The Free Library of Philadelphia headquarters at Logan Square

The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 492 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1487 × 1811 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 492 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1487 × 1811 pixel, file size: 3. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Logan Circle, Philadelphia. ... Librarians and patrons in a typical larger urban public library. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

History

In 1890, George S. Pepper, the uncle of the provost of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. William Pepper, died. At the suggestion of Dr. Pepper, he had earmarked $225,000 of his estate to go towards the foundation of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which was established on February 18, 1891. Lawsuits from private libraries held up the disbursement of the funds until 1894; meanwhile, the city of Philadelphia opened six branches of a separate institution, the Philadelphia Public Library, beginning in 1892. In March 1894 the first branch of the Free Library was opened at City Hall, and later that year the two institutions merged under the Free Library name. By 1898 the Free Library had the largest circulation in the world, at 1,778,387 volumes. 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... William Pepper (August 21, 1843 - July 28, 1898), American physician, was born in Philadelphia. ... Estate is a term used in the common law. ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... It has been suggested that civil trial be merged into this article or section. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The Library's headquarters moved to 12th and Chestnut Streets in 1895. In 1906, it was decided that the Library's permanent headquarters should be along the proposed Benjamin Franklin Parkway (then known as the Fairmount Parkway), and Logan Square was chosen as the site in 1910, the same year the Library moved to 13th and Locust Streets. Ground was broken in 1917 and construction began in 1920. The new building was completed in late 1926, and the Free Library of Philadelphia opened for business at its current location on June 2, 1927. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3264 × 2448 pixel, file size: 2. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic avenue that runs through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Logan Circle, Philadelphia. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Exhibitions and collections

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. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3264 × 2448 pixel, file size: 2. ...

As of this writing (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. An artists book is an art object in the form of a book. ... Philagrafika is an international, contemporary art quadrennial exhibition that celebrates the printed image as a core strategy for artists today, originally founded in 2000 as the Philadelphia Print Collaborative. ... Born in 1932 in New York City, Enid Mark attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan and Smith College, where she studied English literature and studio art. ...

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.

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.

See also

Philadelphia Portal

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External links

• http://www.library.phila.gov
• Dynamic map of all the libraries in the Free Library of Philadelphia System