Falls of Schuylkill Library
The Falls of Schuylkill Library is currently closed due a plumbing emergency. At this time, we do not have an ETA when the work will be completed.
All holds have been temporarily relocated to our Roxborough Library site at 6245 Ridge Avenue - their phone number is 215-685-2550.
Thank you for your support.
Upcoming Events
East Falls Bird Walk
Tue, September 2, 2025
6:00 P.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library
Join us for an evening bird walk! We will meet in front of the library and proceed around the neighborhood. This walk will be led byTony Croasdale who is an Environmental Educator at the Wissahickon Environmental Center, and co-founder of BirdPhilly and the Delaware Valley Ornithological…
Stories and Songs for Babies and Toddlers
Wed, September 3, 2025
10:15 A.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library
Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces perfect for infants and toddlers along with their caregivers! Free play with baby-friendly toys will wrap up the program. Siblings welcome. Read, Baby, Read is a series of programs focused on language and literacy development for…
Library Playgroup
Thu, September 4, 2025
2:00 P.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library
Kids under 5 and their caregivers can come and socialize in the comfort of the library! We will have age-appropriate toys set out to encourage creativity, group play, and motor skill development. Meets most Thursdays upstairs in the children’s area.
Read With a Dog!
Mon, September 8, 2025
4:00 P.M.
Falls of Schuylkill Library
Young readers can come meet Daisy, a certified therapy dog, and share a story with her. Children can practice reading out loud, in a safe, judgment free space. Daisy loves to hear stories, or just share some cuddles with her. Space may be limited.
About
Located at the intersection of Midvale Avenue, Warden Drive, and Conrad Street, the Falls of Schuylkill Branch has a lovely garden tended by volunteers. The branch serves the community of East Falls with a variety of programs for all ages.
History
Industrial activity marked the early history of the Schuylkill River and nearby waterways. Even before the fishery of Fort St. Davids was established by Welshmen at the Falls of the Schuylkill in 1734, other settlers were building mills along the Wissahickon and the Falls Creeks.
Don't bother trying to find the Schuylkill Falls themselves, however. The Fairmount Dam, constructed in 1822, raised the river's water level and obliterated the rapids. The area near the present library was a brewery from 1873 to 1894. After it fell into disrepair, the springs turned it into a swimming hole.
The first library in East Falls opened on June 1, 1901 as a Deposit Station on the second floor of the Old Academy, the first community center in Philadelphia. It was built in 1819 as a place of education and worship. Since 1932, the building has been used as a theater, and was the scene of Grace Kelly's acting debut.
Featuring English Collegiate architecture, the current library opened on November 18, 1913. The building was funded by Andrew Carnegie, and the land was donated by William H. Merrick and the Warden Estate. The library was renovated in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and ensured Internet access.
Atop the library, you'll see a catfish weathervane on the cupola. The preschool center also features a catfish. They are symbols of the thousands of catfish that thronged the Schuylkill River two centuries ago, when East Falls was known as Fort St. Davids. One fisherman in the 1830's caught 3,000 in one night with his dip net. Catfish and waffles were a popular meal in the inns and taverns that surrounded the river.
While you visit, take a look at the beautiful garden outside the library. It has been maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers since the late 1980's.