Richmond Library

2987 Almond Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134-4955
Indiana Ave. & Almond St.
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10/5 Closed
Monday, 10/6 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 10/7 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 10/8 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 10/9 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 10/10 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. *
Saturday, 10/11 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • * Friday has hour changes – preparation for the Indigenous Peoples' Day
Sunday Closed
Monday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 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

  • Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • Tue., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
  • Thu., Nov. 27 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
  • Fri., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Friday
View all holiday closings

Facilities

  • Baby changing station
  • Bicycle rack
  • Book drop box
  • Computers for public use
  • Electrical outlets available
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Meeting space (reservation required)
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Public restrooms
  • Scanner
  • Street parking (free)
  • Water fountain
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Upcoming Events

Saturday Storytime & Play Group

Sat, October 11, 2025 10:30 A.M.

Join Miss Meghan for stories, songs, and fun for ages 4 and under with caregivers. Stay after Storytime to play! Siblings welcome.  

Intro to Herbalism and Herbal Teas - Part 1 - Tea Tasting

Sat, October 11, 2025 10:30 A.M.

Join us on Saturday mornings for a 4-part workshop series exploring herbalism and herbal teas! Suggested donation is 10 dollars which will include supplies to take home. Please bring your own mug with you to this program as there will be plenty of teas to taste and talk about! 1. Intro to…

Learn to Knit

Sat, October 11, 2025 1:00 P.M.

Come join us to learn the art of knitting. Our first project will be a hat. Recommended supplies: 4-ply yarn and size 8, 16-inch circular knitting needles. For adults and teens.

Learn to Knit

Sat, October 11, 2025 1:00 P.M.

Come join us to learn the art of knitting. Our first project will be a hat. Recommended supplies: 4-ply yarn and size 8, 16-inch circular knitting needles. For adults and teens.

About

Serving the Richmond and Port Richmond communities.

History

William Ball settled in the area in 1728. Thus, Balltown was the first name given to Port Richmond. Mr. Ball gave the name Richmond Hall to the main house on his farm.

In 1830, William Cramp began shipbuilding in Port Richmond, and by 1840 established Cramp's Shipyard, which built fighting ships for both world wars. By the last half of the 19th century, Port Richmond was the busiest port along the Atlantic seaboard. When the city consolidated in 1854, Port Richmond was incorporated into the city of Philadelphia.

The first incarnation of the Richmond Library was in 1897 as a "Traveling Library" of 300 books in a flour and feed store located at 2965 Richmond Street. It was open two nights a week.

In 1897, Protestant ministers rallied the community to establish a neighborhood library. The following years, the library was moved to the second floor of the Mutual Hall Association at the corner of Richmond Street and Neff (now Indiana). Featuring expanded hours, it was called the Port Richmond Branch and housed 3,000 books.

The cornerstone of the current branch was laid in 1908 as a result of Andrew Carnegie's financial gift to the Free Library, and also Anne W. Penfield's donation of land for the purpose of a library. At the time, Penfield was considered the wealthiest woman in America; her father William Weightman had founded a chemical company in East Falls.

The library opened on March 15, 1910. It was renovated in 1994 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet service to every library.