Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
125 South 52nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3408
(West Phila. Regional 52nd & Sansom Sts.)
Adult/Teen: 215-685-7433/Children's: 215-685-7422
We regret that our elevator is out of service. If you need assistance while in the building, please speak with Library staff. Anticipated completion date for the elevator repairs is Fall 2019.
Closed Today
| Sunday | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Sep. 2 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 26 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Mon., Oct. 14 : Closed Columbus Day
- Thu., Oct. 24 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Mon., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Change machine
- Children's only restroom
- Computer lab
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Screen magnify tools
- Screen-reading software (JAWS)
- Street parking
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
- Book drop box
Nearby Libraries
Support Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
Donate NowUpcoming Events
Robot Challenge
Tue, Aug 20, 2:00 P.M.
Beat the heat and crack the code! Children ages 8-12 will engage in problem solving, team-building, and critical thinking with a series of…
Robot Challenge
Wed, Aug 21, 2:00 P.M.
Beat the heat and crack the code! Children ages 8-12 will engage in problem solving, team-building, and critical thinking with a series of…
Read, Baby, Read: Storytime at Malcolm X Park
Thu, Aug 22, 10:30 A.M.
Read! Sing! Play! Help your child learn through stories, songs, and fun activities at Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia. Weather…
Robot Challenge
Thu, Aug 22, 2:00 P.M.
Beat the heat and crack the code! Children ages 8-12 will engage in problem solving, team-building, and critical thinking with a series of…
Big Kid Storytime and Playgroup
Fri, Aug 23, 10:30 A.M.
10:30 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes, music, movement, and lots of fun for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. 11:00 a.m.…
BAE Cafe: Breastfeeding Awareness & Empowerment
Fri, Aug 23, 11:00 A.M.
BAE (Breastfeeding Awareness and Empowerment) Cafe is a free breastfeeding support group for expecting parents and breastfeeding parents led by…
About
Located two blocks south of the 52nd Street El station in the heart of West Philadelphia, this regional library was renamed in 2004. The library serves the communities of Cedar Park, Walnut Hill, West Market, Mill Creek, Dunlap, and West Park.
History
In 1677, William Warner purchased land from the local Native Americans and settled in the vicinity of 45th Street and Westminster Streets. He named the area Blockley after his home parish in England. Blockley became one of thirteen original townships in the city.
In 1840, the Borough of West Philadelphia was incorporated and later upgraded to the West Philadelphia District. By 1866, the Chestnut Street Bridge opened and railroad cars drawn by horses brought passengers as far as the corner of 41st and Chestnut Streets. It was not until 1904 that the line was extended to 45th Street and later to 61st Street. By 1904, Chestnut was paved as far as 46th Street, and further on it was a dirt road. Cornfields grew beyond present-day 53rd Street.
After the Market Street Elevated train opened in 1907, West Philadelphia rapidly urbanized and was significantly developed by World War II. Paul Robeson, world-renowned African American singer and actor, lived his retirement years on Walnut Street near 50th Street, a few blocks from the library.
The West Philadelphia Regional Library opened on October 21, 1976 - the second regional library in the city, providing West Philadelphia with a larger collection of books, magazines and newspapers than neighborhood branches. Designed by architect William Mann, the library was built on the site of the Rivoli Theatre.
The library was renovated in 1998 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library. The building was renamed the Lucien E. Blackwell/West Philadelphia Regional library in 2004 after Lucien Blackwell, a former congressman, city council member, state legislator and local activist who died in 2003.
The library is located on 52nd Street, the major commercial and shopping district of West Philadelphia. When you visit, look in the adult room for the large, colorful mural by George Beach, entitled Knowledge.