Reading Public Library
🏢 Reading Public Library · Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading Public Library
One of the oldest public libraries in the United States — tracing its roots to a subscription library founded in 1763 — Reading Public Library anchors downtown Reading from its 1913 Carnegie building at 100 S. Fifth Street, earning the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2018.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 100 S. Fifth Street, Reading, PA 19602
Phone: (610) 655-6350
Website: readingpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G683MC+CJ (Reading, PA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Reading Public Library
Reading Public Library is the district library center for Berks County and a department of the City of Reading, Pennsylvania. Its origins stretch back to 1763, when a group of Reading residents established one of the earliest English subscription libraries in the American colonies, making it among the six oldest public libraries in the United States. The current Main Library building opened in 1913 with support from Andrew Carnegie and was extensively modernized in a renovation program from 1990 to 1993. In May 2018, the Institute of Museum and Library Services honored the library with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service — the nation's highest library honor — for dynamic programming that exceeds expected levels of service. The library operates as part of the Berks County Public Libraries federation and shares the SPARK catalog with 19 member libraries, so a Reading card unlocks collections and holds across the county.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1763 as a subscription library — one of the six oldest public library lineages in the United States
- 1913 Carnegie-funded Main Library building, renovated 1990-1993, in the heart of downtown Reading
- National Medal for Museum and Library Service recipient (May 2018), the highest honor in U.S. librarianship
- Pennsylvania Room on the 3rd floor: Berks County genealogy, Reading Eagle microfilm & digital archives (1989–present), cemetery/census/church records and Civil War regimental histories
- US Passport acceptance facility (by appointment) with on-site passport photos, Museum & Local Attraction passes, and a Library of Things
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Reading cardholders can download, stream and research free through Pennsylvania's shared collections:
📚 Services
- US Passport acceptance facility (appointment required; on-site passport photos $15)
- Pennsylvania Room: local history & genealogy research (Fri 12–4:30pm, Sat 9:30am–4pm)
- Reading Eagle digital archive access (Oct 1989–present) and microfilm
- Library of Things item lending
- Museum & Local Attraction passes (free family passes)
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Free genealogy account access (no library card required)
- Northstar Digital Literacy on-demand computer training
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
🎸 Programs
- ESL classes (English as a Second Language) — morning and evening sessions, taught in English & Spanish
- Free Spanish classes for adults
- Computer classes for beginners (offered in English & Spanish)
- Book clubs: Main Library Book Club, For the Culture Book Club (authors of color), Northeast Book Club
- Children's storytimes and summer reading challenges
- Hybrid yoga classes (Saturdays)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Berks County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Reading · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Reading Public Library, and why is it historically significant?
Reading Public Library traces its roots to 1763, when Reading residents founded one of the earliest English subscription libraries in the colonial-era United States — making it among the six oldest public library lineages in the country. The current Main Library building at 100 S. Fifth Street opened in 1913 with an Andrew Carnegie grant and was thoroughly renovated between 1990 and 1993. In 2018, the library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the highest honor in U.S. librarianship.
What genealogy and local-history resources are in the Pennsylvania Room?
The Pennsylvania Room, on the 3rd floor of the Main Library, specializes in Berks County and City of Reading history and genealogy. Holdings include cemetery, census and church records, civil war regimental histories, county and township histories, family histories, historical maps, archived telephone directories, and Reading Eagle microfilm plus digital archives covering October 1989 to the present. The room is open Friday 12–4:30 pm and Saturday 9:30 am–4 pm; staff are on hand to assist, and remote inquiries can be sent to reference@readingpubliclibrary.org.
Can I apply for a US passport at the Reading Public Library?
Yes — the Main Library is a passport acceptance facility. Appointments are required and available Monday–Tuesday 10 am–6 pm, Wednesday–Friday 10 am–5 pm, and Saturday 9:30 am–3:30 pm. Bring proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, a passport photo (available on-site for $15), and two separate payments: a check or money order to the U.S. Department of State plus a $35 execution fee to the library. All applicants, including children, must appear in person.
Does a Reading Public Library card work at other Berks County libraries?
Yes. Reading Public Library is the district library center for Berks County and a member of the Berks County Public Libraries federation. The 19-member system shares the SPARK catalog, so one card lets you borrow, place holds and pick up materials at participating libraries across the county. You can search the shared catalog at berks.sparkpa.org.
🛂 This library offers U.S. passport services. See how library passport acceptance works — requirements, fees and appointments — and find other passport acceptance libraries by state.
🎨 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 lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
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