Cecil B. Moore Library
2320 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19121-2927
(Cecil B. Moore & 23rd Street)
Library is temporarily closed.
Upcoming Events
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Tue, Jun 2, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Thu, Jun 4, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Tue, Jun 9, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Thu, Jun 11, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Tue, Jun 16, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
Virtual PAWS for Reading: Read to a Therapy Dog
Thu, Jun 18, 3:00 P.M.
Cecil B. Moore Library
Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:00 p.m. to read to a therapy animal friend from PAWS for people on a live video conference. Reading to…
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.