Public Libraries in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

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📚 County library guide

Public Libraries in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania is served by the Free Library of Philadelphia — a 54-location system founded in 1891 and one of the largest public library systems in the United States.

💡 Looking for a specific service in Philadelphia County? libraries with study rooms · printing, copying & fax · a Library of Things.

📚 About Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia city and county, which are coterminous — there is one government, one county, and one library system for the entire city. Founded in 1891 with a bequest from William Pepper, the system now operates 54 locations including a grand Beaux-Arts Central Library on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, opened in 1927. The library circulates millions of items each year and serves 1.5 million residents.

Branch highlights include the Falls of Schuylkill Library, built on the site of a former Carnegie library in 1955, the historic Lovett Memorial Library in Germantown (1887, one of Philadelphia's oldest), and the South Philadelphia Library, a community anchor combining library and health literacy services. The system also operates the Rosenbach, a rare-books and manuscript library, as a specialty site.

📱 Free digital access with your card

A free Free Library of Philadelphia card unlocks ebooks and audiobooks through Libby, plus no-waitlist digital titles on hoopla and streaming documentary films on Kanopy. Pennsylvania cardholders also have access to POWER Library, the Commonwealth's statewide bundle of research databases, newspapers and learning resources — available from home with your library card number.

Philadelphia County library branches — 9 verified

Each branch below is verified on its official page with address, hours and services. Browse the full Pennsylvania directory for more.

Parkway Central LibraryPhiladelphia, PA1927 Beaux-Arts flagship on Benjamin Franklin Parkway →Charles Santore LibraryPhiladelphia, PASouth Philadelphia neighborhood branch →Chestnut Hill LibraryPhiladelphia, PANorthwest Philadelphia neighborhood branch →David Cohen Ogontz LibraryPhiladelphia, PAOgontz Avenue neighborhood branch →Falls of Schuylkill LibraryPhiladelphia, PAFormer Carnegie site; serves East Falls & Manayunk →Lovett Memorial LibraryPhiladelphia, PAGermantown branch, one of Philadelphia's oldest (1887) →Ramonita G. de Rodriguez LibraryPhiladelphia, PANorth Philadelphia branch serving Fairhill neighborhood →South Philadelphia LibraryPhiladelphia, PACombined library and health literacy center →Widener LibraryPhiladelphia, PAWest Philadelphia neighborhood branch →

❓ Frequently asked questions

How many public libraries are in Philadelphia County?

The Free Library of Philadelphia operates 54 locations across the city and county, including the Parkway Central Library and 53 neighborhood and regional branches. Philadelphia city and county are coterminous, so one system serves the entire county.

Where is the main library in Philadelphia?

The Parkway Central Library at 1901 Vine Street is the flagship — a grand Beaux-Arts building that opened in 1927 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It houses rare books, maps, and special collections alongside general lending.

Who can get a Free Library of Philadelphia card?

A card is free to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania residents outside Philadelphia may also be eligible; bring a photo ID and proof of address to any branch.

Does the Free Library offer ebooks and streaming?

Yes. With a free card you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks on Libby, access no-waitlist titles on hoopla, stream documentaries on Kanopy, and use POWER Library research databases from home.

Is the “Philadelphia Public Library” the same as the Free Library of Philadelphia?

Yes. Free Library of Philadelphia is the official name of the public library system for Philadelphia city and county. Because city and county boundaries are identical, it is the only public library system in the county.

Last verified September 2026 from official library sources. Hours & services can change — confirm on each branch’s page. By Megan Carter, Library Resources Editor · public-libraries.com



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