“Or Not to Be” is on view from Monday, September 8, 2025–Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Note: This content discusses themes of death and mortality across cultures.
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s newest exhibition invites visitors to contemplate one of life’s most profound universal experiences through the lens of history, culture, and art. “Or Not To Be: Representations of Death in Special Collections,” inspired by Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy from Hamlet, opens September 8 in the Dietrich Gallery and runs through February 28, 2026.
Thoughtfully curated, “Or Not To Be” brings together treasures from across the Free Library’s incredible Special Collections: the Rare Book Department, Print and Picture Collection, Map Collection, Children’s Literature Research Collection, the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music, and Sheet Music Collection. Together, these materials explore fundamental human questions: Why are we here? What does it all mean? What happens after death?
The exhibition reminds us that while death may be life’s greatest mystery, the human response to mortality through art, literature, music, and ritual reveals elements of our shared humanity across cultures and centuries. With “Or Not To Be: Representations of Death in Special Collections,” the library is offering visitors a dignified perspective, with fascinating insights into how different cultures across time have grappled with mortality. Visitors will discover rare books dating to the mid-18th century, international musical scores about grief, themed artwork, and manuscripts that reveal the diverse ways societies have understood and honored what Hamlet called “the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.”
“Or Not To Be” is free and open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm, with extended hours until 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Don’t miss the special curator-led tour and open house on September 17th at 5pm. Find all visitor information here.
Recognizing the sensitive nature of the exhibition’s themes, the Free Library has prepared resources on grief support, suicide prevention, and estate planning for visitors who may need them.
About the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Book Department
The Free Library houses one of the largest public library special collections in the United States. The department’s holdings at Parkway Central Library span 6,000 years of human history, from ancient cuneiform tablets to contemporary works.
Free daily tours occur every morning at 11am, offering hands-on introductions to rare books and artifacts. The Reading Room welcomes scholars and the public by appointment, and group tours can be arranged for classes and organizations.
Visit “Or Not To Be” at the Free Library’s Rare Book Department, and discover why supporting the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation makes exhibitions like this possible at freelibraryfoundation.org.