Kensington Library
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 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 | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Sep. 2 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 5 : Opening at 1:00 PM due to staff development
- Mon., Oct. 14 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Mon., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Scanner
- Street parking (free)
- Street parking
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
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…
Preschool Storytime
Join us inside the library for stories, rhymes, songs and movement! Best suited for ages 2-5 and their caregivers.
Photography Without Borders presents: CAPTURE! Photography at the Free Library
Photography Without Borders will present a fun, hands-on class to explore new techniques, capture compelling images, and find your unique vision through the lens. Program is designed for ages 12…
Board/Card/Party Games for Adults
We've got Scrabble, Fluxx, Scattergories, and many more games if you're in a playing mood--or you can bring your own!
About
Located near the York-Dauphin El station, the Kensington Branch serves Kensington, West Kensington, and Norris Square. ¡Bienvenidos! Libros, videos, revistas y música en español.
History
In the early 1700s, Anthony Palmer, an English businessman working in Barbados, purchased a large tract of land that he called Kensington after a suburb of London. Early residents were shipbuilders and fishermen, but by the 1830s Kensington had become the textile center of Philadelphia. In 1922, the Frankford elevated line began operation, passing through Kensington Avenue. The textile mills moved south by the end of the 1930s.
Kensington Branch was originally known as Frankford Avenue Branch, Branch Number 3 of the Free Library system. It opened on May 21, 1894 at 1856 Frankford Avenue. The name was changed to the Kensington Branch in 1900. In August 1902 it moved to an empty church building at 2055 East Dauphin Street where it remained for 51 years. In 1953, pending completion of plans for a new location, the agency moved to a small rented shop at 2508 North Front Street.
The current Kensington Branch opened on July 20, 1956. It was renovated in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished branches and brought Internet service to every library. When you visit, take a look at the mosaic in the meeting room. It was designed by Network Arts and created with the help of neighborhood children.