South Philadelphia Library
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Oct. 9 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Sat., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
- Thu., Nov. 23 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
- Mon., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
Services By Appointment
Services
- Book Drop
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
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
- Self-service checkout
- Street parking
- Study rooms
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Infant Massage class
Join us inside the South Philly Library for a series of infant massage classes with Brooke Smith from Baby B Soothed. These classes will be held on 9/11, 9/18, 9/25 from 10-11am and are free. They…
Computer Skills for Beginners
Need computer help? Take a free digital skills workshop at the Library! Learn how to use a computer, get online, and more. Program runs from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. Support provided by the…
PreK Storytime
Join us inside the South Philly Library for free PreK Storytimes full of songs, stories and dance! These storytimes are free and geared towards children 2-6.
Chess Club
Learn to play chess or improve your game! Students of all ages, and all levels welcome.
About
Welcome to our new South Philadelphia Library in the Community Health and Literacy Center at Broad and Morris Streets!
History
This area of south Philadelphia was mainly small farms until the mid-1800's. Broad Street was named by William Penn, who described it as "a Broad Street in the middle of the city, from side to side" between the rivers. It ran from Vine to South (then Cedar) Streets, since they were the original boundaries of the city. In 1819, the street went as far south as Dickinson. By the middle of the 19th century, it was extended to the navy yard.
The original South Philadelphia Branch was located at Broad and Ritner Streets in a T-shaped Carnegie building that opened on November 24, 1914. In 1965, the building was closed and the South Philadelphia Branch reopened at its current location.
In June 2016, the new South Philadelphia Library Reopened to the public. It is the first of five pilot neighborhood libraries to be reimagined and reshaped to meet the changing needs of today’s library customers. Located on the first floor of the South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center, it includes a Community Health Resource Center with staff trained by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Public Health Initiatives, as well as a central “living room” area, a teen space, a Pre-K Zone, a computer lab, and updated study rooms. Its nearly 12,000 square feet of space serve more than 150,000 customers annually.
South Philadelphia Library was designated a Zone of Peace in 2019 by the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia for its work in answering the call to stop violence by “making our homes and neighborhoods zones of peace free from fear, filled with respect, and marked by deeds of kindness."