Walnut Street West Library

Tuesday, June 24 – Message from Staff

All indoor programming at the Walnut Street West Library has been cancelled for the month of July. Clark Park Storytime and the Family Bird Walk are still scheduled, weather permitting. Please call 1-833-TALK-FLP or use the Ask a Librarian form on this site for questions and concerns.

201 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
40th & Walnut Streets
Closed Today
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 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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
  • Thu., Jul. 24 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
  • Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
  • Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
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
  • Screen magnify tools
  • Stella Lighting
  • Street parking (metered)
  • Street parking
  • Water fountain
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
  • ZoomText Keyboard & Special Key Features

Upcoming Events

Kid & Family Bird Walk in the Woodlands Cemetery

Thu, July 10, 2025 6:00 P.M.

Join us at the Woodlands Cemetery (4000 Woodland Ave.) for a kid/family-oriented bird walk! Local expert birders will teach us about birding & take us on a walk to point out our local birds! Walnut St. West Library will have brand new circulating birding backpacks to trial as well. The Free…

Clark Park Storytime

Fri, July 11, 2025 10:00 A.M.

Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…

Clark Park Storytime

Fri, July 18, 2025 10:00 A.M.

Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…

Clark Park Storytime

Fri, July 25, 2025 10:00 A.M.

Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…

About

Located near the University of Pennsylvania, the Walnut Street West Branch has been serving West Philadelphia since 1906, celebrating its 110 year anniversary in the spring of 2016. The building was fully renovated in 2004, and the entrance was restored to its original location on 40th Street. Located near a parking garage, supermarket, movie theater, bank, and a wide variety of upscale eateries — the library serves the communities of University City, Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, and Garden Court.  

 

History

The Walnut Street West Branch opened on May 28, 1895, making it the fifth Philadelphia Public Library branch. It was housed in a suite of three rooms on the first floor of the West Philadelphia Institute at 40th and Ludlow Streets, and became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on January 1, 1896. After expanding to 5 rooms, the branch moved to the Hamilton School Building, 4105-09 Chestnut Street on May 1901. The branch was known as the West Philadelphia branch at this time.

The building Walnut Street West is currently housed in opened to the public on June 26, 1906. It was the first of thirty libraries funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie and was built at a cost of $80,387.68 on land donated by Clarence Clark, a West Philadelphia banker. Mr. Clark’s will deeded the land to the city "in perpetuity" as long as a library sat on it. During the first year of operation, 79,683 books were borrowed from the branch. A lecture hall seating 300 people was part of the lower level.

In 1960, the branch added air conditioning and moved the public entrance to Walnut Street. From 1998 to 2004, the library was housed in temporary quarters at 3927 Walnut Street as the facility underwent a complete renovation, adding a second level and making use of “green” environmentally-friendly materials and technology. The entrance was then moved again to the original location on 40th Street. A mural of West Philadelphia scenes by artist Paul Santoleri now welcomes visitors.