Fumo Family Library
2437 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148-3508
(Porter & Broad St.)
215-685-1758
Closed Today
| 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 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., May. 10 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Mon., May. 28 : Closed Memorial Day
- Thu., Jun. 14 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Wed., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Thu., Jul. 12 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computers for public use
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking (metered)
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Mindfulness Meditation | Chair Yoga
Mon, Apr 23, 12:30 P.M.
Ground your mind and body with Mindfulness Meditation and Chair Yoga. Spend a peaceful half-hour with a guided meditation. Chair yoga is a twist…
Spinning Yarns
Mon, Apr 23, 6:30 P.M.
For those who knit and crochet, bring your latest project and enjoy a relaxing, low-key evening of crafting at the library. All fiber arts…
Toddler Storytime
Tue, Apr 24, 10:00 A.M.
Join us for stories, songs, and activities. These programs are intended for children three years old and younger, accompanied by a…
Intermediate ESL classes
Tue, Apr 24, 2:00 P.M.
This two and a half hour long class meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year. This class is free and registration is…
Intermediate ESL classes
Wed, Apr 25, 2:00 P.M.
This two and a half hour long class meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year. This class is free and registration is…
Music & Movement with Mr. Ray
Thu, Apr 26, 10:00 A.M.
Music & Movement is a time for the youngest children to sing, dance, and share stories together. Please join us on the fourth Thursday of…
About
Now located in a bright yellow building on South Broad Street next to South Philadelphia Charter School for Performing Arts the branch was formerly known as the Ritner Children's Branch. The new building opened in 1999, with a new name!
History
The area surrounding the Fumo Family Branch was composed of small farms and marshlands until the mid-1800's. The site of the branch was a farm owned by the same Swedish family for more than 200 years.
Broad Street was named by William Penn. The area below Morris Street was called "the Neck," and Broad Street was the spine of the Neck. Ritner Street was named for Joseph Ritner, the son of a German immigrant who went on to become the governor of Pennsylvania. Most of the streets in South Philadelphia streets south of Mifflin are named for governors who served from 1700 to 1919.
The Fumo Family Branch has had three names during its history. In its first incarnation, a brick Carnegie library was opened at Broad and Ritner on November 24, 1914 as the South Philadelphia Branch. This building was closed when the new South Philadelphia Branch was built at Broad and Morris Streets. However, neighborhood residents demanded that the old library be reopened, at least for children. As a result, the Ritner Children's Library was created, the only library exclusively for children.
On September 3, 1999, the current Fumo Family Branch opened in a new building attached to the Samuel S. Fels Community Center. City Council voted to name the new library after the Fumo Family of South Philadelphia.
A mural by Marie Garafano called "Waiting for the Train" is above the circulation desk. You can also see a bear driving the Broad Street Subway in another mural.