Lovett Memorial Library

6945 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119-2189
Germantown Ave. & Sedgwick St.
Closed Today
Sunday, 9/1 Closed
Monday, 9/2 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Closed *
Tuesday, 9/3 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. *
Wednesday, 9/4 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 9/5 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 9/6 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9/7 Closed
  • * Monday had hour changes – Labor Day
  • * Tuesday had hour changes – Due to staff shortage. Materials pick up services offered 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 5 - 7 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 Closed

Upcoming Closures

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

Join us for an Input Session with the Office of Homeless Services

Mon, September 9, 2024 4:00 P.M.

The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) in partnership with the Library, invites you to participate in a vital conversation about improving Philadelphia's response to homelessness.  This…

Read, Baby, Read! Baby Storytime

Tue, September 10, 2024 11:00 A.M.

Join Ms Dana for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Stay for playtime immediately following storytime! Intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. Participants receive a free…

Back-to-School BINGO

Tue, September 10, 2024 4:00 P.M.

Celebrate the start of school with some fun rounds of BINGO!  There will be prizes for both participants and winners!  Best for ages 5+.

Read, Baby, Read! Baby Storytime

Tue, September 17, 2024 11:00 A.M.

Join Ms Dana for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Stay for playtime immediately following storytime! Intended for our friends ages 2 and under and their caregivers. Participants receive a free…

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.