Free Library of Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library
system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
On June 2, 1927, the massive Central Library opened for service at its present location on Logan Square. The building had been in the planning stages since 1911; however, various obstacles, including World War I, halted progress on the building. It now serves as the main library and administrative headquarters for the Free Library of Philadelphia system.
Over the years, numerous branches have been added to the Free Library system, many of them funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated $1.5 million for branch construction in 1903. Today, there are 54 branches citywide, including three larger regional libraries and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Among the Free Library's exemplary collections is the Print and Picture Collection. Spanning the graphic arts from 1493 to the present time, the Free Library's Fine Art Prints and Photographs collection includes thousands of images. Initially representing only Philadelphia artists, the collection has been extended to include early masters as well as renowned modern printmakers and photographers. You can view prints by such artists as Dürer, Rembrandt, Warhol and Dali. Some of the photographers include Ansel Adams, Bernice Abbott, Ray Metzker, Eadweard Muybridge and Aaron Siskind.
As of 2006, Karen Lightner, Curator of the Print and Picture Collection, has begun an ongoing effort to expand the collection to include artist's books. A 2006 exhibition at the Central Branch of the Free Library, organized by curator Robert Wuilfe, formerly of the arts group Philagrafika
, highlighted the important connections between prints and artist's books. The exhibition, entitled "BOUND/UNBOUND:The Dialogue Between Printmaking and the Art of the Book" featured innovative artists from the Philadelphia region, including: Alice Austin, Katie Baldwin, Borowsky Center for Publication Arts at the University of the Arts, Ellie Brown, April Flanders, the Free Library Collection, Rebecca Gilbert, Jesse Goldstein, Neila Kun, Enid Mark
, Lindsey Mears, Katie Murken, Claire Owen, Caitlin E. Perkins, Natasha Pestich, Maria G. Pisano, Diane Podolsky, Promised Gifts to the Free Library Collection, Anabelle Rodriguez, Patricia M. Smith, Justin Myer Staller, Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints, Jill Timm of Mystical Places Press (www.mysticalplaces.com), Susan Viguers and James Engelbart.
The Philbrick Popular Library on the first floor of the Central Library is where patrons can borrow recently-released materials, fiction, audio books and videos. The second balcony houses the Fiction Resource Collection which consists of literature by writers from over 100 countries.
The Free Library also has Grip, Charles Dickens
's first pet raven
.
Dickens had Grip stuffed after its 1841 death, and the Friends of Libraries, USA (FOLUSA) has designated Grip a literary landmark.
Many of these branches were funded by Andrew Carnegie
, who donated US$1.5 million to the library in 1903. The Bushrod branch was also established in 1903 through a bequest by Dr. Bushrod James
.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
History
History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr. William Pepper, the Free Library of Philadelphia was chartered in 1891 as "a general library which shall be free to all." Pepper received initial funding for the Library through a $225,000 bequest from his wealthy uncle, George S. Pepper. However, litigation arose as several existing libraries claimed the bequest. The Free Library finally opened in March 1894 after the courts decided the money was intended to found a new public library. The first location for the Library was three cramped rooms in City Hall. On February 11, 1895, the Library was moved to the old Concert Hall, 1217-1221 Chestnut Street. Library officials, however, criticized their new home as "an entirely unsuitable building, where its work is done in unsafe, unsanitary and overcrowded quarters, temporary make-shifts." These unpopular quarters were occupied until December 1, 1910, when the Library was moved yet again, to the northeast corner of 13th and Locust Streets.On June 2, 1927, the massive Central Library opened for service at its present location on Logan Square. The building had been in the planning stages since 1911; however, various obstacles, including World War I, halted progress on the building. It now serves as the main library and administrative headquarters for the Free Library of Philadelphia system.
Over the years, numerous branches have been added to the Free Library system, many of them funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated $1.5 million for branch construction in 1903. Today, there are 54 branches citywide, including three larger regional libraries and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Exhibitions and collections
As of 2006, Karen Lightner, Curator of the Print and Picture Collection, has begun an ongoing effort to expand the collection to include artist's books. A 2006 exhibition at the Central Branch of the Free Library, organized by curator Robert Wuilfe, formerly of the arts group Philagrafika
Philagrafika
-Philagrafika 2010:In 2010 Philagrafika produced the first international, multi-sited art exhibition and festival in Philadelphia that celebrated the printed image as a core strategy for artists today. Titled Philagrafika 2010, it debuted as one of the largest art events in the United States and...
, highlighted the important connections between prints and artist's books. The exhibition, entitled "BOUND/UNBOUND:The Dialogue Between Printmaking and the Art of the Book" featured innovative artists from the Philadelphia region, including: Alice Austin, Katie Baldwin, Borowsky Center for Publication Arts at the University of the Arts, Ellie Brown, April Flanders, the Free Library Collection, Rebecca Gilbert, Jesse Goldstein, Neila Kun, Enid Mark
Enid Mark
Enid Mark was an American editor and publisher. -Life:She attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan and Smith College, where she studied English literature and studio art. She pursued painting and print making in the early years of her career, and came to favor the technique of...
, Lindsey Mears, Katie Murken, Claire Owen, Caitlin E. Perkins, Natasha Pestich, Maria G. Pisano, Diane Podolsky, Promised Gifts to the Free Library Collection, Anabelle Rodriguez, Patricia M. Smith, Justin Myer Staller, Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints, Jill Timm of Mystical Places Press (www.mysticalplaces.com), Susan Viguers and James Engelbart.
The Philbrick Popular Library on the first floor of the Central Library is where patrons can borrow recently-released materials, fiction, audio books and videos. The second balcony houses the Fiction Resource Collection which consists of literature by writers from over 100 countries.
The Free Library also has Grip, Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's first pet raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
.
Dickens had Grip stuffed after its 1841 death, and the Friends of Libraries, USA (FOLUSA) has designated Grip a literary landmark.
Branches
There are 54 library locations of the Free Library of Philadelphia located throughout the city: 49 branches, 3 regional libraries, 1 Central library and 1 Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.Many of these branches were funded by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
, who donated US$1.5 million to the library in 1903. The Bushrod branch was also established in 1903 through a bequest by Dr. Bushrod James
Bushrod Washington James
Bushrod Washington James, A.M., M.D. was an American surgeon, homeopathist, writer, and philanthropist who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Homeopathic College in 1857. He served as the secretary of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania and later as its...
.