Free Library of Philadelphia (Science & Wellness)

The Insectopia will bring six animal friends for attendees to interact with.This program brings 6 animals for a 1 hour program of meet and greets with the invertebrates. Students will have a great time learning about these animals and have the opportunity to hold and/or pet them. Students and adults alike are surprised by how handleable these animals can be.This program is free and open to the public and will be held in the Heim Center, rooms 131-132. Registration is not required yet seating is limited.

The Library of Life Book Tour is designed to highlight both books and life resources as tools for healing and growth.This event is free and open to the public. It will be held in Rooms 131/132 in the Heim Center. Registration is not required yet seating is limited. There will be an opportunity to purchase Ciara's book after the presentation.Rooted in my book Cliché Your Way Through Life REMIX, each event blends storytelling, therapy-inspired reflection, and practical life tools. By connecting the metaphor of the library with real-life resources, the program encourages participants to see both literature and community as

Want to bike safely around Philly? Curious about how to use an Indego bike? Join the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to learn how!

Have you ever wondered if the “weeds” growing around you might actually be useful—or even delicious?This program dives into the world of the plants formerly known as weeds, revealing their hidden benefits and surprising roles as food and medicine. You’ll learn the basics of foraging, including plant identification, seasonal harvesting, and how to safely recognize and use common edible plants found throughout the Philadelphia area. Perfect for curious beginners eager to see local landscapes in a whole new way—and maybe never look at a sidewalk crack the same again.This program will take place in Room 131 on the First Floor.

Join us for a conversation with the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Philadelphia’s neighborhood garden protector.As the city’s largest land trust dedicated to preserving community gardens and shared open spaces, NGT has safeguarded a network of more than 58 spaces where neighbors grow food, flowers, and lasting connections. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, NGT holds land in perpetuity—ensuring that community-managed green spaces remain vibrant, accessible, and protected for Philadelphians.Hear directly from NGT’s Executive Director and Stewardship Manager as they share stories from the field. Learn how they collaborate with self-organized groups of gardeners, community organizations, property owners, the City of Philadelphia,

Want to bike safely around Philly? Curious about how to use an Indego bike? Join the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to learn how!

Have you ever wondered if the “weeds” growing around you might actually be useful—or even delicious?This program dives into the world of the plants formerly known as weeds, revealing their hidden benefits and surprising roles as food and medicine. You’ll learn the basics of foraging, including plant identification, seasonal harvesting, and how to safely recognize and use common edible plants found throughout the Philadelphia area. Perfect for curious beginners eager to see local landscapes in a whole new way—and maybe never look at a sidewalk crack the same again.This program will take place in Room 131 on the First Floor.

Come learn about mushrooms, fungi, and how to identify what you see on your next local excursion. Local foraging and mushroom identificationThis program takes place in Science & Wellness department 2nd Floor Parkway Central Library

Discover the many fascinating members of our Solar System, how numerous small planets were found, and how they formed alongside the Sun.Learn why the question "How many planets are there?" is more complicated than it seems in this fun and informative presentation.Professor Bernstein's research centers on extracting gems of astronomical knowledge from large piles of astronomical images. Currently his group is pursuing two main science projects with the ~100,000 sky exposures of the Dark Energy Survey.Gravitational lensing is the deflection of light by gravity as predicted by General Relativity. These deflections can cause dramatic distortions of background objects, or subtle