Bushrod Library

Tuesday, September 26 – Message from Staff

Looking ahead ...

Bushrod Library will be adjusting hours to a new schedule in a few weeks.  Fall Hours will begin: Monday, October 16, 2023

Mon  11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tues  11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Weds  10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thurs  10:00 am - 5:00 pm
 Fri  10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday / Sunday: Closed

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/5170

 

6304 Castor Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19149-2731
Castor Ave. & Stirling St.
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Closed

Upcoming Closures

  • Mon., Oct. 9 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • Thu., Oct. 12 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
  • Thu., Nov. 9 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
  • Sat., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
View all holiday closings

Facilities

  • Street parking (free)
  • Book drop box
  • Computers for public use
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Upcoming Events

Beginner English (Free Classes)

Mon, October 2, 2023 10:30 A.M.

A pre-class placement test is required to join this conversation group. Mondays and Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:30pm Learn basic English vocabulary and grammar while practicing speaking, This free…

Intermediate English (Free Classes)

Mon, October 2, 2023 1:30 P.M.

A pre-class placement test is required to join this conversation group. Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm  Practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing English. This free class is…

Read Baby Read Storytime

Tue, October 3, 2023 11:00 A.M.

Storytime for babies and toddlers aged 0-24 months. Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Read, Baby, Read is made possible by a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation.…

Beginner English (Free Classes)

Wed, October 4, 2023 10:30 A.M.

A pre-class placement test is required to join this conversation group. Mondays and Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:30pm Learn basic English vocabulary and grammar while practicing speaking, This free…

About

Serving the communities of Oxford Circle, Castor Gardens, Upper Northwood, Summerdale, and the Lower Northeast.

History

The Bushrod Branch owes its genesis to Philadelphia eye surgeon and humanitarian Dr. Bushrod Washington James. Dr. James acquired his skills as an eye surgeon as attending physician at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, and later went on to found the Bushrod Home. He helped thousands of poor children and adults at the Institute, treating many of them without being paid for his services. A pacifist, Dr. James served as a medic at the Battle of Antietam. After the Civil War, he crusaded for women's suffrage and wrote a book on the topic. He also wrote extensively on medicine and travel.

Dr. James died in 1903, leaving a will with specific instructions for the founding of the Bushrod library at his residence on Green Street near Logan Square. In 1948, the trustees received permission to transfer Dr. James' endowment to a new library that would be built in Northeast Philadelphia.

Known as Oxford Circle, the area served by the Bushrod branch was mostly farmland until the 1930's. Residential development began to take root after the opening of the Frankford Elevated and the Tacony Palmyra Bridge in the 1920's. By the time the library was built, Oxford Circle was a well-established residential community with two newly built elementary schools.

The Bushrod Branch opened its doors on October 25, 1950. It was the first newly constructed branch in the Free Library system since the completion of the Central Library in 1927. The library offered two floors with reading rooms for the public, and, in accordance with Dr. James' bequest, a special room devoted to use by children. Today, the Bushrod Room is used for story hours and other children's programming.

The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library.