This is where we throw up our hands and say CONGRATULATIONS to our FRIENDS for special accomplishments in support of their library branch.

Visit our Events page for more information on Friends Groups' activities. Also, check out Newsletters, our latest addition to the site, and our new discussion group.

Richard Wright Week April 21 - 25 marked Richard Wright Week in Philadelphia, which presented a series of events in schools and libraries exploring Wright’s influence on the United States and literature. Wright’s daughter, Julia Wright, traveled from Paris to take part in the series. Libraries were especially important to Richard Wright as he grew up, and Ms. [...]

First Time Home Buyer’s Seminar (Kensington) Hispanic Alliance for Community Advancement, in partnership with Friends of Kensington Library, sponsor a First Time Home Buyer’s Seminar at the Kensington Library on Saturdays, May 10 and 31 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Learn about: Housing and Credit Counseling Programs; How to Avoid Predatory Lending; and First Front Door grant program for down payment/settlement [...]

Big Events Some big events are coming up for the Friends. Here’s a peak at what to watch out for: Friends Book Corner Big Book Sale - April 25: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; April 26 & 27: 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. For three days we host Philadelphia’s longest running outdoor book event. Located outside Book [...]

Torresdale Friends Go Green On Saturday, March 15, 2008 members of Friends of the Torresdale Library joined volunteers from the nonprofit environmental group Northeast Tree Tenders to plant a tree on the Branch Library’s grounds at 3079 Holme Avenue. Once the Branch’s new tree was successfully planted, several Friends members volunteered their time to help the NE Tree Tenders [...]

Computer Lab Increases Usage Kensington’s Gates Computer Lab gets more attention with two community organizations bringing groups in. Isabel Cartagena from the Mann Senior Center brought a group for a computer class in Spanish earlier this week and they plan to come weekly. Also, Bruce Miley from COMHAR has brought a group twice and plans to return regularly with [...]

Torresdale holds elections Friends of Torresdale Library held elections for officers. The group, now numbering a core contingent of 12 to 15 strong, congratulates Linda Colwell Smith, President; Ida Olitsky, Secretary; and Joan Creamer, Treasurer.

Bushrod secures DCED Grant Friends of Bushrod Library secured a $10,000 DCED State Grant. The grant will be used to sponsor FREE community literacy workshops for seniors; job readiness and computer skills trainings for adults; assorted children’s programming; arts and crafts; teen programming; summer reading program support; a book discussion group for adults; and a beautification and mural project [...]

Friends of Wynnefield to offer book discussion program The Wynnefield Library is now accepting registrations for a book discussion program entitled American Life Stories exploring diverse American memoirs. Ms. Valerie Harris, an outstanding writer/playwright, editor and publisher will lead a small group of adults in four discussions at the Wynnefield Library on March 26, April 23, May 28, and June 25 from 6:00 [...]

Library Patron Survey (results posted) At the beginning of December the Friends of the Free Library held a meeting with a number of our volunteers to discuss the upcoming search for a new library director for the Free Library.  We asked them to tell us what they felt the Library was doing well, where it needed improvement and what qualities [...]