This library fanatic is touring all 54 Free Library of Philadelphia branches

With the good news that the Free Library of Philadelphia will get dozens of new employees by year’s end and increased hours at select locations, it’s a good time to take stock of what the system’s 54 branches have to offer.

(It’s not just books, you know?)

Digital strategist Briana Morgan, a self-professed adorer of Philly’s public libraries, is setting off on a pilgrimage of each local branch for a newly created blog titled Jawn of the Read. Through the project, Morgan hopes to shine a light on the varied offerings available at your neighborhood library.

“Libraries are such important community hubs,” Morgan said. “They’re for everyone, and their services are for everyone. Our libraries have mindfulness classes, headshots, event spaces, kitchen scales, musical instruments, therapy dogs, movies, music, and obviously books, all for free. It’s incredible.”

My love for the @FreeLibrary is so effusive that I set up a blog about visiting all the branches yesterday… coming soon to a computer near you

— Briana Morgan (@babefromtoyland) December 17, 2018

The idea came after a failed coffee meeting with former Interactive Mechanics exec Amelia Longo. After learning their chosen café was closed, a nearby library offered refuge.

“We wound up at the Joseph A. Coleman Northwest Regional Branch,” Morgan said. “Did you know they have a dragon bookshelf in there? So, I started wondering what I was missing out on at the other branches. Each one has something unique to it, and I’m on a mission to find out what that is. I also plan to read a book that’s on display at each branch, because why not?”

(Last year, the Free Library’s social media manager, Kate Copp, went on a dizzying tour of Philly, with quick stops at all 54 library branches in one day. She produced a seven-minute video that offered quick facts of each location.)

Morgan just published the recap of her first site visit to the blog. Here’s an intro post with details on how to get a shiny new library card (even if you don’t live in Philly).