Parkway Central Library
Sunday | Closed |
Monday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
Thursday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Fri., May. 24 : Closing at 1:00 PM preparation for the Memorial Day holiday
- Mon., May. 27 : Closed Memorial Day
- Wed., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Thu., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
BookCraft: The Art of Handmade Sketchbook Creation with Jo Gamel
This class is currently FULL . BookCraft: The Art of Handmade Sketchbook Creation is a unique, hands-on class designed for artists and enthusiasts who wish to explore the traditional…
Percussion Workshops Featuring Karen Smith - Third Saturdays!
Join Karen Smith and the Free Library's Music Department for another season of percussion and drum workshops every third Saturday of the month! Program starts at 12:00 PM, drop in…
Saturdays on Stage: Brave Little Tailor with Enchantment Theatre
Sundays on Stage is back…on Saturdays this Season! With expressive masks, life-size puppets, original music and imaginative scenic effects, Enchantment Theatre Company brings the beloved…
We Are What We Eat: Curator-Led Exhibition Tour
The Free Library’s newest exhibition, We Are What We Eat , explores the intersection of food, community, and identity. With recipes and cooking techniques passed down through generations,…
Parkway Central Library Tours
- Monday and Tuesday 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday 2:00 p.m.
- Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m.
Departments
- Art Department
- Business Resource and Innovation Center
- Children's Department
- Children's Literature Research Collection
- Culinary Literacy Center
- Drinker Collection
- Education Philosophy and Religion Department
- Field Teen Center
- First Floor Gallery East
- First Floor Gallery West
- Fleisher Collection
- General Information Department
- Government Publications Department
- Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement
- Interlibrary Loan
- Literature Department
- Map Collection
- Music Department
- Newspapers and Microfilm Center
- Patent and Trademark Resource Center
- Philbrick Hall
- Print and Picture Collection
- Rare Book Department
- Regional Foundation Center
- Science and Wellness
- Second Floor Gallery West
- Senior Services
- Social Science and History Department
- Theatre Collection
About
Parkway Central Library Welcomes You [A downloadable brochure for a self-guided tour]
Video Tour through Parkway Central [background blog post with embedded videos]
Designed by Julian Abele, a prominent African American architect from Philadelphia who worked in Horace Trumbauer’s firm, the Parkway Central Library first opened its doors on June 2, 1927. As an anchor cultural and educational institution on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, we welcome over 1 million visitors each year from the city, its countryside, and around the world. Our patrons come to learn from our public events, to consult our special collections, and to tap the expertise of our librarians and curators in each of the subject departments and special collections. On most days, volunteer docents offer architectural walks through the building.