Public Transportation Directions to Parkway Central Library
1-833-TALK FLP (825-5357) Call our helpline or Contact Us.
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway
- Library Tour Information
- Departments
Closed Today
- This Week
- Regular Hours
| Sunday, 5/26 | Closed |
| Monday, 5/27 | Closed * |
| Tuesday, 5/28 | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Wednesday, 5/29 | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Thursday, 5/30 | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Friday, 5/31 | 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. |
| Saturday, 6/1 | 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. |
- * Monday has hour changes – Memorial Day
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Thursday | 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. |
| Friday | 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Wed., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Thu., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Mon., Sep. 2 : Closed Labor Day
- Mon., Oct. 14 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
View all holiday closings
Get Directions | Public Transportation
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Tue, May 28, 2024 10:00 A.M.
Our small learning group builds math skills you can use to pass tests, understand the world, and solve problems at work and at home. The topics we work with will be taken from various areas of…
Tue, May 28, 2024 2:00 P.M.
Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30p.m. for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career…
Tue, May 28, 2024 3:00 P.M.
Join us from 3:00-4:30, for video games at the Field Teen Center every Tuesday and Friday! We play a variety of games. New players and experienced pros welcome. Programs at the Field…
Tue, May 28, 2024 3:30 P.M.
Join the LEAP team for craft and construction projects in our Story Hour Room. All ages (12 and under) are welcome! TheLiteracy Enrichment Afterschool Program(LEAP) offers K-12…
View all Parkway Central Library events
Free Tours
Parkway Central Library Tours
One Hour Tour All Ages Welcome
Historic Building Tour
- Monday and Tuesday 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday 2:00 p.m.
Please meet in the main First Floor lobby.
Explore the grand Beaux-Arts building of Parkway Central Library, an important part of Philadelphia's past and present that opened in 1927 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The specialized tour showcases unique architecture and history, while covering the many collections and services that make the Free Library such a valuable and critical resource.
No reservations are required. However groups of 10 or more are encouraged to submit a Group Tour Request.
Group Tour Request
Rare Book Tour
- Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m.
Please meet in the Third Floor lobby of the Rare Book Department.
View historical artifacts like 5,000-year-old tablets, Medieval manuscripts, the raven that inspired Poe's famous poem.
No reservations are required.
Departments
- Art Department
- Business Resource and Innovation Center
- Children's Department
- Children's Literature Research Collection
- Culinary Literacy Center
- Drinker Collection
- Education Philosophy and Religion Department
- Field Teen Center
- First Floor Gallery East
- First Floor Gallery West
- Fleisher Collection
- General Information Department
- Government Publications Department
- Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement
- Interlibrary Loan
- Literature Department
- Map Collection
- Music Department
- Newspapers and Microfilm Center
- Patent and Trademark Resource Center
- Philbrick Hall
- Print and Picture Collection
- Rare Book Department
- Regional Foundation Center
- Science and Wellness
- Second Floor Gallery West
- Senior Services
- Social Science and History Department
- Theatre Collection
- About
About
Parkway Central Library Welcomes You [A downloadable brochure for a self-guided tour]
Video Tour through Parkway Central [background blog post with embedded videos]
Designed by Julian Abele, a prominent African American architect from Philadelphia who worked in Horace Trumbauer’s firm, the Parkway Central Library first opened its doors on June 2, 1927. As an anchor cultural and educational institution on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, we welcome over 1 million visitors each year from the city, its countryside, and around the world. Our patrons come to learn from our public events, to consult our special collections, and to tap the expertise of our librarians and curators in each of the subject departments and special collections. On most days, volunteer docents offer architectural walks through the building.
