Walnut Street West Library
All indoor programming at the Walnut Street West Library has been cancelled for the month of July. Clark Park Storytime and the Family Bird Walk are still scheduled, weather permitting. Please call 1-833-TALK-FLP or use the Ask a Librarian form on this site for questions and concerns.
Sunday, 7/6 | Closed |
Monday, 7/7 |
Closed * |
Tuesday, 7/8 |
Closed * |
Wednesday, 7/9 |
Closed * |
Thursday, 7/10 |
Closed * |
Friday, 7/11 |
Closed * |
Saturday, 7/12 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
- * Monday had hour changes – Union work stoppage
- * Tuesday had hour changes – Union work stoppage
- * Wednesday had hour changes – Due to cooling issues.
- * Thursday had hour changes – Due to cooling issues.
- * Friday had hour changes – Due to cooling issues.
Sunday | Closed |
Monday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Upcoming Closures
- Thu., Jul. 24 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
- Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Tue., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Scanner
- Screen magnify tools
- Stella Lighting
- Street parking (metered)
- Street parking
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
- ZoomText Keyboard & Special Key Features
Upcoming Events
Clark Park Storytime
Fri, July 18, 2025
10:00 A.M.
Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…
Clark Park Storytime
Fri, July 25, 2025
10:00 A.M.
Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…
Clark Park Storytime
Fri, August 1, 2025
10:00 A.M.
Bring a blanket & snack and meet us at 43rd St. & Chester Ave. near the Clark Park playground for stories, songs, fun & bubbles! In case of rain, storytime will be held at the Walnut Street West library at 201 South 40th Street; please check our socials for day-of updates. All ages…
Builder Club: For Kids of All ages
Fri, August 1, 2025
3:00 P.M.
Do you love LEGOS, blocks, Magna-Tiles, Lincoln Logs or anything you can build? If so, then stop by Builder Club to construct your wildest dreams! All ages welcome; toddlers will have their own space to build with age-appropriate blocks.
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.