Cecil B. Moore Library

2320 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19121-2927
Cecil B. Moore & 23rd Street
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 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. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Closed

Upcoming Closures

  • Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
  • Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • Tue., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
  • Thu., Nov. 27 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
View all holiday closings

Facilities

  • Baby changing station
  • Book drop box
  • Children's only restroom
  • Computers for public use
  • Electrical outlets available
  • Meeting space (reservation required)
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Public restrooms
  • Scanner
  • Street parking (free)
  • Street parking
  • Water fountain
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Upcoming Events

Summer Builders’ Club

Thu, August 14, 2025 10:00 A.M. This event has already happened.

Want to build something amazing? Want to learn how to create with cardboard? Come learn with Leap how to build a house with running water and lights using cardboard? Come find out on Thursdays at 10:00am! This program is geared towards school aged children and teens - bring a friend!

Weekly Summer Read-a-Thon

Thu, August 14, 2025 2:30 P.M. This event has already happened.

Read books and earn prizes all summer long. Each week at Cecil B. Moore, we’ll have our all- ages reading lounge set up. Come early and pick some lo-fi beats to set the moo. We’ll set a summer-long reading goal and compete together to see if we can read enough to get an ice cream…

Summer Break Video Game Hang

Fri, August 15, 2025 3:00 P.M.

Compete against friends on PlayStation5 and Nintendo Switch. Every Friday at 3:00pm - see you there!  

Kids’ Sensory Playtime

Mon, August 18, 2025 11:00 A.M.

Sensory play encourages children to explore and discover new sensations, materials, and experiences, fostering curiosity and learning. Activities will include using kinetic sand, clay, DIY fidget spinners, and sensory bins.

About

Located near the intersection of 23rd Street and Ridge Avenue, this branch serves North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown, Sharswood, and the Johnson Homes. Formerly the Columbia Avenue Branch, the avenue and the library were renamed in 1987.

History

Originally named the Columbia Avenue Branch, the library opened for business on April 10, 1962. This branch succeeded the Wagner Institute Branch, located at 17th and Montgomery. Wagner Institute Branch was the first extension, or branch, of the Free Library, opening on October 18, 1892. It still exists at 17th and Montgomery as a science and natural history museum.

Cecil Bassett Moore was a lawyer, civil rights activist who led the fight to integrate Girard College, president of the local NAACP, and member of Philadelphia's City Council. With the help of high school students gathering signatures for a petition, the names of the street and branch were changed in 1987 to honor Moore.

While visiting the library, you might notice the mural in the children's room, "Let Beauty Fill Their Eyes." It was painted by David Lawrence and portrait artist Rhasaan Fort in 2000. The mosaic in the vestibule, "Integration of Science and Art," was completed in 1963 by Edna Andrade. The library was renovated in 1996 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Web access to every library.