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

  • Mon., Oct. 14 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • Mon., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
  • Thu., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
  • Thu., Dec. 12 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
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

Little Yogis: Yoga Series for Families

Mon, September 30, 2024 11:30 A.M.

Take a fun and playful yoga journey led by Sarah of Surya Moon Yoga! We'll learn individual and partner poses through songs and storytelling, all while building confidence, creativity, and…

Gentle Yoga with Josh

Mon, September 30, 2024 5:00 P.M.

Join us for a weekly class where we will offer gentle movement, quiet meditation and guided breath work.  This class will be adapted to our different abilities and disabilities, especially as…

Teen Tuesdays

Tue, October 1, 2024 3:30 P.M.

Join us for all sorts of activities including theater workshops, BOT projects, game tournaments, poetry, guest speakers, and more! Meets most Tuesdays from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.  For tweens and…

Teen Book Club

Wed, October 2, 2024 3:30 P.M.

Join a teen book club where you pick the books.  We'll meet most Wednesdays, from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. in the teen nook.  For more info, contact Ms. Claire Hand, adult/teen librarian at…

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.