Charles L. Durham Library
Sunday | Closed |
Monday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., May. 23 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., May. 27 : Closed Memorial Day
- Wed., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Thu., Jun. 27 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
Upcoming Events
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…
Bilingual Storytime with Mr. Pagán
Children and their caregivers are welcome to come to listen to stories in English and Spanish with children’s librarian Mr. Pagán.
Bilingual Storytime with Mr. Pagán
Children and their caregivers are welcome to come to listen to stories in English and Spanish with children’s librarian Mr. Pagán.
About
Formerly the Mantua Branch, the library was renamed in 1995 to honor Judge Charles L. Durham. Serving the Mantua and Powelton communities, the library is located near the Drexel University campus and the Philadelphia Zoo.
History
Part of this neighborhood was purchased from the Lenni Lenape Indians in 1677 by William Warner. In 1692, a young Welsh carpenter, William Powel, opened a ferry over the Schuylkill River at the foot of the present Spring Garden Bridge. Lancaster Pike and Haverford Road were the first routes providing access from the west.
Mantua was named in 1809 by Judge Richard Peters, who designed a grid of lots with 36th St. and Haverford Ave. as the center. He named the area for a city in Italy.
Powelton was named for the family of William Powell, whose son purchased additional land. By the mid-1880's, Powelton was a fashionable area, becoming part of Philadelphia after the Consolidation Act of 1854.
Designed as part of the multipurpose Mantua Community Center, the Mantua library branch opened July 9, 1979. The building also includes a Department of Recreation gymnasium, a community office and a meeting room.
The branch was renamed the Charles L. Durham Free Library in 1995. Born in Mantua, Durham served on City Council from 1967 to 1974, when he was appointed to the Common Pleas Court. He a strong advocate for the community, and was deeply involved in the struggle for civil rights and was part of the first black caucus on Council.
The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and ensured Internet access.