Guided Search: Literature

Check out the Rare Book Department’s latest exhibition, Our 5 Senses, an interactive exhibition for all ages that connects the senses, the brain, and the literary experience across three centuries of unique materials.

Enjoy everything the Museum has to offer—at your own pace and price every Wednesday night. Admission is Pay What You Wish from 5:00 to 8:45 p.m. You Can: Relax. Dhyana Yoga offers two classes per week. Refresh. The Balcony Café is open late, serving fresh snacks, coffee and tea, and wine and beer. Get inspired. Explore the collection in a casual and playful atmosphere.

Jericho Brown's first book of poetry Please (New Issues, 2008) won the American Book Award. The New Testament (Copper Canyon, 2014) was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and won the Anisfield-Wolf book award. His latest collection is The Tradition (Copper Canyon, 2019) He has a Ph.D from the University of Houston; and he directs the writing program at Emory University. His poems have appeared in The Nation, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review, and have been chosen several times for the Best American Poetry series.

Making Pictures

Art-makers have told stories through their pictures for at least 20,000 years. We won't have anything as old as the Lascaux cave paintings, but come explore 500 years of narrative art from the Rare Book Department's collections. This program will let visitors get an up-close look at illustration in process, showing off unfinished portraits from Mughal India, underdrawings from medieval European manuscripts, Victorian-era engraved steel plates, color separations for 1950s children's books, and other peeks "behind the book."

Find out more about the Hands-on History series!

Read with your fingertips, and learn about the history of braille, raised type, and moon type. This program is for all ages.

This program is part of Hands-on History series, and the Our 5 Senses exhibition on display from May 13-November 2, 2019 in the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadlephia.

Click here for more information about Hands-on History and Our 5 Senses programs.

On Sunday, September 8, join us with your family in the Rare Book Department for a special Storytime in celebration of the Our 5 Senses exhibition. Taste candy made by a Historic Drop Roller Candy Machine demonstration with Shane’s Confectionary. Listen to a live performance by Sundays on Stage. Have fun!

Our 5 Senses exhibition is on display from May 13-November 2, 2019 in the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Tickets are FREE but limited. Click here to reserve your free tickets!
Click here for more information about Our 5 Senses programs.

[NOTE: Free. Tickets are limited and available on-site starting at 10 am]

It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means free admission at the Barnes! Visitors have access to the collection, our special exhibition Kiefer Rodin, and all our family activities and performances. Begin the new year with stroller tours for the early birds, and stay for the playful interpretations of paper artist Colette Fu’s pop-up books! Create your own masterpiece at a drawing station, or engage in more of our fun art activities that spark imagination for people of all ages.

[NOTE: Free. Tickets are limited and available on-site starting at 10am]

It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means free admission at the Barnes! Visitors have access to the collection, our special exhibition Kiefer Rodin, and all our family activities and performances. Begin the new year with stroller tours for the early birds, and stay for the playful interpretations of paper artist Colette Fu’s pop-up books! Create your own masterpiece at a drawing station, or engage in more of our fun art activities that spark imagination for people of all ages.