Wilmington Public Library
🏢 Wilmington Public Library · Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington Public Library
The Wilmington Public Library — also known historically as the Wilmington Institute Free Library — traces continuous public lending to 1788 and occupies a landmark 1922 Beaux-Arts building on Rodney Square designed by architects Edward L. Tilton and Alfred Morton Githens, a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 10 East 10th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 571-7400
Website: wilmington.lib.de.us
Plus Code: 87F6PFW3+42 (Wilmington, DE)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Wilmington Public Library
The Wilmington Public Library's roots reach back to 1754, with documented lending activity, and its continuous modern history begins in January 1788, when three prominent Delawareans — John Dickinson, Gunning Bedford, and Jacob Broom — incorporated The Library Company of Wilmington. Initially a subscription library, it transitioned to free public lending with the support of philanthropist William Bancroft. The current building, opened in 1922 on land donated by Pierre S. du Pont, was designed in the Beaux-Arts tradition by Edward L. Tilton and Alfred Morton Githens and sits within the Rodney Square Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The library has been recognized with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, one of the highest honors in American library service. Today the Wilmington Public Library system includes the downtown main branch at 10 E 10th Street, the North Wilmington Branch at 3400 N. Market St., and the new NOMA location (soft-opening Saturdays starting July 2026). The library offers genealogical and local historical research resources, free museum passes to Longwood Gardens, wireless printing, downloadable eBooks through the Delaware Library Catalog, and Libby and OverDrive.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Continuous public lending traced to 1788, incorporated by Founding-era Delawareans John Dickinson, Gunning Bedford, and Jacob Broom
- 1922 Beaux-Arts building on Rodney Square designed by Edward L. Tilton and Alfred Morton Githens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, one of the most prestigious honors in American library service
- Free museum passes to Longwood Gardens available at the circulation desk while supplies last
- Three locations: downtown Wilmington (main), North Wilmington Branch, and new NOMA branch (opened July 2026)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Wilmington cardholders can borrow, research, and download for free through Delaware's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Local historical research and genealogical resources, including obituary lookups
- Free museum passes to Longwood Gardens (available at circulation desk while supplies last)
- Public computers, wireless printing, copying, scanning, and free Wi-Fi
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance, including Ask a Librarian Delaware
- Chromebooks and HotSpots available for checkout
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library (free books for children birth to age 5)
- Meeting rooms at all three locations available for community use
- Interlibrary loan and reciprocal borrowing within Delaware Libraries system
🎸 Programs
- Children's Corner storytimes and youth programming
- Teen Zone activities and resources
- Adult author talks and cultural events (recent speakers include Al Roker and his daughter)
- Genealogy and local history research workshops
- Job and career assistance workshops in partnership with Delaware Libraries
- Community programs at the North Wilmington Branch and NOMA locations
📍 Nearby Libraries in New Castle County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Wilmington · Browse all Delaware libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Wilmington Public Library, and what is its historical significance?
The Wilmington Public Library traces continuous lending to January 1788, when John Dickinson, Gunning Bedford, and Jacob Broom — prominent Delawareans from the Founding era — incorporated The Library Company of Wilmington. Its roots predate even that, with documented activity from 1754. The current Beaux-Arts building on Rodney Square opened in 1922 on land donated by Pierre S. du Pont and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library has also received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, one of the highest honors in U.S. library service.
What are the Wilmington Public Library's hours at the main (downtown) branch?
The downtown branch at 10 E 10th Street is open Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed on Sunday. The North Wilmington Branch (3400 N. Market St.) has different hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Friday and Sunday.
Does the Wilmington Public Library offer museum passes or other special services?
Yes. The library offers free museum passes to Longwood Gardens — one of the region's premier horticultural destinations — available at the circulation desk while supplies last. The library also offers Chromebook and HotSpot lending, wireless printing, genealogical research assistance, and obituary lookup services through its Local Historical Research collection.
Who can get a Wilmington Public Library card, and what digital resources does it unlock?
Delaware residents and those who work or go to school in Delaware can get a free Wilmington Public Library card in person or online through delawarelibraries.org. The card unlocks eBooks and audiobooks through Libby and OverDrive, digital magazines through Flipster, the statewide Delaware Library Catalog, and the Ask a Librarian Delaware service.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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