Walnut Street West
| 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 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Thu., Jun. 22 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
- Tue., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Thu., Jul. 27 : Opening at 2:00 PM due to staff development
Services By Appointment
Services
- Book Drop
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Reference Services
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
- Wi-Fi
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computers for public use
- Handicapped accessible
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Screen magnify tools
- Street parking (metered)
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
- Scanner
Upcoming Events
English Conversation Group - Intermediate+
Build your confidence in speaking English while meeting other adults in a casual learning environment. No registration is required. This group is for intermediate/advanced English speakers and is…
Storytime with Librarian Kit
Storytime is back in the building! Children and Families* are welcome to join us for songs, books, and stories every Tuesday morning! *We cannot accommodate groups in storytime at this time.…
Ice Cream Storytime! Summer of Wonder Kick-off with Ben & Jerry's
Enjoy a free ice cream cone with summer-themed storytime! Take this opportunity to sign up for our Summer Reading challenge & your family will also receive a free book! The Green at 40th &…
CityLife Clinic: Adult Nutrition Workshop
This workshop, led by a registered dietitian, is being offered by the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative's Adult and Senior Nutrition Program in conjunction with CityLife Clinics. The…
About
Located near the University of Pennsylvania, the Walnut Street West Branch has been serving West Philadelphia since 1906, celebrating its 110 year anniversary in the spring of 2016. The building was fully renovated in 2004, and the entrance was restored to its original location on 40th Street. Located near a parking garage, supermarket, movie theater, bank, and a wide variety of upscale eateries — the library serves the communities of University City, Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, and Garden Court.
History
The Walnut Street West Branch opened on May 28, 1895, making it the fifth Philadelphia Public Library branch. It was housed in a suite of three rooms on the first floor of the West Philadelphia Institute at 40th and Ludlow Streets, and became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on January 1, 1896. After expanding to 5 rooms, the branch moved to the Hamilton School Building, 4105-09 Chestnut Street on May 1901. The branch was known as the West Philadelphia branch at this time.
The building Walnut Street West is currently housed in opened to the public on June 26, 1906. It was the first of thirty libraries funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie and was built at a cost of $80,387.68 on land donated by Clarence Clark, a West Philadelphia banker. Mr. Clark’s will deeded the land to the city "in perpetuity" as long as a library sat on it. During the first year of operation, 79,683 books were borrowed from the branch. A lecture hall seating 300 people was part of the lower level.
In 1960, the branch added air conditioning and moved the public entrance to Walnut Street. From 1998 to 2004, the library was housed in temporary quarters at 3927 Walnut Street as the facility underwent a complete renovation, adding a second level and making use of “green” environmentally-friendly materials and technology. The entrance was then moved again to the original location on 40th Street. A mural of West Philadelphia scenes by artist Paul Santoleri now welcomes visitors.