Walnut Street West
201 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(40th & Walnut Streets)
215-685-7671
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
| 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
- Thu., Mar. 28 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Fri., Apr. 19 : Closed Good Friday
- Sun., Apr. 21 : Closed Easter
- Thu., Apr. 25 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Thu., May. 23 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Change machine
- Computer lab
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Screen magnify tools
- Street parking (metered)
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Nearby Libraries
- Charles L. Durham Library
- Kingsessing Library
- Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
Support Walnut Street West
Donate NowUpcoming Events
Women's History: Literacy Stations for Kids
Sat, Mar 23, 12:15 P.M.
Sponsored by The West Philly Reading Captains, part of Readby4th.org, this event will be exploring Women's History through games, activities,…
Urban Medicine Cabinet
Sat, Mar 23, 2:00 P.M.
Make and take home first aid ointment, herbal steam, and headache lozenges, while learning about the beneficial properties of specific herbs and…
Wooden Block Party
Mon, Mar 25, 3:30 P.M.
Join us to play with wooden blocks in the library. Children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers are encouraged to imagine, build, and create!
Storytime!
Tue, Mar 26, 10:30 A.M.
Young children and families are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities!
Chinese Language Storytime
Tue, Mar 26, 11:15 A.M.
All storybooks are read in Chinese by local parents and volunteers. If you are interested in helping us provide other multilingual story time…
Storytime!
Wed, Mar 27, 3:30 P.M.
Young children and families are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities!
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.