Fishtown Community Library
📢The Fishtown Community Library will be closed from December 1, 2025, to January 21, 2026, to upgrade and replace our heating and cooling system. We know how much our patrons rely on our space, and we apologize for the disruption.
While we are closed, you can:
📍Visit nearby branches: Richmond (2987 Almond St), Kensington (104 West Dauphin St), and Ramonita G. de Rodriguez (600 West Girard Avenue) 🏫
💻Access eBooks, audio books, homework help and more resources on the Free Library of Philadelphia’s website
📞For any questions or concerns, call our free help line at 1-833-TALK-FLP (1-833-825-5357)
Thank you for your patience as we work to restore full service. Our staff will continue to monitor our social media accounts and email (fishtown@freelibrary.org) during the closure, so don't hesitate to get in touch!
| Sunday, 11/9 | Closed |
| Monday, 11/10 |
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. * |
| Tuesday, 11/11 |
Closed * |
| Wednesday, 11/12 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, 11/13 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 11/14 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 11/15 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
- * Monday had hour changes – in observance of Veterans Day
- * Tuesday had hour changes – Veterans Day
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 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 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., Nov. 27 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
- Fri., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Friday
- Thu., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
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
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Screen-reading software (JAWS)
- Street parking (free)
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Dance Together: Creative Movement Class
Fri, November 14, 2025
10:30 A.M.
Discover the joy of ballet with The Philadelphia Dance Academy ! This monthly series incorporates music, imagination, ballet vocabulary, and movement to introduce participants to the structure of dance class. This free program is recommended for children ages 2-4. This program series will…
Little Caterpillars Music & Movement Yoga
Sat, November 15, 2025
10:30 P.M.
🐛Little Caterpillars Music & Movement Yoga🎵 for kids 1-5 years old TWO SESSIONS: 10:30am & 11:15am on Saturday, November 15 🧘Mats provided or bring your own. Imitation & music are powerful ways for little ones to learn. This class combines both live music and movement to introduce…
Little Caterpillars Music & Movement Yoga
Sat, November 15, 2025
11:15 P.M.
🐛Little Caterpillars Music & Movement Yoga🎵 for kids 1-5 years old TWO SESSIONS: 10:30am & 11:15am on Saturday, November 15 🧘Mats provided or bring your own. Imitation & music are powerful ways for little ones to learn. This class combines both live music and movement to introduce…
Read, Baby, Read Storytime!
Mon, November 17, 2025
11:30 A.M.
Join Miss Liz for Read, Baby, Read storytime on Monday mornings at 11:30am. Stay after storytime for playtime! Intended for babies and toddlers ages 0-2, but all are welcome. In the colder months this event will be held indoors on the library's 3rd floor, accessible…
About
Welcome, friends!
The Fishtown Community Library serves Fishtown, East Kensington and Olde Richmond, as well as visitors from throughout the city of Philadelphia and surrounding region.
Fishtown staff provide free programming for all ages, including storytimes, English conversation groups, book clubs, afterschool activities and homework help as part of LEAP, and so much more! In the warmer months many programs are held outdoors in favorable weather.
Have questions? Call us as 215-685-9990, or email fishtown@freelibrary.org
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see what we're up to!
Prefer an email newsletter? Sign up for our News from the Neighborhood monthly update.
Do you want to support our programs and services? Make a donation to the Fishtown Community Library!
History
The history of Fishtown begins with the Native Lenni-Lenape people, who called the area Shackamaxon. In the early 1600's, Swedes, German, Dutch and English settled on scattered plots of land, and on April 23, 1683, William Penn negotiated a land exchange to acquire Shackamaxon.
In the early 1700s, English businessman Anthony Palmer purchased a large tract of land that he named Kensington after a suburb of London. This was combined with Shackamaxon. The Consolidation Act of 1854 brought the area into the present city limits. Legend has it that Charles Dickens named the area Fishtown after seeing the fish sold in the open air farmer's market on Girard Avenue.
Open for business in 1947, the original Community Branch Library was located at 615 Girard Avenue. However, the building was soon torn down so that a police station could be built.
The library opened at its current location at East Montgomery Avenue and Flora Street on March 31, 1950. This building was built in 1895 as a stable, and was later used as a fire station for horse-drawn wagons. It was donated to the library by the city through the efforts of the Men's Organization of the Community League of Kensington, hence the initial name, Community Branch.
Reflecting neighborhood pride, the name was changed to Fishtown Community Branch in 1982. The library was renovated extensively in 1989, with the addition of a balcony, meeting room and elevator. Further renovations were completed in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet access to every library.