Free Library of Philadelphia
39°57′34″N 75°10′16″W / 39.9595°N 75.1710°W / 39.9595; -75.1710
Location1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Established1891
Branches55
Collection
Items collectedChamber Music Collection
Children's Literature Research Collection
Drinker Choral Music Library
Early American Children's Books
Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music
Map Collection

Print and Picture Collection (largest in the U.S.A)
Rare Book Collections
Sheet Music Collection
Theatre Collection
Size4,240,304
Access and use
Population served1,560,297[1]
Other information
DirectorKelly Richards
Websitehttp://www.freelibrary.org/

The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system that serves Philadelphia.[2] It is the 16th-largest public library system in the United States.[3] The Free Library of Philadelphia is a non-Mayoral agency of the City of Philadelphia governed by an independent Board of Trustees as per the Charter of the City of Philadelphia.[4] The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is a separate 501c3 non-profit with its own board of directors and serves to support the mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia through philanthropic dollars.[5]

History

Founding

The Free Library of Philadelphia was chartered in 1891 as "a general library which shall be free to all", through efforts led by Dr. William Pepper, who secured initial funding through a $225,000 bequest from his wealthy uncle, George S. Pepper. However, several libraries claimed the bequest, and only after the courts decided the money was intended to found a new public library did the Free Library finally open in March 1894. Its first location was three cramped rooms in City Hall. On February 11, 1895, the library was moved to the old Concert Hall at 1217-1221 Chestnut Street. Library officials criticized their new home as "an entirely unsuitable building, where its work is done in unsafe, unsanitary and overcrowded quarters, temporary make-shifts". On December 1, 1910, the Library was moved again, to the northeast corner of 13th and Locust Streets. Today, the Free Library of Philadelphia system, comprising 54 neighborhood library locations and the Rosenbach, advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity with millions of digital and physical materials; 28,000 yearly programs and events; free public computers and Wi-Fi; and rich special collections. With more than 6 million in-person visits and millions more online annually, the Free Library and the Rosenbach are among the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and boast a worldwide impact.

Parkway Central Library

Parkway Central Library
Parkway Central Library, as seen from street level

On June 2, 1927, the Parkway Central Library opened for service at its present location at 1901 Vine Street on Logan Square. The building had been in planning since 1911; various obstacles, including World War I, held up progress. The grand Beaux-Arts building was designed by Julian Abele, chief designer in the office of prominent Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer, and first opened its doors in 1927. Its design, that of the adjacent Philadelphia Family Court building, and their placement on Logan Circle closely follow that of the Hôtel de Crillon and the Hôtel de la Marine on Paris's Place de la Concorde.[6]

Mission

The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is "to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity."[7]

Services

Programs

The Free Library of Philadelphia hosts more than 25,000 events each year, including job-search workshops, small business programming, English as a Second Language conversation groups, and computer classes. The Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center,[8] which opened in the spring of 2014 at the Parkway Central Library, offers culinary classes for children, teens, families, and adults to teach literacy skills through cooking as well as math, chemistry, nutrition, and health. The Library hosts a renowned Author Events Series, which brings more than 100 writers, politicians, scientists, researchers, and musicians to the Free Library annually.[9] The Library also hosts the citywide One Book, One Philadelphia program, which encourages all Philadelphians to read and discuss the same book, fostering community and connection; the Summer Reading program, which engages some 50,000 Philadelphia school children each summer; and the Literacy Enrichment After-school Program (LEAP). In addition, the Free Library hosts months-long celebrations of literary milestones, from the birthdays of influential writers like Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare to the publication anniversaries of groundbreaking titles like Pride and Prejudice and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The Free Library also manages READ by 4th,[10] a citywide effort of public and private organizations aiming to significantly increase the number of students in Philadelphia entering the 4th grade at reading level by 2020. READ by 4th's comprehensive strategy includes improving early learning, providing parents with resources to teach their children reading skills, emphasizing summer reading and other strategies to prevent learning loss, decreasing absenteeism by addressing behavioral and health concerns, and enhancing reading instruction in schools.

Digital services

The Free Library's digital offerings include nearly 300,000 streaming or downloadable ebooks; 1,000 public computers; 1,700-plus author event podcasts; 150 online databases; daily homework and computer literacy classes online; Hot Spot community computer training centers; and the roving Techmobile.

Hot Spots initiative

In March 2011, the library launched Free Library Hot Spots, placing new computer labs and computer trainers in existing community centers in low-income areas of the city. The initiative was funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. Each Hot Spot provides computers, internet access, printers, and a small selection of Free Library materials. (These are in addition to the 650 public-access computers and free WiFi throughout the Free Library's 54 branches.)

In April 2012, the Free Library added The Techmobile, a Hot Spot on Wheels, which brings service to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.[11][12] The Techmobile has six public laptops.

Impact

According to a study conducted by Penn's Fels Institute of Government, in 2017 nearly 25,000 people learned to read or taught someone else to read solely because of the resources of the Free Library. In addition, nearly 1,000 people found jobs based on the career resources of the Free Library, and some 8,600 entrepreneurs were able to start, grow or improve their small businesses because of programs and resources available free of charge at the Library.[13]

Special collections

Located at the Parkway Central Library, the Free Library's Special Collections[14] span genres and generations, from ancient cuneiform tablets to historic photographs of Philadelphia.

The Free Library of Philadelphia's Children's Literature Research Collection houses an extensive research collection of children's literature published after 1836.

The Rare Book Department features one of the world's most renowned Charles Dickens collections, with first editions, personal letters, and Dickens’ stuffed pet raven, Grip, as well as extensive collections of illuminated manuscripts, Americana, Beatrix Potter, early children's books, Edgar Allan Poe, Pennsylvania German folk art, and more. The collection includes over 50 Books of Hours and numerous bibles, liturgical texts, and psalters, including the Lewis Psalter (Lewis E M 185), a masterpiece of Parisian illumination from the reign of Saint Louis.[15]

The Free Library's music collections include the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music, the largest lending library of orchestral performance sets in the world.

Additionally, the Rosenbach Museum & Library is a subsidiary of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.[16]

Neighborhood libraries

In addition to the Parkway Central Library and the Rosenbach in downtown Philadelphia, the system operates 54 neighborhood and regional library locations throughout the city. Many of these locations were funded by Andrew Carnegie, who donated US$1.5 million to the library in 1903.[17]

Holmesburg Library
Kingsessing Library
Lillian Marrero Library
Oak Lane Library
Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. Library
Tacony Library
Walnut Street West Library
Wyoming Library
#NameAddressNeighborhood(s) Served
[01]Andorra705 East Cathedral RoadAndorra and Upper Roxborough
[02]Blanche A. Nixon5800 Cobbs Creek ParkwayCobbs Creek
[03]Bushrod6304 Castor AvenueOxford Circle, Castor Gardens, Upper Northwood, Summerdale, and the Lower Northeast
[04]Bustleton10199 Bustleton AvenueBustleton and Somerton
[05]Cecil B. Moore2320 Cecil B. Moore AvenueNorth Central, Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown, Sharswood, and the Johnson Homes
[06]Charles L. Durham3320 Haverford AvenueMantua and Powelton
[07]Charles Santore932 South 7th StreetBella Vista, Queen Village, and Hawthorne
[08]Chestnut Hill8711 Germantown AvenueChestnut Hill
[09]David Cohen Ogontz6017 Ogontz AvenueOgontz and Belfield
[10]Eastwick2851 Island AvenueEastwick, Elmwood, Clearview, and Penrose Park
[11]Falls of Schuylkill3501 Midvale AvenueEast Falls
[12]Fishtown Community1217 East Montgomery AvenueFishtown and New Kensington
[13]Fox Chase501 Rhawn StreetFox Chase/Burholme
[14]Frankford4634 Frankford AvenueFrankford, Northwood, Bridesburg, and part of Juniata Park
[15]Fumo Family2437 South Broad StreetMelrose
[16]Greater Olney5501 North 5th StreetOlney
[17]Haddington446 North 65th StreetHaddington-Carroll Park and Overbrook-Morris Park
[18]Haverford5543 Haverford AvenueHaddington-Carroll Park
[19]Holmesburg7810 Frankford AvenueHolmesburg and Mayfair
[20]Independence18 S. 7th StreetSociety Hill, Old City, Queen Village, Washington Square West, and Chinatown
[21]Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library68 West Chelten AvenueGermantown
[22]Katharine Drexel11099 Knights RoadNormandy, North and West Torresdale, Morrell Park, Millbrook, Parkwood, Crestmont Farms, Brookhaven, and Walton Park
[23]Kensington104 West Dauphin StreetKensington, West Kensington, and Norris Square
[24]Kingsessing1201 South 51st StreetKingsessing
[25]Lawncrest6098 Rising Sun AvenueLawndale, Crescentville, Lawncrest, and Cedar Grove
[26]Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP)919 Walnut StreetThe Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians serves the whole state of Pennsylvania
[27]Lillian Marrero601 West Lehigh AvenueCentral North, Fairhill, St. Edwards/Hartranft, and West Kensington
[28]Logan1333 Wagner AvenueLogan
[29]Lovett6945 Germantown AvenueEast and West Mt. Airy
[30]Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library125 South 52nd StreetCedar Park, Walnut Hill, West Market, Mill Creek, Dunlap, and West Park
[31]McPherson Square601 East Indiana AvenueKensington, McPherson Square, and K & A
[32]Nicetown-Tioga3720 North Broad StreetNicetown and Tioga
[33]Northeast Regional Library2228 Cottman AvenueGreater Northeast
[34]Oak Lane6614 North 12th StreetOak Lane
[35]Overbrook Park7422 Haverford AvenueOverbrook Park
[36]Parkway Central1901 Vine Street--
[37]Paschalville6942 Woodland AvenuePaschalville and Elmwood
[38]Philadelphia City Institute1905 Locust StreetRittenhouse Square and Fitler Square
[39]Queen Memorial Library1201 South 23rd StreetLandreth
[40]Ramonita de Rodriguez600 West Girard AvenueOlde Kensington, Kensington South, Ludlow, Yorktown, East and West Poplar, Northern Liberties, and Girard/Poplar
[41]Richmond2987 Almond StreetRichmond and Port Richmond
[42]The Rosenbach2008-2010 Delancey Place--
[43]Roxborough6245 Ridge AvenueRoxborough, Manayunk and Wissahickon
[44]South Philadelphia1700 South Broad StreetSouth Philadelphia
[45]Tacony6742 Torresdale AvenueTacony/Wissinoming
[46]Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr.1935 Shunk StreetGirard Estate, Packer Park, Passyunk Homes, St. Richards, and West Passyunk
[47]Torresdale3079 Holme AvenueAcademy Gardens, Ashton-Woodbridge, Pennypack, Pennypack Woods, Upper Holmesburg, and Winchester Park
[48]Wadsworth1500 Wadsworth AvenueWadsworth, Cedarbrook, Ivy Hill, and East Mt. Airy
[49]Walnut Street West201 South 40th StreetUniversity City and Spruce Hill
[50]Welsh Road9233 Roosevelt BoulevardAston Wooden Bridge and Bustleton
[51]West Oak Lane2000 Washington LaneWest Oak Lane and parts of Cedarbrook, Ivy Hill, and East Mt. Airy
[52]Whitman200 Snyder AvenueWhitman and Pennsport
[53]Widener2808 West Lehigh AvenueNorth Central, Strawberry Mansion, and Allegheny West
[54]Wynnefield5325 Overbrook AvenueWynnefield and Overbrook Farms
[55]Wyoming231 East Wyoming AvenueFeltonville/Juniata Park

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Philadelphia 2015: The State of the City" (PDF). The Pew Charitable Trusts. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2019-01-01.
  3. ↑ "The Nation's Largest Public Libraries: Top 25 Rankings". American Library Association. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Free Library of Philadelphia, Board of Trustees of the".
  5. ↑ "Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation".
  6. ↑ "The Central Library and Logan Circle: New Public Spaces". City of Philadelphia.
  7. ↑ "About the Library". main website. Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Culinary Literacy Center".
  9. ↑ "Author Events". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ "READ! by 4th".
  11. ↑ "Free Library Hot Spots". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Joel N (April 12, 2012). "Techmobile Launches Today!". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Fels study shows Free Library's economic impact" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Special Collections".
  15. ↑ Tanis, James (2001). Leaves of gold: manuscript illumination from Philadelphia collections. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-87633-145-3.
  16. ↑ "Q&A for merger of The Rosenbach Museum and Library and Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation". The Rosenbach. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  17. ↑ "About us: History". Free Library of Philadelphia.
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