Lovett Memorial Library
🏢 Free Library of Philadelphia · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lovett Memorial Library
Philadelphia's oldest endowed neighborhood library, Lovett Memorial opened in 1887 as a private gift to Mt. Airy and emerged from a $9 million renovation in December 2017 with a new children's wing, outdoor reading porch, and a park tied by deed to remain green space in perpetuity.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 6945 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Phone: (215) 685-2095
Website: libwww.freelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G63R46+PW (Philadelphia, PA)
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📖 About Lovett Memorial Library
Lovett Memorial Library stands on Germantown Avenue at the boundary of East and West Mt. Airy, a neighborhood landmark with roots in an act of private philanthropy: in 1887, Charlotte Lovett Bostwick built and endowed the library as a memorial to her brother Thomas R. Lovett, who had owned the land. The original building — designed by architect Ashton Tourison and constructed by Martin Hetzel — retains its 1887 fireplace mantelpiece and a small original stained-glass panel by Milton Shafts of the Belcher Mosaic Glass Co. The library joined the Free Library of Philadelphia system in 1924, added a wing in 1961, and then closed in 2016 for an 18-month, roughly $9 million overhaul as part of the Free Library's Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative and the Reimagining the Civic Commons project. When it reopened on December 16, 2017, the library was fully ADA-accessible for the first time and featured a vibrant enlarged children's space, a Pre-K Zone, a dedicated Teen Zone, a computer bar, and a covered outdoor porch that opens onto roughly one acre of parkland. By deed, the surrounding grounds must remain a public park in perpetuity, making Lovett Library & Park one of the few Philadelphia branch libraries with permanently protected green space.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1887 — Philadelphia's oldest library built as a private neighborhood memorial, predating the Carnegie era
- Reopened December 2017 after a $9 million renovation: dedicated children's wing, Pre-K Zone, Teen Zone, computer bar, and outdoor reading porch
- Surrounded by one acre of permanently protected parkland — the deed prohibits any use other than library expansion or public park
- Retains original 1887 architectural details: the Gavett-crafted fireplace mantelpiece and a stained-glass panel by Belcher Mosaic Glass Co.
- On-site Social Worker open office hours and Community Workforce Connector job-search assistance, in addition to regular English Conversation Group sessions
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lovett cardholders access Pennsylvania's statewide digital collections plus the Free Library's own digital catalog:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- Quiet study room and reservable meeting/program rooms
- Community Workforce Connector: one-on-one job search, résumé, and career counseling (Mon–Fri 2–4:30pm)
- Social Worker open office hours: help connecting to community and government agencies (selected days 2–5pm)
- Reading therapy dog sessions for children
- Outdoor reading porch and adjacent one-acre park
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime (weekly)
- English Conversation Group for adult learners
- Summer Reading Program
- Sahaja Yoga meditation workshops
- Park events: Music Mondays, Yoga in the Park, Moonlight Movies (seasonal)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Philadelphia County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Philadelphia · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Thomas Lovett, and why is the library named a 'memorial'?
Thomas R. Lovett was a Mt. Airy landowner who purchased more than ten acres along Germantown Avenue in 1865 as a family estate. After his death, his sister Charlotte Lovett Bostwick built and endowed the library in 1887 specifically as a memorial to him — making it the oldest endowed neighborhood library in Philadelphia. The original building, designed by architect Ashton Tourison, still stands and retains its 1887 fireplace mantelpiece and a piece of original stained glass.
What was added in the 2017 renovation, and is the building fully accessible?
The roughly $9 million renovation, which closed the branch for about 18 months in 2016–2017, made the building fully ADA-accessible for the first time — including elevators and automatic doors. New features include a dedicated children's wing with café-height shelving, a Pre-K Zone, a Teen Zone with specialized seating, a computer bar, updated program and study rooms, and a covered outdoor reading porch that connects to the adjacent one-acre park.
What is Lovett Library & Park, and can the land ever be developed?
The library sits on approximately one acre of green space on Germantown Avenue that is protected by the original 1887 deed. The deed restricts the land to public park use, with the only permitted exception being library expansion — so the grounds can never be sold or redeveloped for other purposes. The Mt. Airy CDC and Fairmount Park Conservancy manage the park, which hosts seasonal programming including movie nights and Yoga in the Park.
Does Lovett Library offer any social services or job-search help on-site?
Yes. The branch hosts a Community Workforce Connector who provides free, one-on-one job-search assistance — résumé development, career counseling, and professional development workshops — typically available Monday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. A Social Worker also holds open office hours at the branch (generally 2:00–5:00 p.m. on select days), helping patrons find and navigate community services and government agencies. Call (215) 685-2095 to confirm the current schedule.
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