Falls of Schuylkill Library
🏢 Free Library of Philadelphia · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Falls of Schuylkill Library
One of twenty-five Carnegie-funded branches built for Philadelphia, Falls of Schuylkill Library has anchored East Falls since 1913 in a hand-crafted Tudor Gothic building whose catfish weathervane recalls the days when Schuylkill River catfish fed the neighborhood's colonial-era inns.
🕑 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: 3501 Midvale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Phone: (215) 685-2093
Website: libwww.freelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G62R75+P2 (Philadelphia, PA)
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📖 About Falls of Schuylkill Library
The Falls of Schuylkill Library is a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia serving the East Falls neighborhood at the corner of Midvale Avenue, Warden Drive, and Conrad Street. The library traces its roots to June 1, 1901, when East Falls residents established a lending library on the second floor of the Old Academy building on Indian Queen Lane. After community leaders successfully appealed to the Carnegie Library Fund in 1912, the current building rose on stone excavated from the construction site itself — a cornerstone laid in 1912 and a grand opening on November 18, 1913. Designed by the Philadelphia firm Rankin, Kellogg and Crane in Tudor Gothic style, the building features hand-carved timber beams, an expansive open reading room, high-set windows accommodating built-in bookcases, and a distinctive catfish weathervane on the cupola — a nod to Fort St. Davids, the colonial settlement where catfish from the Schuylkill fed the local taverns. The branch was renovated in 1997 as part of the Free Library's Changing Lives capital campaign, and in 2011 the Philadelphia Historical Commission added it to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Today the library serves all ages with storytimes, STEAM explorations, and crafts programs, supported by two volunteer-maintained gardens on the Midvale and Calumet sides of the building.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Carnegie-funded Tudor Gothic landmark opened November 18, 1913 — one of 25 Carnegie branches built for Philadelphia
- Catfish weathervane on the cupola commemorates the Schuylkill River catfish culture of Fort St. Davids, the colonial settlement that preceded East Falls
- Built from stone excavated on-site by the Philadelphia firm Rankin, Kellogg and Crane, featuring hand-carved timber beams and an expansive open reading room
- Added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2011 by the Philadelphia Historical Commission
- Two volunteer-maintained gardens — a Midvale-side garden (established late 1980s) and a shaded Calumet-side garden tended with Penn Charter students
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Falls of Schuylkill cardholders can read, listen and research free with the Free Library's shared collections and Pennsylvania's statewide e-library:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing and photocopying
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the branch
- Meeting and study rooms for community use
- Book drop and hold pickup
- Electrical outlets for personal devices
- Free Library card — open to all Pennsylvania residents
🎸 Programs
- Children's Storytime
- STEAM Explorations for children
- Arts & crafts programs
- All-ages programming year-round
- Community events in partnership with the Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Philadelphia
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Philadelphia · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a catfish weathervane on the library's roof?
The catfish weathervane on the cupola is a deliberate reference to the colonial settlement of Fort St. Davids, the predecessor community to East Falls. Thousands of catfish once thronged the Schuylkill River near the falls, and catfish-and-waffles became a signature dish at the local inns and taverns. When the Carnegie branch opened in 1913, the designers honored that history with the weathervane as a lasting symbol of the neighborhood's roots.
Was the Falls of Schuylkill Library really built from stone found on-site?
Yes. The building's Tudor Gothic walls were constructed using stone excavated directly from the site during the 1912 groundwork — a detail noted in the historical record and a sign of the craftsmanship the Philadelphia firm Rankin, Kellogg and Crane brought to the project. The land itself was donated by William H. Merrick and the Warden Estate, and Andrew Carnegie provided the construction endowment.
Is the Falls of Schuylkill Library a historic landmark?
Yes. In 2011 the Philadelphia Historical Commission approved its addition to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The branch has occupied the same 1913 Carnegie building — now 110-plus years old — and was renovated in 1997 as part of the Free Library's Changing Lives capital campaign.
What days and hours is the Falls of Schuylkill Library open?
The branch is open Monday and Tuesday 11 am–7 pm, and Wednesday through Saturday 10 am–5 pm. The library is closed on Sundays. Hours are set by the Free Library of Philadelphia and may change for holidays; check the Free Library website for the latest schedule.
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