Philadelphia City Institute
1905 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5730
(19th & Locust on W. Rittenhouse Square)
215-685-6621
Open today until 6:00 p.m.
| Sunday, 12/8 | Closed |
| Monday, 12/9 |
2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.* |
| Tuesday, 12/10 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, 12/11 | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, 12/12 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 12/13 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 12/14 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
- * Monday had hour changes – Due to staff shortage.
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 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 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., Dec. 19 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Tue., Dec. 24 : Open 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM preparation for holidays
- Wed., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
- Tue., Dec. 31 : Open 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM preparation for holidays
- Wed., Jan. 1 : Closed New Year's Day
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Children's only restroom
- Computers for public use
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
- Scanner
Nearby Libraries
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Donate NowUpcoming Events
Preschool Play and Storytime
Thu, Dec 12, 10:00 A.M.
Groups and families with children ages 3-5 are invited to our Thursday morning Play and Storytime to read, play and explore with other children.…
Baby Rhyming Time
Fri, Dec 13, 10:00 A.M.
Enjoy storytime with songs, tickles and bounces, followed by open play time for babies and time to talk with other adults! Please email Liz at…
Baby Rhyming Time
Fri, Dec 13, 11:00 A.M.
Enjoy storytime with songs, tickles and bounces, followed by open play time for babies and time to talk with other adults! Please email Liz at…
Library Advocacy Q&A
Wed, Jan 8, 6:00 P.M.
Join the Friends of PCI for a discussion about the critical need for advocacy for our public libraries in Philadelphia.
Book Discussion: There There
Thu, Feb 27, 2:00 P.M.
Join a free public discussion of the 2020 One Book, One Philadelphia selection, There There by Tommy Orange . Limited copies of the novel…
About
Located on the first floor and lower level of a high-rise apartment building on the northwest corner of Rittenhouse Square, PCI serves the communities of Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square, and people who live and work in Center City west of Broad Street.
History
The Philadelphia City Institute Board of Managers is a non-profit organization that has supported a free library in Center City, Philadelphia for 163 years. The Philadelphia City Institute Library (PCI) has had three locations: first, in 1855, on the northeast corner of 18th and Chestnut Streets; since 1956, at 1905 Locust Street, facing Rittenhouse Square. Today, the PCI Library functions as a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The PCI Managers maintain ownership of the premises and the assets; with endowment income, they also provide operational support and funding for augmented staff, new materials, and equipment.
The PCI Board of Managers’ object was “the promotion of the moral and intellectual improvement of young persons by means of a Library and Reading Room, Lectures and class instruction, and such other measures as the Board of Managers may adopt.” Weekly lectures by prominent Philadelphians and free night schools were important activities of PCI in its early years. Initially these were reserved for young men, but PCI soon decided to “extend the advantages of the Institute to females.”
A mural by noted Philadelphia artist David McShane greets visitors to the library. Commissioned by the Friends of PCI in 2000, the mural reflects the history and mission of the branch and the diversity of the community it serves.