Free Library of Philadelphia

Coordinates: 39°57′34″N 75°10′16″W / 39.9595°N 75.1710°W / 39.9595; -75.1710

Free Library of Philadelphia
Established 1891
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Branches 54
Collection
Items collected Chamber 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
Size 4,240,304
Access and use
Population served 1,560,297[1]
Other information
Budget $47,903,751
Director Siobhan A. Reardon
Website http://www.freelibrary.org/

The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the 13th-largest public library system in the United States.[2] Unique among public libraries in the United States, it is neither a city agency nor a nonprofit organization; instead, it is governed by both an independent city agency managed by its own board of directors and a separate nonprofit organization, The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.[3]

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 and worldwide impact.

Parkway Central Library

Parkway Central Library

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.[4]

Mission

The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is "to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity."[5]

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,[6] 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.[7] 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,[8] 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.[9][10] 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.[11]

Special collections

Located at the Parkway Central Library, the Free Library’s Special Collections[12] 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 fifty 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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

Holmesburg Branch
Kingsessing Branch
Lehigh Avenue Branch
Oak Lane Branch
Passyunk Branch
Tacony Branch
Walnut Street Branch
Wyoming Branch
#NameAddressZip CodePhoneNeighborhood(s) Served
[01]Andorra705 East Cathedral Road19128-2106215-685-2552Andorra and Upper Roxborough
[02]Blanche A. Nixon5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway19143-3036215-685-1973Cobbs Creek
[03]Bushrod6304 Castor Avenue19149-2731215-685-1471Oxford Circle, Castor Gardens, Upper Northwood, Summerdale, and the Lower Northeast
[04]Bustleton10199 Bustleton Avenue19116-3718215-685-0472Bustleton and Somerton
[05]Cecil B. Moore2320 Cecil B. Moore Avenue19121-2927215-685-2766North Central, Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown, Sharswood, and the Johnson Homes
[06]Charles L. Durham3320 Haverford Avenue19104-2021215-685-7436Mantua and Powelton
[07]Charles Santore932 South 7th Street19147-2932215-686-1766Bella Vista, Queen Village, and Hawthorne
[08]Chestnut Hill8711 Germantown Avenue19118-2716215- 685-9290Chestnut Hill
[09]David Cohen Ogontz6017 Ogontz Avenue19141215-685-3566Ogontz and Belfield
[10]Eastwick2851 Island Avenue19153-2314215-685-4170Eastwick, Elmwood, Clearview, and Penrose Park
[11]Falls of Schuylkill3501 Midvale Avenue19129-1633215-685-2093East Falls
[12]Fishtown Community1217 East Montgomery Avenue19125-3445215-685-9990Fishtown and New Kensington
[13]Fox Chase501 Rhawn Street19111-2504215-685-0547Fox Chase/Burholme
[14]Frankford4634 Frankford Avenue19124-5804215-685-1473Frankford, Northwood, Bridesburg, and part of Juniata Park
[15]Fumo Family2437 South Broad Street19148-3508215-685-1758Melrose
[16]Greater Olney5501 North 5th Street19120-2805215-685-2846Olney
[17]Haddington446 North 65th Street19151-4003215-685-1970Haddington-Carroll Park and Overbrook-Morris Park
[18]Haverford5543 Haverford Avenue19139-1432215-685-1964Haddington-Carroll Park
[19]Holmesburg7810 Frankford Avenue19136-3013215-685-8756Holmesburg and Mayfair
[20]Independence18 S. 7th Street19106215-685-1633Society Hill, Old City, Queen Village, Washington Square West, and Chinatown
[21]Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library68 West Chelten Avenue19144-2795215-685-2150Germantown
[22]Katharine Drexel11099 Knights Road19154-3516215-685-9383Normandy, North and West Torresdale, Morrell Park, Millbrook, Parkwood, Crestmont Farms, Brookhaven, and Walton Park
[23]Kensington104 West Dauphin Street19133-3701215-685-9996Kensington, West Kensington, and Norris Square
[24]Kingsessing1201 South 51st Street19143-4353215-685-2690Kingsessing
[25]Lawncrest6098 Rising Sun Avenue19111-6009215-685-0549Lawndale, Crescentville, Lawncrest, and Cedar Grove
[26]Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped919 Walnut Street19107215-683-3213-
[27]Lillian Marrero601 West Lehigh Avenue19133-2228215-685-9794Central North, Fairhill, St. Edwards/Hartranft, and West Kensington
[28]Logan1333 Wagner Avenue19141-2916215-685-9156Logan
[29]Lovett6945 Germantown Avenue19119-2189215-685-2095East and West Mt. Airy
[30]Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library125 South 52nd Street19139-3408215-685-7433Cedar Park, Walnut Hill, West Market, Mill Creek, Dunlap, and West Park
[31]McPherson Square601 East Indiana Avenue19134-3042215-685-9995Kensington, McPherson Square, and K & A
[32]Nicetown-Tioga3720 North Broad Street19140-3608215-685-9790Nicetown and Tioga
[33]Northeast Regional Library2228 Cottman Avenue19149-1297215-685-0522Greater Northeast
[34]Oak Lane6614 North 12th Street19126-3299215-685-2848Oak Lane
[35]Overbrook Park7422 Haverford Avenue19151-2995215-685-0182Overbrook Park
[36]Parkway Central1901 Vine Street19103215-686-5322--
[37]Paschalville6942 Woodland Avenue19142-1823215-685-2662Paschalville and Elmwood
[38]Philadelphia City Institute1905 Locust Street19103-5730215-685-6621Rittenhouse Square and Fitler Square
[39]Queen Memorial Library1201 South 23rd Street19146-4316215-685-1899Landreth
[40]Ramonita de Rodriguez600 West Girard Avenue19123-1311215-686-1768Olde Kensington, Kensington South, Ludlow, Yorktown, East and West Poplar, Northern Liberties, and Girard/Poplar
[41]Richmond2987 Almond Street19134-4955215-685-9992Richmond and Port Richmond
[42]The Rosenbach2008-2010 Delancey Place19103215-732-1600--
[43]Roxborough6245 Ridge Avenue19128-2630215-685-2550Roxborough, Manayunk and Wissahickon
[44]South Philadelphia1700 South Broad Street19145-2392215-685-1866South Philadelphia
[45]Tacony6742 Torresdale Avenue19135-2416215-685-8755Tacony/Wissinoming
[46]Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr.1935 Shunk Street19145-4234215-685-1755Girard Estate, Packer Park, Passyunk Homes, St. Richards, and West Passyunk
[47]Torresdale3079 Holme Avenue19136-1101215-685-0494Academy Gardens, Ashton-Woodbridge, Pennypack, Pennypack Woods, Upper Holmesburg, and Winchester Park
[48]Wadsworth1500 Wadsworth Avenue19150-1699215-685-9293Wadsworth, Cedarbrook, Ivy Hill, and East Mt. Airy
[49]Walnut Street West201 South 40th Street19104215-685-7671University City and Spruce Hill
[50]Welsh Road9233 Roosevelt Boulevard19114-2205215-685-0498Aston Wooden Bridge and Bustleton
[51]West Oak Lane2000 Washington Lane19138-1344215-685-2843West Oak Lane and parts of Cedarbrook, Ivy Hill, and East Mt. Airy
[52]Whitman200 Snyder Avenue19148-2620215-685-1754Whitman and Pennsport
[53]Widener2808 West Lehigh Avenue19132-3296215-685-9799North Central, Strawberry Mansion, and Allegheny West
[54]Wynnefield5325 Overbrook Avenue19131-1498215-685-0298Wynnefield and Overbrook Farms
[55]Wyoming231 East Wyoming Avenue19120-4439215-685-9158Feltonville/Juniata Park

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2015/05/2015-state-of-the-city-report_web.pdf
  2. ↑ "The Nation's Largest Public Libraries: Top 25 Rankings". American Library Association. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation".
  4. ↑ "The Central Library and Logan Circle: New Public Spaces". City of Philadelphia.
  5. ↑ "About the Library". main website. Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Culinary Literacy Center".
  7. ↑ "Author Events" Free Library of Philadelphia
  8. ↑ "READ! by 4th".
  9. ↑ "Free Library Hot Spots".
  10. ↑ The Techmobile
  11. ↑ "Fels study shows Free Library's economic impact" (PDF).
  12. ↑ https://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/
  13. ↑ Tanis, James (2001). Leaves of gold: manuscript illumination from Philadelphia collections. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-87633-145-3.
  14. ↑ "Q&A for merger of The Rosenbach Museum and Library and Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation". The Rosenbach. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ "About us: History". Free Library of Philadelphia.
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