities to explore this theme. Additionally, you can find immigrant heritage–related book lists for all ages in the catalog, and explore the Library's blog.
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Free Library Author Events |
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Conversations this month include:
- Airea D. Matthews (Bread and Circus), in conversation with Phillip B. Williams, on Thursday, June 1;
- David Maraniss (Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe), in conversation with Paul Hendrickson, on Wednesday, June 7;
- Geraldine Brooks (Horse), on Wednesday, June 14; and
- Christian Cooper (Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World), on Tuesday, June 27.
All events are in person and start at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
We recently introduced a new pay what you wish model for free Author Events conversations, where you can donate in person or when reserving your ticket online. We hope you will consider making a gift to support the beloved Author Events Series to assure that the dynamic and inspiring experience you enjoy with a diverse roster of authors remains strong in the program's upcoming 30th season and beyond. Visit freelibrary.org/aedonation to show your support today!
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More to Explore in June
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The Free Library offers thousands of events across its system each year, some in-person and some virtual, as well as robust services and resources! Visit the Library's website to find something that interests you! Here’s a sampling of what you can expect to find this month:
- Next week, the Free Library will host the inaugural Community Impact Awards, honoring organizations whose contributions are aligned with the Free Library’s mission. The Library is proud to celebrate six community organizations at this year’s event: The African American Children's Book Project, Barbershop Books, Joyful Readers, Philibros, Reading Allowed, and Read 2 Succeed Philadelphia. There are just a few days left to get your tickets for what is sure to be a lovely evening of celebration, live music, and good food. Tickets can be purchased at freelibrary.org/awards.
- Join us to celebrate the end of the 2023 One Book, One Philadelphia season with this year's finale event set for Thursday, June 22, at 6:00 p.m., at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). The event will include an in-person conversation between featured author Charles Yu and Dr. Michelle Myers, associate professor of English at CCP and one-half of the poetry duo Yellow Rage.
- The Rosenbach's annual celebration of Bloomsday is coming up on Friday, June 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Every year, the world celebrates the day on which James Joyce’s Ulysses is set in 1904, and nowhere celebrates quite like the home of Joyce’s manuscript!
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| The Free Library will be closed on Monday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Find up-to-date information on neighborhood library closures on the Library's Locations page. |
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The Free Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. While the City of Philadelphia provides public funds for the operations of the Free Library, it is through the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and the generosity of private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations that the Free Library is able to offer many of the Library’s incredible programs and activities that advance literacy, guide learning, inspire curiosity throughout the region, and help deliver on the promise of an equitable future for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and communities. |
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