Pew: Philadelphia library should get back to basics.(newsdesk)(Brief article)

A recent Pew report comparing Philadelphia's Free Library to 14 other urban library systems concluded that the Philadelphia system should refocus on users' top priorities. That means providing a safe, educational place for children, quiet space for reading, health information, job-seeking resources, a connection to government services, and access to the Internet--potentially at the expense of things like maintaining special collections. The report also concluded that the Free Library should reevaluate branch hours, continue to streamline its governing structure, do more to promote literacy, and make the main library more welcoming. Achieving these goals, of course, depends on the …