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
- Mon., May. 27 : Closed Memorial Day
- Wed., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Thu., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Mon., Sep. 2 : Closed Labor 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
Math for GED
Our small learning group builds math skills you can use to pass tests, understand the world, and solve problems at work and at home. The topics we work with will be taken from various areas of…
PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance
Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career…
Teen Video Games
Join us from 3:00-4:30, for video games at the Field Teen Center every Tuesday and Friday! We play a variety of games. New players and experienced pros welcome. Programs at the Field…
Penn Med's Health Talk Tuesdays | Understanding Anxiety
Join the Free Library and Penn Medicine to learn about anxiety, including healthy ways to cope with the effects rather than combating them. Our guest speaker is Dr. Lily Brown, a clinical…
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
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Art Department
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Business Resource and Innovation Center
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Children's Department
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Children's Literature Research Collection
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Culinary Literacy Center
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Drinker Collection
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Education Philosophy and Religion Department
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Field Teen Center
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First Floor Gallery East
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First Floor Gallery West
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Fleisher Collection
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General Information Department
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Government Publications Department
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Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement
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Interlibrary Loan
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Literature Department
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Map Collection
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Music Department
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Newspapers and Microfilm Center
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Patent and Trademark Resource Center
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Philbrick Hall
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Print and Picture Collection
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Rare Book Department
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Regional Foundation Center
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Science and Wellness
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Second Floor Gallery West
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Senior Services
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Social Science and History Department
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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.