Haverford Library

5543 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19139-1432
56th St. & Haverford Ave.
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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 Closed

Upcoming Closures

  • Thu., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
  • Fri., Nov. 29 : Closed Thanksgiving Friday
  • Wed., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
  • Thu., Jan. 23 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
View all holiday closings

Facilities

  • Bicycle rack
  • Book drop box
  • Computers for public use
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Public restrooms
  • Scanner
  • Street parking (free)
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Upcoming Events

PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance

Wed, November 27, 2024 2:00 P.M.

Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career counseling,…

PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance

Wed, December 4, 2024 2:00 P.M.

Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career counseling,…

PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance

Wed, December 11, 2024 2:00 P.M.

Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career counseling,…

PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance

Wed, December 18, 2024 2:00 P.M.

Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career counseling,…

About

Located at the busy intersection of Haverford Avenue, 56th and Westminster Streets, the branch serves the community of Haddington-Carroll Park. The library has a lively aquarium theme in the preschool center.

History

The neighborhood had its beginning when John Rhoads received the land from William Penn. By 1847, the section between 65th and 67th Streets on Haverford Road appeared as "Haddington" on maps. Haverford was a main road in the area.

During the Civil War, this area was a center for training recruits for the Union Army. The Northwest Fellowship Council was founded in 1954. It was a forerunner of the Haddington Leadership Organization, which is still active today, working for the betterment of the community.

The Education Committee of the Haddington Leadership Organization led the drive to petition City Council to erect a library branch in their community. 5,000 signatures were collected and funding was placed in the 1976 city budget. Ground was broken in 1978, and the library opened on September 5, 1979.

The stained glass mural above the front door was created by artist Crosby Willet. The preschool area features an aquarium theme with lots of multicolored fish.

The library was renovated in 2000 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library.