Free Library of Philadelphia

Museums & Libraries Parkway Museums District

The Free Library of Philadelphia system, with 54 locations and The Rosenbach, advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity with millions of digital and physical materials; 31,000 yearly programs and workshops; free public computers and extensive Wi-Fi; and rich special collections, including those at the Parkway Central Library and The Rosenbach. With more than 5 million in-person visits and 5 million more online annually, the Free Library and The Rosenbach are among the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and boast a worldwide impact.

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The Free Library of Philadelphia offers visitors two types of FREE tours of our historic library. Historic Building Tour Monday and Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday 2:00 p.m. Please meet in the main First Floor lobby of Parkway Central. Explore the grand Beaux-Arts building of Parkway Central Library, an important part of Philadelphia’s past and present that opened in 1927 on the Benjamin ... Franklin Parkway. The specialized tour showcases unique architecture and history, while covering the many collections and services that make the Free Library of Philadelphia such a valuable and critical resource in the city. The Rare Book Tour Monday-Saturday 11:00am Please meet us on the Third Floor of Parkway Central Library. Learn more about the history of the Rare Book Department and see some of our unique holdings up close! Our Rare Book Department stewards a world-class collection covering 6,000 years of human history, from cuneiform tablets to contemporary works. The Department offers rotating exhibitions, and a reading room available for use by scholars and the public alike.

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