Lovett Memorial Library

6945 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119-2189
Germantown Ave. & Sedgwick St.
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 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

  • Thu., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
  • Fri., Nov. 29 : Closed Thanksgiving Friday
  • Thu., Dec. 12 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
  • Wed., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
View all holiday closings

Services

Facilities

  • Baby changing station
  • Bicycle rack
  • Book drop box
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Public restrooms
  • Self-service checkout
  • Street parking (free)
  • Street parking
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Upcoming Events

Interactive Show + Tell Program

Thu, November 21, 2024 3:30 P.M.

Brian Rudnick, "The Pocket Guide", will conduct a show + tell of some interesting pocket-sized items. If you like, bring along a family-friendly item of your own to show + tell us…

PA CareerLinkĀ® Job Search Assistance

Fri, November 22, 2024 11:00 A.M.

Meet with a Community Workforce Connector from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for one-on-one job search assistance. Get individualized support with résumé development, career counseling,…

Read, Baby, Read Storytime

Tue, November 26, 2024 11:00 A.M.

Come join Ms. Dee for songs, stories, rhymes and lap time! Stick around for playtime afterward.  This program is intended for ages 0 - 24 months, along with their caregivers. This program has…

Making the Most of Your Doctor's Visit

Tue, November 26, 2024 1:00 P.M.

Have you thought about what to tell and ask your physician during a visit? Ms. Jerri Kahut, nurse educator, will talk about preparing for your next doctor's visit and offer tips on what to…

About

Located on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy, Lovett serves the communities of East and West Mt. Airy. Check out the garden next to the branch.

We are part of the transformational Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative. Learn more: http://www.21stcenturylibraries.org

History

Germantown Avenue began as an Indian footpath through the woods used as a road by settlers. In 1865, Thomas Lovett purchased more than ten acres along the avenue as a family estate. Mount Airy Free Library was founded twenty years later by a trio (one of whom was Miss Louisa Lovett) in a rented room at a lumberyard, where 7153-55 Germantown Avenue now stands. Another of the trio, Mrs. Sheldon Potter, acted as volunteer librarian. She had a small circulating library at her home for neighborhood boys, hoping to raise their standard of reading materials from the "dime novels" that were all they could afford for themselves.

In 1887, Charlotte Lovett Bostwick built and endowed the library as a memorial to her brother, Thomas R. Lovett. This portion now serves as a meeting room. Lovett Library became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1924. A new addition was opened in 1961, and in 1982 the Friends of Lovett Library started.

The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign. In 2004, the Lovett Memorial Reading Garden was dedicated.