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Free Library of Philadelphia Review
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Free Library of Philadelphia
Libraries, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Fodor's Review:
Philadelphia calls its vast public-library system the Fabulous Freebie. Founded in 1891, the central library has more than 1 million volumes. With its grand entrance hall, sweeping marble staircase, and enormous reading rooms, this Greek Revival building looks the way libraries should. With more than 12,000 musical scores, the Edwin S. Fleisher collection is the largest of its kind in the world. Tormented by a tune whose name you can't recall? Hum it to one of the music room's librarians, and he or she will track it down. The department of social science and history has nearly 100,000 charts, maps, and guidebooks. The rare-book room is a beautiful suite housing first editions of Dickens, ancient Sumerian clay tablets, illuminated medieval manuscripts, and more modern manuscripts, including Poe's "The Raven." The children's department houses the city's largest collection of children's books in a made-for-kids setting.
INFO
- Address: 19th St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Logan Circle, Philadelphia, PA
- Phone: 215/686-5322
- Web site
- Cost: Free
- Open: Mon.-Wed. 9-9, Thurs.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 1-5; closed Sun. late May-Sept.; tours of rare book room weekdays at 11
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