Falls of Schuylkill Library
SERVICE HOUR CHANGES BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 16TH:
Monday 11 am - 7 pm
Tuesday 11 am - 7 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday 10 am - 5 pm
Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday Coming Soon
Craft Fair: Call for Vendors
Are you a crafter that would like to sell your handmade items with us?
Tables are provided, no need to bring your own. Volunteers can help you set up and break down. We have a handicapped accessible entrance and easy entry from Warden Drive. Easy, nearby unloading. And, food trucks will be onsite. Please contact the library if interested, to get pricing information.
Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, October 7, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
FLARC - Looking for the Falls Library Amateur Radio Club? Call the branch or contact us here: flarc@freelibrary.org
| 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
- 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
Services By Appointment
Services
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Book drop box
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking (free)
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
- Handicapped accessible
- Street parking (metered)
Upcoming Events
Falls Book Group
The book selection for this month will be The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore. The Falls Book Group is one of the Free Library's longest running programs and is open to…
Stories and Songs for Babies and Toddlers
Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces perfect for infants and toddlers along with their caregivers! Free play with baby-friendly toys will wrap up the program. Siblings…
The Changing World of Journalism and Health Care
Harold Brubaker, Inquirer reporter and East Falls resident will speak about his career in journalism. Brubaker has been at the Inquirer for nearly 30 years, and has covered different beats…
Stories and Songs for Babies and Toddlers
Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces perfect for infants and toddlers along with their caregivers! Free play with baby-friendly toys will wrap up the program. Siblings…
About
Located at the intersection of Midvale Avenue, Warden Drive, and Conrad Street, the Falls of Schuylkill Branch has a lovely garden tended by volunteers. The branch serves the community of East Falls with a variety of programs for all ages.
History
Industrial activity marked the early history of the Schuylkill River and nearby waterways. Even before the fishery of Fort St. Davids was established by Welshmen at the Falls of the Schuylkill in 1734, other settlers were building mills along the Wissahickon and the Falls Creeks.
Don't bother trying to find the Schuylkill Falls themselves, however. The Fairmount Dam, constructed in 1822, raised the river's water level and obliterated the rapids. The area near the present library was a brewery from 1873 to 1894. After it fell into disrepair, the springs turned it into a swimming hole.
The first library in East Falls opened on June 1, 1901 as a Deposit Station on the second floor of the Old Academy, the first community center in Philadelphia. It was built in 1819 as a place of education and worship. Since 1932, the building has been used as a theater, and was the scene of Grace Kelly's acting debut.
Featuring English Collegiate architecture, the current library opened on November 18, 1913. The building was funded by Andrew Carnegie, and the land was donated by William H. Merrick and the Warden Estate. The library was renovated in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and ensured Internet access.
Atop the library, you'll see a catfish weathervane on the cupola. The preschool center also features a catfish. They are symbols of the thousands of catfish that thronged the Schuylkill River two centuries ago, when East Falls was known as Fort St. Davids. One fisherman in the 1830's caught 3,000 in one night with his dip net. Catfish and waffles were a popular meal in the inns and taverns that surrounded the river.
While you visit, take a look at the beautiful garden outside the library. It has been maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers since the late 1980's.