Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library
🏢 Free Library of Philadelphia · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library
Opened as the Girard Avenue Branch in 1968 and renamed in 1977 to honor the first Puerto Rican teacher in Philadelphia's public school system, the Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library anchors the corner of 6th and Girard with a vibrant Mural Arts exterior and a full slate of community programs.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| 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: 600 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (215) 686-1768
Website: libwww.freelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87F6XVC3+37 (Philadelphia, PA)
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📖 About Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library
The Ramonita G. de Rodriguez Library is a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, serving the neighborhoods of Olde Kensington, Kensington South, Ludlow, Yorktown, East and West Poplar, Northern Liberties, and Girard/Poplar from its corner location at 6th and West Girard Avenue. The branch opened on December 16, 1968, as the Girard Avenue Branch; on May 27, 1977, Philadelphia City Council voted to rename it in memory of Ramonita G. de Rodriguez (1908–1973), an outstanding Puerto Rican educator who came to the city in 1943, earned a master's degree from Temple University, and in 1947 became the first Puerto Rican teacher hired by the Philadelphia School District. Rodriguez rose to supervisor of the District's Bilingual Program and authored a bilingual English-Spanish column called "El Camino" in the Philadelphia Daily News, championing the city's Spanish-speaking communities. The branch was renovated in 1996 under the Free Library's "Changing Lives" campaign, which modernized facilities and brought Internet access to every neighborhood location. Today the building is adorned with a colorful Mural Arts Program exterior mural — "Dewey's World," created in 2006 by Paul Santoleri and Jennie Shanker with students from James R. Ludlow School — and an abstract concrete fascia relief sculpted by Joseph J. Greenberg, Jr. at the building's opening in 1968.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Ramonita G. de Rodriguez (1908–1973), the first Puerto Rican teacher in Philadelphia's public school system and founder of the Puerto Rican Women's Committee
- "Dewey's World" Mural Arts exterior mural (2006) by Paul Santoleri and Jennie Shanker, created with students from James R. Ludlow School
- Abstract concrete fascia relief by sculptor Joseph J. Greenberg, Jr., installed at the building's 1968 opening — listed on Philadelphia's mid-century modern architectural inventory
- Weekly Toddler Storytime every Friday at 11am, plus Junk Journal Workshops for ages 5–18 and Spin & Go free laundry for unhoused neighbors every Wednesday
- Meeting space, public computers, printing, scanning, Wi-Fi, and materials/holds pick-up available on site
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Rodriguez Library cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through the Free Library of Philadelphia's digital collections and Pennsylvania's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Book drop (exterior, 24/7 returns)
- Browse shelves and materials/holds pick-up
- Public computer use
- Printing and photocopying (black & white)
- Scanning
- Reference services
- Free Wi-Fi
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Baby changing station
- Handicapped-accessible entrance
🎸 Programs
- Toddler Storytime with Miss Chelsea — every Friday at 11:00 am
- Junk Journal Workshops for ages 5–18 (composition notebook collage/memory art)
- Spin & Go free self-service laundry for unhoused neighbors — every Wednesday at 10am outside the library
📍 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 Ramonita G. de Rodriguez, and why is the library named after her?
Ramonita G. de Rodriguez (1908–1973) was a pioneering Puerto Rican educator who moved to Philadelphia in 1943, earned her master's degree from Temple University, and in 1947 became the first Puerto Rican teacher hired by the Philadelphia School District — breaking a barrier in a city whose Puerto Rican community was rapidly growing. She rose to supervisor of the District's Bilingual Program and authored "El Camino," a bilingual English-Spanish column in the Philadelphia Daily News that served as a news lifeline for Spanish-speaking Philadelphians. She also founded the Puerto Rican Women's Committee. After her death from cancer in 1973, Philadelphia City Council voted on May 27, 1977, to rename the Girard Avenue Branch in her memory.
What is the mural on the outside of the Rodriguez Library?
The exterior mural is called "Dewey's World" and was completed in 2006 by artists Paul Santoleri and Jennie Shanker in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program and students from nearby James R. Ludlow School. It features a large abstract composition of books, hands, plants, and tools. The building also features an earlier abstract concrete relief on the fascia, sculpted by Joseph J. Greenberg, Jr. when the branch opened in 1968 — a mid-century modern work included in the Philadelphia Preservation Alliance's inventory.
What neighborhoods does the Rodriguez Library serve, and when is it open?
The branch serves Olde Kensington, Kensington South, Ludlow, Yorktown, East and West Poplar, Northern Liberties, and the Girard/Poplar corridor. Regular hours are Monday and Tuesday 10am–6pm, and Wednesday through Saturday 10am–5pm. The library is closed Sundays and on major holidays. For the latest schedule including holiday closures, visit the Free Library website.
Does the Rodriguez Library offer free programs for young children?
Yes — Toddler Storytime with Miss Chelsea runs every Friday at 11:00 am and is geared toward toddlers but can be adapted for younger and older children. The branch also hosts Junk Journal Workshops for ages 5–18, where participants use collage, drawings, photos, and embellishments to fill their own composition notebook. Check the Free Library event calendar for the full schedule.
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