Lillian Marrero Library
We are now holding baby & toddler and preschool storytimes in the morning, even while closed! Please call or email (HoskinsonK@Freelibrary.org) to register ahead of time.
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Feb. 20 : Closed Presidents' Day
- Thu., Mar. 2 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
- Thu., Apr. 6 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
- Fri., Apr. 7 : Closed Good Friday
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
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…
Computer Skills for Beginners
Need computer help? Take a free digital skills workshop at the Library! Learn how to use a computer, get online, and more. Support provided by the Office of Children and Families - Adult…
Read Baby Read Baby & Toddler Storytime
Join us for stories & songs perfect for families with infants and toddlers! Siblings welcome. Following the program, families are welcome to enjoy our new Baby Space with board books,…
Pop-Up Taste of African Heritage
• Delicious, nutritious bite to eat & recipe to share in honor of Black History Month. • Prepared by Claire Richardson. • Everyone is strongly encouraged to wear a mask.
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."