Rare Book Department

The Rare Book Department is temporarily closed.
Friday, May 30 – Message from Staff

Our planned reopening date is June 16, 2025. In the meantime, we encourage you to keep in touch by following our social media on Facebook and Instagram to see what we’re doing!

1901 Vine Street, Third Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Rare Book Department
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Upcoming Events

Rare Books Roadshow

Rare Books Roadshow

Wed, June 11, 2025 11:00 A.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

While construction continues on Parkway Central Library's third floor, join staff from the Rare Book Department , Theatre Collection , and Children's Literature Research Collection for a daily pop-up event highlighting select materials.   This pop-up event will take place…

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

Wed, July 2, 2025 5:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

Join the Rare Book Department for extended evening hours on the first Wednesday of every month. The Department will be open until 7 p.m. and staff will be offering tours, pop-up programs, and sneak-peaks. Can’t make it? Don’t forget about our free daily tours at 11 a.m.,…

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

Wed, August 6, 2025 5:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

Join the Rare Book Department for extended evening hours on the first Wednesday of every month. The Department will be open until 7 p.m. and staff will be offering tours, pop-up programs, and sneak-peaks. Can’t make it? Don’t forget about our free daily tours at 11 a.m.,…

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

First Wednesdays with the Rare Book Department

Wed, September 3, 2025 5:00 P.M.
Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library

Join the Rare Book Department for extended evening hours on the first Wednesday of every month. The Department will be open until 7 p.m. and staff will be offering tours, pop-up programs, and sneak-peaks. Can’t make it? Don’t forget about our free daily tours at 11 a.m.,…

View all Rare Book Department events

The Rare Book Department will be closed starting November 4th, 2024, for the installation of a new HVAC system.

This closure will interrupt the usual activities of the Rare Book Department, the Children's Literature Research Collection, and the Theatre Collection, requiring a pause in our regular tours and research appointments. Response time in providing remote research assistance may be delayed, as many of our collections will be inaccessible during renovations. Nevertheless, we encourage you to contact us using the email address erefrbd@freelibrary.org and we will do our best to help!

Our tentative reopening date is June 16, 2025. In the meantime, we encourage you to keep in touch by following our social media on Facebook and Instagram to see what we’re doing!