Bustleton Library
10199 Bustleton Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19116-3718
(Verree Rd. & Bustleton Ave.)
215-685-0472
The Free Library's Summer Hours begin this week. We are now open Monday through Friday.
Closed Today
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Tue., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Thu., Jul. 20 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Thu., Aug. 17 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Mon., Sep. 4 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 21 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Parking lot
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Cutting the Cord (on Cable TV)
Mon, Jun 26, 6:30 P.M.
Discover TV and movies beyond cable. Learn about different services and devices that can help you finally cut the cord with cable TV.…
Microsoft Powerpoint 101
Tue, Jun 27, 10:30 A.M.
We will offer an introduction to Microsoft's popular presentation program - Powerpoint 2010. Some basic computer skills will be helpful.…
Philadelphia FIGHT presents…Teen Topics
Thu, Jun 29, 3:30 P.M.
The Youth Health Empowerment Project (Y-HEP) at Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive adolescent and young adult program that offers…
Philadelphia FIGHT presents…Teen Topics
Thu, Jul 6, 3:30 P.M.
The Youth Health Empowerment Project (Y-HEP) at Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive adolescent and young adult program that offers…
About
Located by George Washington High School, the Bustleton Branch serves the neighborhoods of Bustleton and Somerton.
History
The community of Bustleton-Somerton, once full of thick woodlands, was a rich farming area for most of its history. According to one theory, Bustleton grew around Busselton Tavern, a local watering hole established before the Revolution. Verree Road takes its name from Verree's Mill, a tool factory on Pennypack Creek that once shipped hatchets and axes all over the East Coast.
The Bustleton library had its beginnings near the turn of the 20th century. In 1905, when horse-drawn wagons still plodded up Bustleton Pike, the Free Library placed a "traveling library" of 50 books in Tustin's Drug Store. Six years later, the library was moved from the drug store to St. Luke's Chapel, where it resided for the next 30 years. However, the space at St. Luke's was too small and was only open one day a week, so in 1941 citizens of Bustleton petitioned City Council for an official branch, which opened the following year in Union Hall at 9230 Bustleton Pike.
In 1960, in anticipation of the present building, the library was moved to rented quarters on the second floor of 9507 Bustleton Avenue. The quarters were larger and more pleasant, but there was still inadequate floor space.
Finally, on October 1, 1965, the current branch opened on land donated by the Philadelphia Board of Education. The one-story brick building was designed by Alexander Ewing and Associates, Architects and Engineers at a total cost of $337,300.
When you visit Bustleton Library, take a look at the carved wood mural, "Man's Learning Preserved." Created by James House, Jr., the mural depicts many signs and symbols used to record ideas from ancient times to the space age.