Parkway Central Library
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Sep. 6 : Closed Labor Day
- Mon., Oct. 11 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Thu., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
- Thu., Nov. 25 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
Services By Appointment
Services
- Book Drop
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Street parking
- Baby changing station
- Computers for public use
- Handicapped accessible
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Scanner
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking
- Public restrooms
Upcoming Events
In-Person Music and Movement with Ms Naomi!
Join Ms Naomi Wednesdays at 10:30 am at Shakespeare Park (across the street from the library on Vine St) for Music and Movement! Enjoy songs, dance, and fun explorations of rhythm and movement!…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and…
Rap It Up! Virtual Workshop with Jeffery Weatherford
Hip Hop and high tech collide, in this virtual workshop from spoken word artist and award-winning illustrator Jeffery Weatherford. Learn about hip hop history and the technology behind the beats…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote: Self-Guided Tour
The Making Her Mark exhibition, open by appointment weekday afternoons in the West Gallery of the Parkway Central Library, offers a look at the stories of Philadelphia women who built and…
Departments
-
Art Department
-
Business Resource and Innovation Center
-
Children's Department
-
Children's Literature Research Collection
-
Culinary Literacy Center
-
Drinker Collection
-
Education Philosophy and Religion Department
-
Field Teen Center
-
First Floor Gallery East
-
First Floor Gallery West
-
Fleisher Collection
-
General Information Department
-
Government Publications Department
-
Heim Center for Civic and Cultural Engagement
-
Homebound Services
-
Interlibrary Loan
-
Literature Department
-
Map Collection
-
Music Department
-
Newspapers and Microfilm Center
-
Patent and Trademark Resource Center
-
Philbrick Hall
-
Print and Picture Collection
-
Rare Book Department
-
Regional Foundation Center
-
Science and Wellness
-
Second Floor Gallery West
-
Senior Services
-
Social Science and History Department
-
Theatre Collection
-
Workplace
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.