Kensington Library
| Sunday, 12/22 | Closed |
| Monday, 12/23 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, 12/24 |
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. * |
| Wednesday, 12/25 |
Closed * |
| Thursday, 12/26 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 12/27 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 12/28 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
- * Tuesday has hour changes – in preparation for the Christmas holiday
- * Wednesday has hour changes – Christmas Day
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 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
- Tue., Dec. 24 : Closing at 1:00 PM in preparation for the Christmas holiday
- Wed., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
- Tue., Dec. 31 : Closing at 1:00 PM in preparation for the New Year holiday
- Wed., Jan. 1 : Closed New Year's Day
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Scanner
- Street parking (free)
- Street parking
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Anime/Manga Discord Meetup for Adults & Older Teens
Catch up with other dedicated fans as we watch shows from varied genres (generally with subtitles) on the Discord platform. To receive the Discord invite or for more information, email…
Social Services at the Library with a Social Worker
Stop by for Open Office Hours 2pm-5pm Wed with a Social Worker where you can receive help finding, navigating, and connecting to relevant community and government agencies. If you have…
Spanish Conversation Group - High Intermediate/Advanced
Build your confidence in speaking Spanish while meeting other adults in a casual learning environment. For high-intermediate/advanced speakers. This group is led by Kensington Library Supervisor…
English Conversation Group - Intermediate+
Build your confidence in speaking English while meeting other adults in a casual learning environment. No registration is required. This group is for intermediate/advanced English speakers and is…
About
Located near the York-Dauphin El station, the Kensington Branch serves Kensington, West Kensington, and Norris Square. ¡Bienvenidos! Libros, videos, revistas y música en español.
History
In the early 1700s, Anthony Palmer, an English businessman working in Barbados, purchased a large tract of land that he called Kensington after a suburb of London. Early residents were shipbuilders and fishermen, but by the 1830s Kensington had become the textile center of Philadelphia. In 1922, the Frankford elevated line began operation, passing through Kensington Avenue. The textile mills moved south by the end of the 1930s.
Kensington Branch was originally known as Frankford Avenue Branch, Branch Number 3 of the Free Library system. It opened on May 21, 1894 at 1856 Frankford Avenue. The name was changed to the Kensington Branch in 1900. In August 1902 it moved to an empty church building at 2055 East Dauphin Street where it remained for 51 years. In 1953, pending completion of plans for a new location, the agency moved to a small rented shop at 2508 North Front Street.
The current Kensington Branch opened on July 20, 1956. It was renovated in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library. When you visit, take a look at the mosaic in the meeting room. It was designed by Network Arts and created with the help of neighborhood children.