☀️ August 2025 ☀️

Happy August! 🍦

Labor Day is on the way, but there’s still plenty to enjoy at the Free Library before summer unofficially ends. From escaping the heat with a good book and free movie screenings, to prepping young students for the school year, there’s something for everyone!

And speaking of exciting things this month—our Fall Author Events season was just announced! This year’s lineup features incredible guests you won’t want to miss: Miriam Toews, Sonia Sotomayor, Ken Follett, Emily Wilson, Jim Clyburn, and many more! Visit the Foundation’s event calendar to learn more and reserve your tickets.

Exhibition Highlight

Don't miss it: Go Birds: Appreciating Our Avian Friends is on view in the Second Floor West Gallery at the Parkway Central Library until August 30. 

Featuring items from the Free Library's Special Collections Division: Children’s Literature Research Collection, Government Publications, Map Collection, and Print and Picture Collection, this exhibition highlights the beauty, adaptability, and vulnerability of birds. It emphasizes the urgent need for conservation amidst natural and human threats and invites visitors to explore how we observe, represent, and protect these remarkable creatures. 

Plus, libraries across the city are hosting bird-themed events including bird walks and children's storytimes. Learn more here!

More to Explore in August

Free movie screenings at the Free Library!

Movie Mondays at the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, feature family-friendly matinees, complete with free popcorn and air conditioning to help you stay cool this summer! 🍿🎬

Graphic novels combine detailed artwork and often vibrant colors to bring readers into the heart of each tale and enhance their experience of the story. Whether you're a fan or know little about them, check out the Free Library’s go-to page for top picks, cool events, and everything graphic novels.

On the third Tuesday of every month, the Free Library hosts a virtual citywide book club for trans and nonbinary adult readers. Registered attendees read books written by trans and nonbinary authors and discuss trans imagination, writing craft, and more!

Advanced registration is required, and includes free paperback copies of featured titles, upon request. 

Great things are happening at the Free Library! Would you consider making a gift today to advance literacy and inspire curiosity? ✨