Parkway Central Library
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Tue., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
- Thu., Nov. 27 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
- Fri., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Friday
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Screen magnify tools
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking (metered)
- Street parking
- Study rooms
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Fall Family Storytime at Sister Cities Park!
Tue, September 9, 2025
10:30 A.M.
This event has already happened.
Join Miss Mary for Fall Family Storytime! This in-person, outdoor storytime will take place at Sister Cities Park and is in collaboration with Center City District. In the case of unfavorable weather, the program will be cancelled with no make up date (check our social media for updates…
Edible Alphabet: Learn English Through Cooking
Tue, September 9, 2025
10:30 A.M.
This event has already happened.
Thursdays 10: 30 am - 1:30 pm (August 26 - September 30, 2025) Adults are invited to this FREE class for English language learners. Each week we read, write, and speak in English - and cook a meal together. Register at www.bit.ly/EAEnglish Questions? Email us at …
LinkedIn Learning: Virtual Full Circle Career Workshop
Tue, September 9, 2025
12:00 P.M.
This event has already happened.
Virtual
Gain free access to this valuable tool for e-learning through the Free Library of Philadelphia. LinkedIn Learning helps you acquire knowledge to make you more competitive in the marketplace. Great tutorials for job seekers and those wishing to enhance their knowledge. To join, please register…
Collage Club
Tue, September 9, 2025
12:00 P.M.
This event has already happened.
Stop by the Art Department between 12 and 2pm and make a collage. Supplies are available any time the Art Department is open in our community collage station: scissors, glue and lots of paper and magazines donated especially for the purpose of collage making. And did we mention books? Many books…
Departments
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Art Department
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Business Resource and Innovation Center
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Children's Department
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Children's Literature Research Collection
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Culinary Literacy Center
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Drinker Collection
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Education Philosophy and Religion Department
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Field Teen Center
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First Floor Gallery East
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First Floor Gallery West
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Fleisher Collection
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General Information Department
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Government Publications Department
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Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement
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Interlibrary Loan
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Literature Department
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Map Collection
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Music Department
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Newspapers and Microfilm Center
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Patent and Trademark Resource Center
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Philbrick Hall
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Print and Picture Collection
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Rare Book Department
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Regional Foundation Center
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Science and Wellness
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Second Floor Gallery West
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Senior Services
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Social Science and History Department
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Theatre Collection
About
Parkway Central Library Welcomes You [A downloadable brochure for a self-guided tour]
Video Tour through Parkway Central [background blog post with embedded videos]
Designed by Julian Abele, a prominent African American architect from Philadelphia who worked in Horace Trumbauer’s firm, the Parkway Central Library first opened its doors on June 2, 1927. As an anchor cultural and educational institution on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, we welcome over 1 million visitors each year from the city, its countryside, and around the world. Our patrons come to learn from our public events, to consult our special collections, and to tap the expertise of our librarians and curators in each of the subject departments and special collections. On most days, volunteer docents offer architectural walks through the building.