Parkway Central Library

1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway)
215-686-5322
Library Tour Information
Departments

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Open today until 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, 1/19 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, 1/20 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Closed
Tuesday, 1/21 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 1/22 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, 1/23 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 1/24 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1/25 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • * Monday had hour changes – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

  • Mon., Feb. 17 : Closed Presidents' Day
  • Fri., Apr. 10 : Closed Good Friday
  • Sun., Apr. 12 : Closed Easter
  • Mon., May. 25 : Closed Memorial Day
  • Sat., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
View all holiday closings

Photo of Parkway Central Library

Facilities

  • Baby changing station
  • Bicycle rack
  • Book drop box
  • Children's only restroom
  • Computers for public use
  • Electrical outlets available
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Meeting space (reservation required)
  • Street parking
  • Pay phone
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Public restrooms
  • Scanner
  • Screen magnify tools
  • Screen-reading software (JAWS)
  • Self-service checkout
  • Water fountain
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

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Upcoming Events

Mock Interviews

Wed, Jan 22, 10:00 A.M.

Join us for a mock interview session to conquer difficult interview questions, develop interview strategies, improve your communication skills,…

Patent, Trademark & Copyright Toolkit

Wed, Jan 22, 10:00 A.M.

Do you want to protect your invention, product, brand name, logo, short story, or song that you’ve created? If so, register for our free…

Preschool Storytime

Wed, Jan 22, 10:30 A.M.

Stories, songs, rhymes, music, movement, and lots of fun for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers.   

Health & Social Resources Fair!

Wed, Jan 22, 1:00 P.M.

This is Parkway Central Library's second Annual FREE Community Health & Social Resources Fair. Start the new year in a healthy way! Come…

Geekscapes

Wed, Jan 22, 3:30 P.M.

Hang out in the Field Teen Center and geek out about all your favorite fandoms! Play Dungeons and Dragons, Yugi-oh, Magic the Gathering, Chess,…

LEAP Program

Wed, Jan 22, 4:00 P.M.

Join us for a fun activity with LEAP, the Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program!  Children ages 12 and under. All friends 6…

View all events

Parkway Central Library Tours

Photo of Parkway Central Library

Building Tours:

  • Monday – Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
  • 1st Sunday Tour at 2:00 p.m.

Rare Book Department Tours:

  • Monday – Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

Explore the grand Beaux-Arts building which is an important part of Philadelphia's past and present with this specialized tour of the Parkway Central Library, which opened on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 1927. The free tour, which begins in the lobby, showcases Parkway Central's unique architecture and history, while covering the many collections and services that make the Free Library such a valuable and critical resource to Philadelphians. At the end of the tour, participants will be given the option to continue their experience by joining the free, daily tour of the Rare Book Department at 11:00 a.m., which explores the history of the book along with some of the Library's most rare holdings.

Group Tour Request

Departments

About

Parkway Central Library Welcomes You [A downloadable self-guided tour]

Designed by Julian Abele, a prominent African American architect from Philadelphia who worked in Horace Trumbauer’s firm, the Parkway Central Library first opened its doors on June 2, 1927. As an anchor cultural and educational institution on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, we welcome over 1 million visitors each year from the city, its countryside, and around the world. Our patrons come to learn from our public events, to consult our special collections, and to tap the expertise of our librarians and curators in each of the subject departments and special collections. On most days, volunteer docents offer architectural walks through the building.