Widener Library
| Sunday, 6/29 | Closed |
| Monday, 6/30 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, 7/1 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 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 | 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
- Fri., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 4 : 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
- Book drop box
- Children's only restroom
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Parking lot
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Street parking (free)
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Read, Baby, Read Storytime
Mon, June 30, 2025
11:00 A.M.
Read, Baby, Read Storytime Join Ms. Adrianna to foster your baby's love for reading with rhymes, bounces, songs, and stories! This Storytime is intended for children 2 and under, every Monday at 11am.
Scrabble Club
Mon, June 30, 2025
12:00 P.M.
Come join us for the afternoons at 12pm for Scrabble from June 16th – August 11th. In this hour-long club, students of all ages will not only learn to play Scrabble, but they ’ll also build confidence, learn teamwork & good sportsmanship, and expand on…
Social Services at the Library with a Social Worker
Mon, June 30, 2025
2:00 P.M.
Stop by for Open Office Hours 2pm-5pm on Monday June 30th 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…
Crafternoon
Tue, July 1, 2025
12:00 P.M.
Would you like to make artwork this summer? Come show off your creative side during an afternoon of crafting. This program is intended for children 7 – 14 and their families. All materials provided - See you there! This program will run consistently on Thursday afternoons at 12:00 PM…
About
Recently moved into a brand-new glass-fronted building, the Widener Branch serves the communities of North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, and Allegheny West. The branch has an African Plains theme. Come in and try to find the hidden elephants and giraffes!
History
In 1807, Penn Township was formed from the western portion of the Township of Northern Liberties. The area surrounding Widener Branch was usually called North Penn. In the mid 19th Century, the neighborhood was known as Swampoodle. The area developed after trolleys became electrified in 1892 and is now known as Strawberry Mansion/Allegheny West.
In 1900, the H. Josephine Widener Branch of the Free Library was opened in the Widener Mansion at Broad and Girard, a gift of Peter A.B. Widener in memory of his wife. In 1946, the Widener mansion was sold. The proceeds were used to buy and remodel a former bank building at 2531 W. Lehigh Avenue.
Designed by architects Buell, Kratzer and Powell, the current building opened on January 31, 2005. The library is based on the theme of the African Plains, with four special areas for youths: Preschool Plains, School-Age Savanna, Pre-Teen Plateau, and Teen Terrain. Abstract elephants and giraffes are hidden in the design of the library. Can you find them?