Lillian Marrero Library
| 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. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., Sep. 1 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., Sep. 5 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Oct. 6 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., Oct. 10 : Closed Indigenous People Day
Services By Appointment
Services
- Book Drop
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Book drop box
- Computer lab
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Parking lot
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking (free)
- Study rooms
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Family Story Time
Enjoy picture books, songs, rhymes, and wiggle breaks with Ms. Kayla! Best suited for ages 3-8 and families. We cannot accommodate large day care groups at family story time. Day cares and schools…
Arts & Crafts Club
Get creative with us! We’ll focus on different art projects to create throughout the summer, including collages, embroidery, paper art, and more. We will continue to have a limited number of…
PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance
PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with…
Builders’ Club
Participate in weekly building challenges with us! We’ll provide a rotating supply of Legos, wooden blocks, Magnatiles, Marble Run, and more. Best suited for ages 4 and up. Masking is…
About
¡ Bienvenido! The Lillian Marrero Branch is your Library, featuring books, DVDs, CDs, computer classes, free wi-fi, job search workshops and programs for children. It serves the communities of Central North Philadelphia, Fairhill, St. Edwards/Hartranft, and West Kensington ¡Libros en español!
History
This neighborhood developed in the 19th century as a region of multiplying industry. Hardwick and Magee had a carpet mill at 7th and Lehigh. The world-famous Stetson Hat Factory at 5th and Montgomery, which closed in 1971, was once the city's largest employer. However, as early as the late 1930's, the area's industry started to move south and jobs disappeared.
The Lehigh Avenue Branch of the Free Library, built with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, opened on November 20, 1906. Within a few days, the neighborhood children had "practically wiped the children's department out of existence" by checking out so many books. At the time, this white limestone Grecian-style building was the largest library in Pennsylvania, and the large lecture hall in the basement was used for lectures and story hours.
The branch was saved from a planned relocation in the mid-sixties and was instead rehabilitated in 1967, and again in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library. During this renovation, the original chandeliers were refurbished.
Lillian Marrero Library was designated a Zone of Peace in 2018 by the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia for its work in answering the call to stop violence by “making our homes and neighborhoods zones of peace free from fear, filled with respect, and marked by deeds of kindness."