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Significant renovation work on the existing building has already been completed, including the restoration of the Parkway Central Library's Main Lobby—as well as the original skylight above the grand staircase—and the replacement of the building's entire roof. Another exciting addition to Parkway Central opened on April 16, 2008; located on the Library's main floor, the H.O.M.E. Page Cafe is the result of a partnership between the Free Library and Project H.O.M.E. Open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., the café offers Parkway Central users beverages, baked goods, and lunch fare, as well as a seating area with free wireless internet access. As the heart of the Free Library system, the new Parkway Central will directly benefit all 54 Free Library of Philadelphia locations by serving as an administrative and informational hub, as well as an ideal proving ground for new types of programming to be adopted and expanded by the regional libraries and branches. While these are certainly exciting changes—and more are underway!—the new Parkway Central still needs your help to become a reality. A donation to the Campaign for the New Parkway Central, in any amount, will be valued and appreciated. Your support will make possible dramatically increased public access to the Library's extensive collections, as well as a multitude of important new services. Please take a moment to think about the importance of public libraries in our communities and consider supporting this worthwhile project. Thanks to a $15 million challenge gift from an anonymous donor, private contributions will be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match up to a total of $15 million, which will bring the campaign $30 million closer to its goal. To help us meet this donor's challenge, please visit our online donation page or call the Free Library's Development Office at (215) 567-7710 and specify that you would like to make a donation to the Campaign for the New Parkway Central. Share your ideas with us, or view the new Parkway Central brochure. |
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The expansion of the Parkway Central Library will seamlessly add 180,000 square feet of space to the historic Beaux-Arts building. New and improved features will include: a Children's Library with a Preschool Center and a Craft Room; a first-ever Teen Center; a new 550-seat auditorium; two new Internet Browsing Centers, outfitted with 300 public-access computers; a new Business Department, with presentation space, online resources and a complete curriculum in business development; and a soaring, glass-enclosed pavilion with shops, a cafe and ample space for community gatherings.