FA LL 2 01 2
VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1
OFF the SHELF
A MAGAZINE FROM the Free Library of Philadelphia
Bringing Literacy to Life:
Inside the Free Library’s
After-School Program
also inside:
Take a peek at THE FREE LIBRARY’S collection of
political cartoons, find out about ITS services for new
Americans, and get the “FINAL Word” from Ed Rendell
From the President and Director
SAVE
THE
DATE
Free Library of Philadelphia
President and Director
Siobhan A. Reardon
Associate Director
Dr. Joseph McPeak
Vice President of Development
Melissa Greenberg
Vice President of External Affairs
Sandra Horrocks
ON
Director of Communications
and Brand Marketing
december 1, 2012, JOIN US FOR the borrowers’ ball, THE LITERARY EXTRAVAGANZA OF THE YEAR.
dance and dine WITH TODAY’S top authors AT THE parkway central library, WHERE
beaux-arts design MEETS 21st-century urban innovation.
Alix Gerz
Writer/Editor
Michelle Saraceni Sheffer
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BORROWERS’ BALL, PLEASE CALL 215-567-7710 OR EMAIL [email protected].
Eileen Owens
Free Library of
Philadelphia Foundation
1901 Vine Street, Suite 111
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-567-7710
freelibrary.org/support
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS
OFF THE SHELF
FOR MORE Info: 215-567-4341 • freelibrary.org/authorevents
[email protected]
freelibrary.org/publications
OCT 2 • 7:30 PM
OCT 4 • 7:30 PM
OCT 16 • 7:30 PM
OCT 18 • 7:30 PM
OCT 25 • 7:30 PM
TICKET REQUIRED
TICKET REQUIRED
TICKET REQUIRED
FREE
TICKET REQUIRED
Louise Erdrich
Michael Chabon
The Round House
Telegraph Avenue
The Price of Inequality:
How Today’s Divided Society
Endangers Our Future
Camille Paglia
Glittering Images:
A Journey Through Art from
Egypt to Star Wars
CAROLE PHILLIPS
MEMORIAL LECTURE
Tom Wolfe
Back to Blood
OCT 30 • 7:30 PM
NOV 8 • 7:30 PM
NOV 9 • 7:30 PM
NOV 15 • 7:30 PM
NOV 20 • 7:30 PM
TICKET REQUIRED
FREE
TICKET REQUIRED
FREE
TICKET REQUIRED
Alex Danchev
Martin Amis
Cezanne: A Life
Barbara
Kingsolver
David Nasaw
Ross King
Flight Behavior
The Patriarch:
The Remarkable Life and
Turbulent Times of
Joseph P. Kennedy
Leonardo
and the Last Supper
Lionel Asbo: State of England
with
NOV 27 • 7:30 PM
DEC 4 • 7:30 PM
DEC 6 • 7:30 PM
DEC 11 • 7:30 PM
Salman Rushdie
TICKET REQUIRED
TICKET REQUIRED
TICKET REQUIRED
TICKET REQUIRED
Daniel Mendelsohn
An evening with
U.S. Poet Laureate
Joseph Anton: A Memoir
MEELYA GORDON
MEMORIAL LECTURE
ON THE COVER: LEAP participants
Eloise Palandro, Branch Weidner,
and Lauren Williams work together to learn new computer skills.
MEELYA GORDON
MEMORIAL LECTURE
Zadie Smith
Jon Meacham
NW: A Novel
Thomas Jefferson:
The Art of Power
Waiting for the Barbarians:
Essays from the Classics
to Pop Culture
ELLIS WACHS
ENDOWED LECTURE
In Conversation with Robert Silvers, Editor,
The New York Review of Books
Natasha
Trethewey
This past spring, the Free Library released a bold new strategic plan,
which can be found on our website, along with a new mission statement
to guide us in the coming years. That statement is clear, simple, and
illustrative of the great work we do every day: The Free Library advances
literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity. The stories in these
pages showcase how the librarians and staff live out this mission with
their customers, working with children and teens after school; hosting
world-class exhibitions; helping new Americans find a new community
in Philadelphia; and improving computer skills among people of all ages.
Every day, Philadelphians enjoy and depend on the Free Library’s many
programs, services, and resources to improve their lives, whether it’s
finding a beloved new author or a crucial new job.
I am proud to showcase the important work we do at the Free Library
within these pages, and I hope you enjoy this expanded new issue of Off
the Shelf as much as I do. As always, I welcome your feedback!
Warmly,
Khalil Reed, Jr., participates in the Literacy
Enrichment After-school Program (LEAP)
at Parkway Central Library.
Siobhan A. Reardon
PHOTO CREDIT: Ryan Brandenberg
Joseph Stiglitz
Off the Shelf is published twice annually
for supporters of the Free Library of
Philadelphia Foundation and showcases
the Library’s educational, economic,
and cultural contributions to the region.
Welcome to the Fall 2012 edition
of the Free Library’s Off the Shelf
magazine. You may notice that
this issue feels a little heavier than
our last two—that’s because we’ve
expanded the magazine to include
even more of the news and feature
stories that you enjoy!
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
WHAT’S INSIDE
8
School After School: The Free Library’s Literacy
Enrichment After-school Program
4
News & Notes
6
HIDDEN GEMS: POLITICAL CARTOONS
7
focus on: rooms with a view
12
From the Neighborhoods: SERVING PHILADELPHIA’S NEW AMERICANS
14
The Final Word: ed rendell
15
BOARD LISTS
ROXBOROUGH
Blanche
Cobbs Creek
A. Nixon/
Charles Santore
2
Paschalvi
ll
e
4
3
Teens from around the city had the
opportunity to learn how to be the
next Steven Spielberg through the
Free Library of Philadelphia’s Behind
the ScreenS program.
Free Library
to Announce
FEATURED SELECTION
Mark your calendars: The Free Library is excited to
announce the 2013 One Book, One Philadelphia featured
selection on October 24 at Parkway Central Library! Now
celebrating 11 years of literacy and community building
in Philadelphia, the Free Library’s acclaimed One Book,
One Philadelphia program motivates tens of thousands
of people annually to read a featured selection and
participate in related discussions, events, workshops,
classes, and more. Stay tuned to freelibrary.org for the latest
information about the upcoming One Book season!
Students from the Russell
Byers Charter School and
Bache-Martin Elementary
School got a special treat
when Second Lady Jill
Biden stopped by Parkway
Central this June to read
from her new children’s
book, Don’t Forget, God
Bless Our Troops. Each
child received a signed
copy of the book to
take home, thanks to
the generosity of the
Margaret S. Halloran
Family Literacy
Programming Series at
the Parkway Central
Library.
EDIT: Ryan
PHOTO CR
Children enjoy special activities at their neighborhood libraries: (1) Preschoolers at Roxborough Library show off their ferocious
lion masks; (2) First graders from Anderson Elementary enjoy storytime at Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library; (3) participants
create their own wearable art during a weaving and bracelet-making workshop at Paschalville Library; and (4) children gather for
Charles Santore Library’s annual Read-In.
Congrats to Siobhan Reardon, who
received a Brava! Award from Smart
CEO magazine for her leadership of
the Free Library!
CUSTOMER CORNER
Summer Reading
Success
With plenty of books, special activities, and surprises, the
Free Library’s Summer Reading program helped thousands
of Philadelphia school students keep their minds sharp over
their summer vacations—while having fun, of course! This
flagship Library program supports literacy in Philadelphia
by encouraging more than 50,000 children, teens, and adults
to read and participate in Library programming during the
summer months. Studies indicate that students who read five
or more books over their school vacation can prevent summer
“brain drain” and even make gains in their reading levels.
Hot Spot customer Sheila Harris using the
computers at Heavenly Hall.
Sheila Harris was in need of a job. Repeatedly, she rode
the bus to her sister’s house where she could use a computer
with internet access to search and apply for employment.
One day, on her way to the bus stop, Sheila took notice of
a Free Library Hot Spot banner at Heavenly Hall Annex in
Philadelphia’s East Parkside neighborhood and decided to pay
a visit to get more information.
Made possible by lead corporate sponsors Verizon and Wells
Fargo—and other generous sponsors including the PKG
Foundation, Philadelphia City Institute Board of Managers,
and Harriet and Larry Weiss—the 2012 Summer Reading
program kicked off at Parkway Central Library on June 8
with a surprise appearance by the Phillie Phanatic, who
helped get everyone excited about books and reading.
All summer long, children enjoyed a variety of special
programming—from book clubs to dance lessons and music
performances—and teens participated in a host of programs
created especially for them, including gaming sessions and
anime discussion groups. Children earned prizes for reading
books and attending
Library programs,
and teens and adults
could also win raffle
prizes by submitting
book reviews online.
From then on, Sheila continued to visit the Hot Spot—a Library
initiative made possible by the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation, the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program,
and Verizon that brings computer access, classes, and the
internet to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia—almost
every day to search for jobs. She felt relieved to stop making the
countless trips to her sister’s home and excited to receive the
computer support and education she needed. With the help of
the Hot Spot assistant Barbara Tait, Sheila became proficient
in Microsoft Word and email. She was able to apply online for
jobs independently. Thanks to the Hot Spot and Sheila’s efforts,
she got a temporary job as a file clerk at Elwyn Institute, which
transformed into longer and more varied employment because
of her newly acquired computer skills.
Sheila still visits the Heavenly Hall Hot Spot to develop her
computer knowledge, but she can’t come as often as she used
to: She’s too busy working at her new job!
Verizon representative
Doug Smith reads to
schoolchildren at THE
Summer Reading kickoff
at Parkway Central.
g
Brandenber
{4}
PHOTO CRED
IT: Katie Rigga
n
{5}
PHOTO CREDIT: BARBARA TAIT
The Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek, West Oak Lane,
Wyoming, and Richmond neighborhood libraries all
participated in the program’s second year. From July 9
to August 24, participants gathered weekly at their local
libraries to learn film and media literacy, along with
story-crafting skills. The hands-on experience put them
both behind and in front of the camera through every
step of the movie-making process, from drafting story
boards, writing dialogue, and acting, to shooting actual
footage. Thanks to the help of Lil’ Filmmakers, a non-profit
production company, and generous funding from the
Wyncote Foundation, the teens’ works were turned into
short films screened during the Behind the Screens
Grand Finale. For most of the students, it was their
first red-carpet experience, but thanks to Behind
the Screens, it may not be their last.
1
PHOTO CREDIT: Katie Riggan
Philadelphia
Teens Experience
the Magic of Movie-Making
HIDDEN GEMS
History in Black and White:
Exploring the Past through Political Cartooning
The pundits are shouting; the blog
posts are multiplying; and the latest
political cartoons hammer away at
candidates left and right: Election
season is in full swing.
While it seems like much of this is a
product of our 24/7, media-saturated
world, political cartooning has
actually been used as a mechanism
to voice opinion in what is now the
United States since the 18th century.
In fact, it was Philadelphia’s own
Benjamin Franklin who started
the craze with his now-iconic “Join
or Die” cartoon, published in the
Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754 as a
reaction to the French and Indian War.
It is only fitting, then, that the Free
Library of Philadelphia’s Print and
Picture Collection holds an incredible
number of rare, hand-drawn political
cartoons dating back to the 18th
century and running through
World War II. A selection of these
fascinating, funny, and sometimes
fearsome cartoons—which total
some 2,500 in number—will be on
display in Parkway Central Library’s
West Gallery (First Floor) through
November 11 as part of the Drawn
into Politics exhibition.
says Aurora Deshauteurs, Head of
the Print and Picture Collection.
The cartoons featured in Drawn
into Politics provide commentary
on everything from Prohibition
and foreign affairs to Philadelphia
politics and the escalating cost of
living. And despite the fact that many
of them were created before today’s
readers were born, Deshauteurs says
they are pertinent even in our 21stcentury world.
Ty Mahon. “The Crowded Clinic.” Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin. November 18, 1939. Courtesy of the Print and
Picture Collection.
This cartoon, called “The
Crowded Clinic,” appeared in the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
in November of 1939 and was drawn
by Ty Mahon, who illustrated
for the Bulletin as well as
Esquire magazine in the 1930s and
‘40s. The cartoon is a nod to the
dramatic loss of funding for
city institutions, including the
Free Library, in the wake of
serious, Great Depression-induced
“Political cartoons are such an
important part of our culture
because they speak to readers on all
levels and are able to sum up with a
drawing and six or seven words what
is often a really frustrating situation,”
budget cuts. Here, the “sickly”
“These cartoons are relevant because
in terms of culture, economics, world
affairs, and politics, we often repeat
ourselves, so these really remain
consistently fresh,” she notes. “In
addition, these cartoons give us the
sense that ‘this too shall pass.’ They
illustrate how we have overcome
wars, debt crises, and other tragedies
and have managed to move forward
as a society and as a country.”
Drawn into Politics is on view in Parkway Central Library’s West Gallery until November 11. The
exhibition is free and open to the public Monday –
Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.,
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.,
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
and Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. institutions crowd around City
Council, looking for an antidote
of additional
funding, INCLUDING
desperately needed building and
infrastructure upgrades.
• • • BY ALIX GERZ
Parkway Central
FOCUS
ON
Renovations begin this winter in
next phase of “Building Inspiration”
LEFT: Parkway Central’s entire fourth
floor—including this outdated and
NON-working kitchen—will receive a
total renovation in the coming months.
RIGHT: The Rare Book Department
currently has limited space for
showcasing its unique holdings
(pictured here), but the next phase of
“Building Inspiration” will ensure larger
exhibition and conservation space.
PHOTO
CREDIT:
EILEEN
OWENS
DENBERG
With soaring vistas from City Hall to the Franklin Institute, the Free Library’s outdoor Skyline
Terrace has stunning views that rival the grandeur of Parkway Central itself. And this WINTER,
the terrace’s adjoining interior space—the Skyline Room—and the rest of Parkway Central’s fourth
floor are set to undergo a series of renovations that will restore it to its Beaux-Arts majesty
and complement the gorgeous terrace.
This massive fourth floor renovation—along with significant
upgrades to the third floor Rare Book Department—signal the
next step in the Free Library’s ambitious “Building Inspiration”
plan, which seeks to secure the future of the Library system and
its resources while providing significant capital improvements.
The fourth floor, which is composed of the Skyline Room, several
smaller spaces and offices, and an outdated, non-functioning
kitchen, will shortly be transformed into a world-class conference
and special-event space, ready to host everything from a
gathering of children’s librarians sharing the latest storytelling
techniques to a meeting of city planners discussing the future
of Philadelphia. It will also continue to be rented for weddings
and parties as well as provide a beautiful setting for special
Library events and soirées. In addition, the kitchen space will
be completely gutted and updated so that the Library can offer
hands-on cooking demonstrations and culinary literacy classes.
The Rare Book Department is also being readied to undergo
renovations to enhance its conservation and exhibition space,
ensuring that its precious artifacts—ranging from ancient
cuneiform tablets to drawings by Beatrix Potter—are not only
stored in museum-quality space but also safely and beautifully
displayed for the public to enjoy.
“This series of renovations to the Parkway Central Library
showcases the types of flexible spaces and innovative programs
{6}
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN BRAN
that the Free Library is dedicated to creating and sustaining for
our community,” said Siobhan A. Reardon, President and Director.
“I’m thrilled that we will be offering culinary literacy classes in a
state-of-the-art kitchen just one floor above the department where
we show off Charles Dickens’s writing desk. These renovations
will allow our librarians to inspire curiosity in bold new ways.”
“Building Inspiration” will continue to bring renovations and
restorations of this caliber not only to Parkway Central but also
to neighborhood libraries throughout Philadelphia, enhancing
and beautifying the century-old system. In addition, the plan
encompasses much more than capital improvements, and
highlights an effort to bolster the Library’s endowment; garner
funds to secure the Library’s services well into the future;
and invest in fresh and innovative programming. This grand,
comprehensive project will ensure that a new century of
customers will be able to learn, create, connect, and grow at the
Free Library of Philadelphia.
• • • BY ALIX GERZ
Work on Parkway Central’s third and fourth floors is
slated to begin this January and should be completed
within a year. Stay tuned to freelibrary.org and the
next issue of Off the Shelf for the latest in “Building
Inspiration” news and photographs.
{7}
bun thuch (left), the leap after-school leader at
whitman library, assists a student with his homework.
Mary SturdivaNt (second from left), Parkway Central Library
AFTER-SCHOOL LEADER, works with LEAP participants (from left)
Amber DeShields, Branch Weidner, and Jay Weidner.
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN BRANDENBERG
• • • BY Michelle Saraceni Sheffer
nning
IT: betsy ma
PHOTO CRED
School After
School
LEAP: OUR Literacy Enrichment
After-school Program
A young man bursts through the front
doors of the Whitman Library in South
Philadelphia and makes a beeline for Bun
Thuch—an After-School Leader in the Free
Library of Philadelphia’s acclaimed Literacy
Enrichment After-school Program—who sits
at a small table in the branch’s Children’s
Department organizing materials for the
after-school crowd. Across town at the Wynnefield Library in West Philadelphia, LEAP
regular Reginald Faison, III, (or Reggie for short), a bespectacled
8-year-old with boundless energy, sits down with his mother,
Michelle Graham-Faison, and they begin to review handmade flash
cards featuring Reggie’s ever-growing sets of vocabulary words.
Reggie’s palpable joy each time he correctly reads and matches a
word is infectious—and inspiring.
Scenes like these play out every day after school, in 53
neighborhood libraries throughout Philadelphia, all part of the Free
Library’s Literacy Enrichment After-school Program. From oneon-one homework help to special activities that foster traditional
literacy as well as 21st-century skills in science, technology, and
cultural arts, LEAP offers school students a safe and supportive
place where they can gather together to learn, explore, and grow.
“I need help with my homework!” the young
man exclaims, an edge of panic lacing his
voice. “It’s math.”
Bun motions for the teen to grab a seat and
reassures him, smiling, that they’ll tackle the
problems together. They set to work.
“LEAP is one of the Library’s most important programs,” says
Siobhan A. Reardon, President and Director of the Free Library. “By
wholeheartedly supporting and championing Philadelphia’s youth
both academically and socially, LEAP instills a passion for learning
that not only helps children and teens succeed in school but also
lays the foundation for success later in life. LEAP is creating a
new generation of lifelong learners who care deeply about their
communities, which will strengthen our city as a whole.”
{8}
A free, drop-in program for students in grades 1 through 12, LEAP
is offered four days a week during the school year, coordinated
by an adult After-School Leader (ASL), with help from two or three
Teen Leadership Assistants (TLAs). Every afternoon, the ASL and
TLAs help LEAP attendees with homework as needed; they also
plan and execute literacy-based programs, often in partnership
with other area organizations, like the “LEAP into Science” program
series presented in conjunction with the Franklin Institute. For
many young people who struggle academically or come from
families who speak English as a second language, LEAP and the
Free Library provide a crucial safe haven for learning—sometimes
the only place in the neighborhood where they can enjoy a positive,
resource-rich environment. LEAP’s impact is far-reaching, indeed:
In the 2011-2012 school year alone, LEAP served more than 70,000
school students around the city.
“I can’t imagine children’s services at the Free Library without LEAP,”
says Liz Fitzgerald, Children’s Librarian at the Wynnefield Library.
“In today’s crazy world, where many parents work long hours, we
are here to help. Kids come to the library for LEAP, and they are safe,
learning, and happy. It takes a village to raise a child, and we’re
proud to be a part of that.”
One of the reasons why LEAP is so successful is its focus on
teenage mentorship. Each school year, the Free Library employs
approximately 150-159 Teen Leadership Assistants, providing
high school students with valuable work experience as well as
extensive training in program development, college prep, and more.
With a focus on positive attitude, community service, and being
a strong role model for their younger peers—and at a time when
employment opportunities for teens are scarce—the TLA position
ensures that dedicated young adults have the opportunity to gain
work experience and develop their leadership skills for a successful
future. Very often, TLAs started out as LEAP attendees, and many
TLAs stay with the Library to become Associate Leaders while
they are in college, then become After-School Leaders after they
graduate—or even librarians! (See sidebar, page 11)
Take Bun Thuch, for example. He began volunteering at the Free
Library in 2002, stopping by the South Philadelphia Library nearly
every day to shelve books and assist with small projects, as part
of a school-based community service requirement. Interested in
becoming more involved at the Library once his school requirement
ended, Bun was hired as a TLA and then later as an ASL; he now
oversees LEAP at the Whitman Library.
{9}
Reggie Faison (left) reacts with glee at accurately matching
and reading his vocabulary words, as his proud mother,
Michelle Graham-Faison, looks on at Wynnefield Library.
From PhD candidates to leaders in business, government, and the sciences, former LEAP Teen Leadership Assistants (TLAS) and After-School Leaders (ASLS) have gone
on to achieve great things. Lucky for us, so many of them have been inspired to
remain in public service, and we are proud to count them among our ranks at the
Free Library of Philadelphia! Below, meet a few former LEAP TLAs and ASLS who are
now Free Library librarians, tech gurus, outreach coordinators, and more:
“LEAP and the Library are a refuge for me,”
Michelle says. “Coming here keeps us focused—
there’s no TV, no video games, no snacks. It’s a
safe place where I know we don’t have to worry.
I don’t know what I’d do without the Library.”
nning
IT: betsy ma
PHOTO CRED
“Being an After-School Leader doesn’t feel like a job to me. It’s more
like a really fun hobby,” he says. “I just have so much fun working
with kids and watching them grow up. You get to see a lot of little
milestones, like when a kid picks up a book to read on his own after
you’ve been reading to him for a while, or when a quiet kid who
doesn’t speak much English comes out of his shell and becomes
much more vocal.”
Originally offered three days a week for students in first through
sixth grade at the Free Library’s busiest locations, LEAP was
established in 1989 with the support of private funding from
the William Penn Foundation, in response to the overwhelming
number of students who would pour into neighborhood libraries
each day at 3:00 p.m. Parents wanted a safe place for their children
to go after school, and librarians wanted help in providing
productive structure for these children. LEAP was immediately
successful and quickly beloved by parents, librarians, and—most
importantly—students alike.
In 2000, a significant grant from the Carnegie Corporation allowed
the Free Library of Philadelphia to expand LEAP system-wide, and
then-Mayor John Street committed City funding when the Carnegie
grant period ended. Unfortunately, the 2008 economic downturn
resulted in stringent budget cuts, and LEAP lost funding. Thanks
to a combination of support from the Department of Human
Services, grant makers, corporations, and private individuals, the
Free Library has been able to continue offering LEAP in the wake
of these cuts, but now more than ever, private support is absolutely
crucial in keeping LEAP alive for the thousands of Philadelphia
school students who depend on it each year.
Reggie Faison is one such student who has grown leaps and
bounds thanks to the support of LEAP—and to the tireless work
of his dedicated mother, Michelle. Every Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday, mother and son visit Wynnefield after school to
practice reading without the endless distractions of home.
“LEAP and the Library are a refuge for me,” Michelle says. “Coming
here keeps us focused—there’s no TV, no video games, no snacks.
It’s a safe place where I know we don’t have to worry. I don’t know
what I’d do without the Library.”
Michelle and Reggie began frequenting Wynnefield after Reggie
brought home a report card early in the school year that indicated
his reading level was significantly below where it should be for
a first-grade student. Michelle immediately took action to help
Reggie improve his reading skills, making vocabulary flashcards
and PowerPoint slides with various word families for Reggie to
study and learn. They keep a reading log and set daily and weekly
learning goals. Plus, LEAP offers an extra incentive for Reggie to
concentrate on his work; after he finishes up, he can join in the
special literacy programs and craft sessions with his peers.
Michelle credits Children’s Librarian Liz Fitzgerald and Wynnefield
Library’s LEAP staff with helping her keep Reggie engaged in literacy
and learning by suggesting age-appropriate books that he’s excited
to read, like the Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems and the Fly
Guy series by Tedd Arnold. She also credits the LEAP staff with acting
as positive role models for her son, cheering him on as he builds his
literacy skills. Their collective hard work has paid off, as Michelle’s
proud smile reveals when she holds up Reggie’s end-of-year report
card: He now reads at an advanced level for his age.
How does Reggie feel about his newfound reading skills? “It’s pretty
great,” he states, matter-of-factly. “I’m going to keep coming here
over the summer, definitely.”
Success stories like Reggie’s can be found in libraries throughout the
city thanks to the help of the Literacy Enrichment After-school Program.
By advancing literacy, guiding learning, and inspiring curiosity for the
thousands of children and teens who visit their neighborhood libraries
after school each year, LEAP and the Free Library work hard to ensure
that Philadelphia’s future is nothing but bright.
•••
Whitman Library’s Children’s Department walls are lined with original
artwork created by its LEAP participants (left). LEAP at the Free Library integrates traditional literacy with the arts and sciences for a comprehensive
learning environment.
PHOTO
: betsy
CREDIT
Khaleef Aye
SUNMOON BEY
Elizabeth Kenny
Current position:
Hot Spot Community Outreach Specialist
Current position: Hot Spot Computer Assistant
and After-School Leader
Current position: Children’s Librarian,
Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library
Was TLA at:
Queen Memorial Library
Was ASL at:
Charles Santore Library
Favorite part of LEAP:
My favorite part of LEAP is being able to help a
child grasp a concept that perhaps gave him or
her difficulty.
Favorite part of LEAP:
My favorite part of LEAP was getting to know
the kids.
Was TLA at:
Cecil B. Moore Library
Favorite part of LEAP:
Nothing comes close to the professional
education that I received from my experience as
a TLA. When teens have similar experiences that
are coupled with the direct impact that TLAs
have on youth in their community, it becomes a
truly unique and fulfilling position.
Favorite thing about the Free Library:
The Free Library services are about more than
just getting people to understand the rapid
changes in technology. From downloadable
media to Hot Spots, we challenge our patrons to
embrace, understand, and employ technology.
Favorite thing about the Free Library:
My favorite thing about the Free Library is that
it promotes knowledge.
Susan Strecker
JoAnne Woods
Karen Worley
Current position: Librarian, Parkway Central Library,
Social Science and History Department
Current position: Children’s Librarian, South Philadelphia Library
Current position: Program Specialist, Parkway Central Library,
The Office of Public Service Support
Was TLA at:
Fox Chase Library
Favorite part of LEAP: I loved putting on
programs for the kids, from holiday arts and
crafts to gaming days. It gave me a chance to
be creative and, of course, interact with the kids
in a different way. I loved working with them.
Favorite thing about the Free Library:
I think it has to be the staff. It almost feels
like belonging to a family here. Everyone is so
friendly and supportive!
Was ASL at:
South Philadelphia Library
Favorite part of LEAP:
Homework Help. Many families at this branch
are new Americans, and there is too much of
a language barrier for parents to help their
kids with homework. It is great that the library
is able to meet this community need.
Favorite thing about the Free Library:
The Free Library is so much more than a building
with books. Libraries provide storytimes,
homework help, programming (educational and
fun), and access to computers with librarians
who can help people with their searches. For
me, I love that I am able to facilitate learning.
g
mannin
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Favorite thing about the Free Library:
My favorite part of the Free Library is being a
positive part of a community.
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Was TLA at:
McPherson Square Library
Favorite part of LEAP:
Being able to help the students and seeing
them grow as individuals.
Favorite thing about the Free Library: My
favorite thing about the Free Library is being
able to use my knowledge and skills to make
a difference in the programs and services that
we offer to our patrons.
A Hundred Years in the Making:
e
h
t
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NE
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OODS
QUEEN MEMORIAL AND CHARLES SANTORE
LEFT: Regional Librarian Jennifer Chang
(far right) helps New Americans learn
basic computer skills in the Gates Lab
at Northeast Regional Library.
RIGHT: A Translation Station helps library
staff communicate with non-English speaking
customers in ten different languages including Arabic, Cambodian, and Korean.
BELOW: Let’s Speak English groups—
which meet weekly in several libraries
across the system—help international
adults practice conversational English.
Welcome! Willkommen! ようこそ！
Serving Philadelphia’s
New Americans
photo Credit: George Matysik
photo Credit: Tim Graham
Libraries speak a universal language.
No matter where they are located, libraries
signal community, safety, learning, and
advancement. They are a place where
neighbors gather to meet, learn, and
interact. It is this sense of community and
opportunity that draws new Americans in
Philadelphia to the Free Library.
extensive collections of world-language materials—books, CDs, DVDs—
bring a little taste of home to customers when they need it most.
Although assimilating to a new culture is difficult and often trying,
the journey is rewarding—both to customers and library staff
alike. “There is often a challenge of basic communication, such as
conveying that the ESL classes are full—which they almost always
are,” remarks Catherine Krystopowicz, Branch Manager of Bushrod.
But the adjustment period pays off. “Learning to speak English
facilitates an immigrant’s assimilation into society, as well as the
use of the library services.”
The 2010 Census reports that 12% of Philadelphia’s population was born
outside of the United States and almost a quarter of homes speak a
language other than English. Navigating the ins and outs of urban life
is sometimes hard enough for born-and-raised Philadelphians, and the
language and cultural barriers that burden new Americans only add to
that difficulty. The Free Library of Philadelphia is committed to offering
helpful, accessible resources to all: English-language classes, special
world-language collections, citizenship classes, online language tools,
and much more across all of its neighborhood libraries.
Libraries in Northeast Philadelphia, a section of the city settled by a
diverse immigrant population, serve individuals and families from
across the globe. New Americans from China, South Korea, Saudi
Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Greece, Cuba, Brazil, Haiti,
Ukraine, and more establish themselves in Philadelphia and look to the
neighborhood libraries for support during their acclimation process.
“It’s very welcoming here,” explains Jennifer Chang, Regional Librarian
at the Northeast Regional Library. “People have their own communities
in the library, and it’s a good place to grow their families.”
At Bushrod Branch, another neighborhood library in the Northeast,
English-language classes empower participants with new vocabulary;
after-school program staff help children who speak limited English; and
And with the Free Library’s online digital resources, customers wishing
to practice their language skills at home are in luck. Programs like
Mango Languages, available at freelibrary.org, provide interactive
language acquisition in a variety of world languages including Spanish,
French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Russian, and more, as
well as English-as-a-Second-Language classes in multiple languages.
Mango Languages combines practical conversational skills with
memory-building activities through interactive lessons, all accessible
with a Free Library card and PIN.
photo Credit: George Matysik
The Free Library
of Philadelphia is
committed to offering
helpful, accessible
resources to all:
English-language
classes, special worldlanguage collections,
citizenship classes,
online language
tools, and much
more across all of
its neighborhood
libraries.
2012 marks the 100-year anniversary for two of our neighborhood libraries. Both Queen Memorial
and Charles Santore libraries are celebrating a century of service in South Philadelphia!
Queen Memorial Library—named after Philadelphia optician, pioneer microscope maker, and
philanthropist James W. Queen—became part of the Free Library system on December 13, 1912.
Currently located in the Landreth Apartments, a residence for seniors on 23rd and Federal Streets,
Queen Memorial was first housed in a church on 33rd and Wharton Streets, and then relocated
to Point Breeze Avenue, before settling in its final location in 1995. The library now serves the
surrounding community and is proud to celebrate its history and service: “The 100-year anniversary
means quite a bit,” says Betty Beauford, head of Queen Memorial’s Friends Group. “The library is a
wonderful resource for our community and is very needed in our neighborhood—the resources are
constantly being utilized!”
Charles Santore Library, originally the Southwark Library, was a Carnegie Building located at 5th and
Ellsworth Streets that opened on November 15, 1912. After moving locations in 1963 to South 7th Street
in Bella Vista, close to the Italian Market, the library eventually changed its name in 2004 to honor
Charles Santore, a South Philadelphia boxer, Republican ward leader, and father of the acclaimed,
eponymous children’s book illustrator. Currently, Charles Santore is closed for renovations, but the
staff is looking forward to reopening in early September and celebrating the anniversary. Janet
Puchino, Branch Manager at Santore, says the celebration—taking place on November 10, 2012—will
be an opportunity for the Library to offer customers a memorable thank you for their support: “It will
be an all-day event, generously paid for by the Friends of the Charles Santore Library. There will be
music, fun, games, historical images, contests, and prizes!” And, of course, a celebratory cake.
With celebrations and a commitment to their communities, we look forward to what the next 100
years will bring to Queen Memorial and Charles Santore libraries!
• • • BY EILEEN OWENS
photo Credit: EILEEN KENNEDY
However, it’s not just language skills that the neighborhood libraries
are focused on—they assist new Americans in all aspects of adjusting
to life in Philadelphia. At Northeast Regional, workshops for small
business owners and computer classes are constantly in demand.
Recently, librarians held a trilingual program for customers buying a
home for the first time. Participants gained knowledge on the process
of home ownership in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Across the city, Philadelphia’s population is increasingly diverse.
The Northeast libraries—and their many immigrant communities—
are just a few examples of how the Free Library strives to serve all
Philadelphians. As each neighborhood library assists its distinctive
blend of cultures and ethnicities, the Free Library is proud to be
part of a welcoming new home.
• • • BY EILEEN OWENS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Queen Memorial’s original
location at Hope Presbyterian
Church at 33rd and Wharton Streets
Queen Memorial’s present
location on South 23rd Street
Originally named Southwark
Library, charles santore library
was a Carnegie Building located
at 5th and Ellsworth streets.
Children’s department of the
Charles Santore branch currently
located on 7th and Carpenter streets
photo Credit: Ryan Brandenberg
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FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair
Robert C. Heim
Members
Dubbed “America’s Mayor” by Al Gore,
Ed Rendell served as Mayor of Philadelphia from
1992 to 2000, during which time he revived the
city’s economy, expanded neighborhood services,
and reformed the city government’s approach to
poverty. As Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003
to 2011, he achieved similar progress, improving
education and increasing access to health care.
Rendell served as Chairman of the Democratic
National Committee and is presently a senior
political contributor for MSNBC and the author of
A Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost
the Guts to Make Us Great. He found a moment in
his busy schedule to chat with Off the Shelf:
OTS What role have libraries played in your life?
ER Although I went to my local library growing up in New York
City, I really did not appreciate their significance until I became
Mayor of Philadelphia.
OTS What role do you think the Free Library fulfills for
the citizens of Philadelphia?
ER An enormous, important role. As mayor, I began to realize that
although our Parkway Central Library is an amazing building with
great resources, it is our branch libraries that are crucial to the
quality of life to our citizens in the neighborhood. They are oases
of tranquility in what are often violent, challenged neighborhoods.
Young people go to them and have a sense of security and stability
and at the same time gain an appreciation of reading and books. It is
also true that our branch libraries are often the only place that young
people can learn to use computers.
Even in more affluent areas, the libraries are great places for
learning and fun. As my son Jesse grew up, we would often go to our
neighborhood East Falls branch (Falls of Schuylkill) on Halloween eve
to hear some exciting ghost stories read to groups of youngsters.
OTS Your new book, A Nation of Wusses, posits that American
leaders are more concerned with the next election than
making the hard decisions that could positively affect our
country. Are there particular areas that stand out for you
where you feel leaders have abdicated their responsibility
and deferred to the ballot box?
ER The most topical example of this is on the issue of responsible
limitations on gun ownership. No elected official of any stripe could
honestly believe that it is appropriate or that it should be lawful for
a citizen to posses a semi-automatic rifle or magazine clip that has
100 bullets. After the Gabby Giffords incident where the carnage
killed and injured many Arizonans, including a 9-year-old girl who
came out to see her congresswoman, a poll showed that more than
70% of Americans favored making it illegal to posses such items
that only exist for combat purposes and allow the killing of multiple
people in a shockingly short period of time. Despite this poll, the
NRA has so effectively terrorized Washington that legislation was
never even brought up for a vote. Almost no elected official has had
a mature dialogue about the need for these limited and targeted
types of controls.
OTS Do you see more instances of this type of behavior on
the local or national level? Or are Americans subjected
to this at every level of politics?
ER The unwillingness of our elected officials to take risks that
might endanger their remaining in office exists at every level of
our government. This has caused near-paralysis at every level
of government when it comes to doing any initiative that is the
slightest bit hard. We have spiraled a long way downward from
the time President John F. Kennedy said, “We do these things not
because they are easy but because they are hard.”
OTS You’ve been District Attorney and Mayor of
Philadelphia, as well as Governor of Pennsylvania.
What about our city and Commonwealth have inspired
you TO devote your life to public service?
ER Philadelphia is a wonderful, vibrant, and historic city and our
Donna Allie
Steven M. Altschuler
Christopher Arlene
Jacqueline Barnett
Darwin Beauvais
Peter A. Benoliel
Patricia A. Coulter
Pamela Dembe
Tobey Gordon Dichter
W. Wilson Goode, Sr.
Melissa Grimm
Nancy D. Kolb
Noel Mayo
Sonia Sanchez
John J. Soroko
Sherry A. Swirsky
Nicholas D. Torres
Ignatius C. Wang
Shelly Yanoff
Emeritus
Joseph F. Burke
Gloria Twine Chisum
Armand Della Porta
Herman Mattleman
Teresa Sarmina
Michael DiBerardinis
Deputy Mayor for the Environment
and Community Resources
Irv Ackelsberg
Friends of the Free Library
Tobey Gordon Dichter
Members
EMERITUS
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Wish List
Chair
To listen to ED RENDELL’S Author Events podcast—AMONG
OTHERS—visit freelibrary.org/authorevents.
FOR $25,000
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
of Imagination. I often tell young people that when they read a
description of a monster in a book it’s better than seeing that
monster depicted on film because in a film, someone has decided
how the monster should look, but when you read it in a book, you
decide. You are the director, set designer, and the costume creator.
When you use your imagination, that monster will always turn out
to be much scarier.
OTS To you, the Free Library of Philadelphia is also the
Free Library of ____. Why?
ER To me the Free Library of Philadelphia is also the Free Library
When you make a planned gift —an estate
or life income gift—of any size to the Free
Library of Philadelphia Foundation, you join the
Benoliel Society and help ensure the
Library’s services will be available for future
generations . For more information or to find
out how to make the planned gift that’s right for
you, please contact Amanda Goldstein at 215567-77 10 or [email protected] .
Ex-Officio
Cynthia Affleck
James H. Averill
Phyllis W. Beck
Peter A. Benoliel
Sheldon Bonovitz
George Day
Andrea Ehrlich
Daniel K. Fitzpatrick
W. Wilson Goode, Sr.
Daniel Gordon
Richard A. Greenawalt
Elizabeth Grenald
Robert C. Heim
John Imbesi
Geoffrey Kent
Alexander Kerr
Marciene S. Mattleman
Leslie Miller
Stephanie W. Naidoff
Patrick M. Oates
Derek N. Pew
William R. Sasso
Susan G. Smith
Miriam Spector
Stacey Leigh Spector
Barbara Sutherland
Jay Weinstein
Larry Weiss
Commonwealth is much the same. They both played a crucial role
in our country’s fight for independence and in the development of
our basic freedoms. It has been an honor to serve as the leader of
both. A career in public service may have its handicaps—low pay,
difficult working conditions, intense media scrutiny, etc.—but the
rewards of being able to use your energy and talent to change
people’s lives for the better is literally priceless.
L eave a L e g ac y.
E nsure the future of the
free li b rar y.
Marie Field
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
A. Morris Williams, Jr.
The Wish List below details just a few
of the many ways your support of the
Foundation can enhance and improve
the Free Library of Philadelphia:
FOR $25,000 a neighborhood library
can provide after-school programming
for thousands of children four days a
week throughout an entire school year.
FOR $20,000 Behind the Screens,
a film literacy program for teens,
can be presented in four branches
for two months. Filmmaking
equipment is included.
FOR $5,000 the Free Library can
provide 20 programs for job seekers
on writing a résumé, conducting
an online job search, and preparing
for an interview.
FOR $2,500 a series of 10 Englishas-a-Second-Language classes can
be offered in a branch.
FOR $1,000 one is recognized
as part of the George S. Pepper
Society, the most generous group
of library supporters, and enjoys
exclusive opportunities to meet
with renowned authors.
FOR $500 the Free Library can
add 75 ebooks to its collection to
be downloaded and read by hundreds
of individuals.
To learn how you can make a gift to the Foundation,
visit freelibrary.org/support or call 215-567-7710.
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The Free Library is one of the most
important educational and cultural
institutions in Philadelphia.
The City of Philadelphia provides
funds for the operations of the
Free Library system, including
staffing at our 54 locations.
Through the generosity of
individual gifts, the Free Library
Foundation supports many of
the Library’s incredible programs
and services, which advance
literacy, guide learning, and inspire
curiosity throughout our city.
To make a gift to the Foundation,
please visit freelibrary.org/support
or call 215-567-7710.
YEAR OF DICKENS 2012
As our Year of Dickens 2012 draws to a close, be sure
to celebrate with these lively and literary events and
exhibitions this fall!
Literary Salons:
OCTOBER 18
BLEAK HOUSE
NOVEMBER 15
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND
DECEMBER 20
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Exhibitions:
Continuing in the Rare Book Department through January
4, 2013, “At Home on the Stage: Charles Dickens and the
Theatre” showcases playbills, LETTERS, and other items that
highlight Dickens’s flair for the dramatic!
Visit Parkway Central’s West Gallery to view a beautiful
exhibition from the Philadelphia Calligrapher’s Society
celebrating the works of Dickens from November 12 –
DECEMBER 31, 2012.
Sikes and Nancy: A Special Performance by Gerald Dickens
Charles Dickens’s great-great grandson presents his
dynamic one-man show, Sikes and Nancy, on September 18,
at 7:30 p.m.—Victorian theatre at its most dramatic!
For more information and a full schedule of events,
please visit freelibrary.org/dickens!