South Philadelphia Library
| Sunday, 6/29 | Closed |
| Monday, 6/30 | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, 7/1 | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, 7/2 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, 7/3 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 7/4 |
Closed * |
| Saturday, 7/5 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
- * Friday had hour changes – Independence 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
- Fri., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 11 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
Services By Appointment
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Change machine
- Children's only restroom
- Computer lab
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking
- Study rooms
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
StitchCraft
Mon, June 30, 2025
5:00 P.M.
Folks of all ages who knit, sew, crochet, weave, or stitch are welcome to bring their projects and join us to work on them in the company of other crafty people! Some materials and assistance may be provided based on availability.
Poetry Workshop for Teens
Tue, July 1, 2025
11:00 A.M.
Want to start writing poetry or develop the work you have? Come to our weekly poetry workshop, where we'll read, write, and workshop poems. Each session will be a mix of writing from prompts and giving each other feedback. All experience levels are welcome! Intended for ages 13 to 18.…
English Conversation Group - Intermediate+
Sat, July 5, 2025
2:30 P.M.
Build your confidence in speaking English while meeting other adults in a casual learning environment. No registration is required. This group is for intermediate/advanced English speakers and is led by Free Library volunteer Christine. Questions? Email AdultLearning@freelibrary.org or call…
Social Services at the Library with a Social Worker
Mon, July 7, 2025
2:00 P.M.
Stop by for Open Office Hours with a Social Worker where you can receive help finding, navigating, and connecting to relevant community and government agencies. If you have questions, you can email socialservices@freelibrary.org. Social Workers are also available by phone,…
About
Welcome to our new South Philadelphia Library in the Community Health and Literacy Center at Broad and Morris Streets!
History
This area of south Philadelphia was mainly small farms until the mid-1800's. Broad Street was named by William Penn, who described it as "a Broad Street in the middle of the city, from side to side" between the rivers. It ran from Vine to South (then Cedar) Streets, since they were the original boundaries of the city. In 1819, the street went as far south as Dickinson. By the middle of the 19th century, it was extended to the navy yard.
The original South Philadelphia Branch was located at Broad and Ritner Streets in a T-shaped Carnegie building that opened on November 24, 1914. In 1965, the building was closed and the South Philadelphia Branch reopened at its current location.
In June 2016, the new South Philadelphia Library Reopened to the public. It is the first of five pilot neighborhood libraries to be reimagined and reshaped to meet the changing needs of today’s library customers. Located on the first floor of the South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center, it includes a Community Health Resource Center with staff trained by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Public Health Initiatives, as well as a central “living room” area, a teen space, a Pre-K Zone, a computer lab, and updated study rooms. Its nearly 12,000 square feet of space serve more than 150,000 customers annually.
South Philadelphia Library was designated a Zone of Peace in 2019 by the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia for its work in answering the call to stop violence by “making our homes and neighborhoods zones of peace free from fear, filled with respect, and marked by deeds of kindness."