The Free Library of Philadelphia, in partnership with Archives Month Philly, is hosting a free, interactive community fair featuring pop-up displays, table-top activities, and workshops, showcasing how our natural, built, and digital environments are documented in and catalyzed by archives.

Wednesday, October 15, 6:00-7:30pm
Free Library of Philadelphia
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. Philadelphia, PA 19103
Free

Drop by Parkway Central Library to view historical photos, documents, graphics, and born-digital materials and discuss the many environments we care for and inhabit.

See materials related to planning and development in Philadelphia, the Witherspoon Building and Alexander Calder, efforts to document the root causes of the U.S. opioid epidemic, and more.

Attend a free workshop
Where do I start? An Introduction to Preserving Your Media with People’s Media Record
Do you have boxes and boxes of media at home? Do you feel lost when it comes to preserving your media? Do you shake your head and wonder, “where do I start?” If so, this workshop is for you! In this workshop, we will lead participants through essential questions that everyone should ask when beginning to think about the long-term care of your media. We will introduce you to navigating the process of planning for preservation and orient you towards thinking about the best practices for you! This workshop will feature a presentation, hands-on activities, and small group work to help guide you towards your needs and goals when it comes to preserving your media!

Linoleum Block Printing
Combine old and new ways of making with this hands-on drop-in session. The original illustrations for the blocks were sourced from Swarthmore College Special Collections, transformed by 3-D scanning into vector files by Swarthmore College Digital Scholarship, and laser engraved on linoleum blocks by the Swarthmore College Makerspace. Grab a free tote bag (or a nice sheet of printmaking paper) and give linocut printing a try with one of our pre-cut linoleum blocks.

Participants include
UCSF-JHU Opioid Industry Documents Archive
Presbyterian Historical Society
Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development Archives
POWER Library/PA Photos & Documents
Swarthmore College Special Collections
Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Franklin Institute
People’s Media Record

Free Library Special Collections and Subject Departments
Print and Picture Collection
Rare Book Department
Education, Philosophy, and Religion Department
Map Collection
Government Publications Department
Music Department
Center for Public Life
Fleisher Collection