Queen Memorial Library

After months of remote service only, the Queen Memorial Library is now open for limited public service hours. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4pm you can come inside to browse, use our public PCs, and print/copy. Simply ring the doorbell and a staff member will welcome you to the building! You are able to use the library for up to one hour per day, and computers are limited to 30 minute sessions. Unfortunately, due to social distancing guidelines, we are unable to offer comp...uter assistance that requires coming within 6 feet of patrons. There is a limit of 10 patrons at a time in the building. Please keep yourself and others safe by wearing a mask that covers both your mouth and nose at all times! #MaskUpPHL We encourage those who are able to do so to continue using our remote and curbside services to limit the risk to our staff and other members of the public. We miss you and cannot wait to see you all, safely!

Want some new reading material that’s yours to keep? Our Little Free Library is stocked and waiting for you under our awning 24 hours a day! Take what you like, and leave what you’d like to share with others. Most fair-weather days we also have a cart of free books/magazines outside our doors. Materials for all ages are available :)

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads My Dadima Wears a Sari by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi. A young girl learns about her Dadima’s (grandmother’s) many saris, what they can be useful for, and even gets to wear one for the first time We’ll see you soon for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki. In this delightful tale a group of community members use homegrown and donated goods to make weekly free meals for folks in their neighborhood. It’s based on real-life experiences of the author May is Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month, and we’ll continue to read books that honor AAPI authors and illustrators all month long.... See you soon for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar. Young Ayesha is excited for her Ritu didi’s wedding and the music and dancing of the traditional baraat procession. But not everyone agrees with a marriage between two women. Will Ayesha’s love for her family help overcome the hate and intolerance they face? We’ll see you next week for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads The Boy & the Bindi by Vivek Shraya, illustrated by Rajni Perera. This book explores the significance of the bindi, a colored dot traditionally worn by Hindu women and girls. When a young boy asks his Ammi (mother) for a bindi, she provides him with his own, supporting his freedom to express himself This week we’ll be reading books by Indian authors and illustrators as a show of solidarity with people in India suffering from the COVID...-19 pandemic. Research how you can help and spread awareness. We’ll see you soon for more great books!

Today's re-launch of in-person Pre-K storytime was a big success! Thanks to all that came and made it a truly wonderful return to library programming. We thought we made this a recurring event on facebook, but it looks like that didn't happen, so here's the new event listing so you can keep track of upcoming dates!

It's true!!! The Queen Memorial Library is now offering material returns (24/7 in our outdoor dropbox), phone & text reference (M-F 9am-4pm, call (215) 685-1899 or text (484) 580-9927), and even curbside pickup (by appointment only). You can place your holds online or via phone, and when the items become available you can set up a pickup appointment with us by calling, texting, or emailing [email protected]! Find out more about the library's offerings here: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/4302

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads First Pooch: the Obamas Pick a Pet by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Amy Bates. Learn a bit about the Obamas and their search for a new puppy, plus info about other presidential pets We’ll see you tomorrow for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, illustrated by Chris Cate. How we express ourselves is something that we all have a right to choose! This story follows a boy named Jacob who likes to wear dresses. Will his family and friends understand and support his choices? See you next week for more great books!

Attention storytime fans: in-person storytime is returning to Point Breeze on Friday, November 20th Join Miss Liz and some special library pals at Chew Playground at 4pm for a socially-distant storytime! Masks are required for kids ages 2 and up. We are so excited to see you again and read together!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, with permission from Simon & Schuster publishers. The US presidential election is coming up on November 3rd, and it seems everyone is talking about it! We’ll be reading several books about politics and democracy in the coming weeks. See you tomorrow for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Have you ever felt you weren’t beautiful? Maybe you’ve felt bad about something someone else said about your appearance? May you find comfort and peace in the story of Sulwe, who learns that darkness is just another kind of light See you tomorrow for more great books!

We LOVE a good how-to video, and we LOVE connecting people to the help they need! Do you know any school-aged kids or teens who could use a bit of extra help with their learning? The library provides Tutor.com services FREE to all cardholders! Watch this expertly crafted video featuring the library's own SunMoon Bey to learn how to make this resource work for you.

Hello friends Yesterday’s storytime is today’s wake-up reading, perfect for the littlest littles! Miss Liz reads Peek-A-Boo Farm by Joyce Wan, with permission from Scholastic publishers. Can you identify the farm animals in this, short, sweet, rhyming story? We’ll see you later today for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads The Good Luck Cat by Joy Harjo, illustrated by Paul Lee. Have you heard the phrase a cat has nine lives? Find out about the many lives of Woogie the cat in this story We’ll see you tomorrow for more great books!

Hello friends To finish out our week of stories celebrating Indigenous peoples Miss Liz reads The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble, with permission from Simon & Schuster publishers. We also learn how to say Until we meet again in Cherokee: Donadagohve This was a favorite book of Miss Liz’s when she was young - we hope you enjoy it as well ... See you next week for more great books!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, with permission from Macmillan publishers. This is a story of a special Native American food, and the various ways it can come together, and bring people together We’ll see you tomorrow for more great books featuring Indigenous peoples!

Tonight at 7:30! Attend this FREE, no strings attached info session. Have your life insurance questions answered by a professional!

Hello friends Today, as we continue our week of stories centering Indigenous peoples, Miss Liz reads Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis. This is a lovely ode to a newborn, featuring many native Arctic creatures Kulu is an Inuit term of endearment. The Inuit are a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples from the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. We will see you tomorrow for more great books featuring Indigenous peoples and authors!

Hey Philly! The October 19th voter registration deadline is approaching. Did you know Philly has locations all over the city where you can register and vote early, as well as two mail-in ballot drop-off boxes? The attached map shows you where to go! "The Philadelphia City Commissioners have approved 9 satellite election offices located throughout Philadelphia, in addition to the two existing County Board of Election offices. In a single visit to these locations, voters can:... Register to vote, Request a mail-in ballot, and Receive their ballot, vote, and return it. Voters can also drop off their completed ballots at an election office." Visit https://www.phila.gov/voting/#/ to learn more!

Hello friends Today Miss Liz reads Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales. This is the second in our week of stories celebrating Indigenous People (other terms you may hear used are Native Americans or First Nations). What happens when a young boy decides he wants a different name? Will his family understand? Read along to find out! See you tomorrow for more great books centering Indigenous Peoples.