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Monday 11am - 7pm Tuesday 11am - 7pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

Walnut Street West Library (Free Library of Philadelphia)

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Walnut Street West Library (Free Library of Philadelphia)

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Serving West & Southwest Philly since 1895! After expanding to 5 rooms, the branch moved to the Hamilton School Building, 4105-09 Chestnut Street on May 1901.

Support us here: www.wswlibraryfriends.org

The Walnut Street West Branch opened on May 28, 1895, making it the fifth Philadelphia Public Library branch. It was housed in a suite of three rooms on the first floor of the West Philadelphia Institute at 40th and Ludlow Streets, and became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on January 1, 1896. The branch was known as the West Philadelphia branch at this time. The building Walnut Street West is currently housed in opened to the public on June 26, 1906. It was the first of thirty libraries funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie and was built at a cost of $80,387.68 on land donated by Clarence Clark, a West Philadelphia banker. Mr. Clark’s will deeded the land to the city "in perpetuity" as long as a library sat on it. During the first year of operation, 79,683 books were borrowed from the branch. A lecture hall seating 300 people was part of the lower level. In 1960, the branch added air conditioning and moved the public entrance to Walnut Street. From 1998 to 2004, the library was housed in temporary quarters at 3927 Walnut Street as the facility underwent a complete renovation, adding a second level and making use of “green” environmentally-friendly materials and technology. The entrance was then moved again to the original location on 40th Street. A mural of West Philadelphia scenes by artist Paul Santoleri now welcomes visitors.

10/31/2026

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 4:30 P.M.

Join the Wagner Free Institute of Science as they visit and teach us all about fossils. They will bring specimens for us to view as well!

10/27/2026

Ready to level up your career? 💼 Join our weekly Career Club to build skills, strengthen your resume, and prepare for your next opportunity—every Wednesday!

10/27/2026

10/26/2026

Love cooking, chatting about food, and exploring new recipes? Join the Walnut Street West Library’s Cookbook Club! Each month, we cook from a selected book, share delicious dishes, and swap culinary ideas. Registration is required.

For November, we’ll be cooking from Big Vegan Flavor: Techniques and 150 Recipes to Master Vegan Cooking by Nisha Vora. Click the sign up link below for more details!
Sign up at the link: https://forms.gle/cpLe43TqtE5ECi8o7

10/24/2026

We're gearing up for the start of Dinovember! Walnut Street West has a series of programs for you to enjoy, and celebrate dinosaurs all November long!

Dinovember Dinosaur Crafts
Mondays, November 2, 9. 16, 23 & 30 at 4:00 P.M.
Join LEAP after school every Monday in November and celebrate Dinovember with crafts! Each week we’ll make a different dinosaur themed craft and share dino books from our collection. These crafts are geared towards kids in grades K-5, but younger kids may be able to enjoy them with the help of a caregiver.

Learn About Fossils with the Wagner Free Institute of Science
Tue, November 3, 2026 at 4:30 P.M.
Join the Wagner Free Institute of Science as they visit and teach us all about fossils. They will bring specimens for us to view as well!

T-Rex Tea Party
Sat, November 21, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
Celebrate the mighty T-Rex in Dinovember! Join us for a dinosaur themed storytime followed by activities and snacks with herbal tea. Meet and take your picture with the Mighty T-Rex! For children ages 11 and under and their families. Children ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Movie Matinee: Jurassic Park
Sat, November 28, 2026 at 2:00 P.M.
Take a break and come enjoy a showing of the 1993 film Jurassic Park! Refreshments will be provided. This program is open to all ages, but parents and caregivers, please note the film is rated PG-13.

Click the link for a list of Dinovember programs throughout the Free Library System! https://tinyurl.com/FLPDinovember

10/23/2026

Join us at Walnut Street West Library for NaNoWriMo @ the Library 📝📖
A month of Monday word sprints, Saturday author masterclasses, and a special publishing workshop to help you take your writing from idea to the page.

Mondays, 5-6:30pm (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th)
Prompted Word Sprints: Guided prompts and timed sprints to get words on the page.
Saturdays, 1-3pm (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)
Author Masterclasses: Writing advice and craft conversations with Philly authors.
Saturday, November 28th, 3-4:30pm
Finish Your Book & Get It Published: Practical publishing guidance with Publishing.

📍 Walnut Street West Library
201 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA

**All writers welcome. All experience levels. Free to attend.**

Come write with us! 🖤❤️

10/21/2026

Join our new After School Leader, Liron (they/them), to create spooky masks, just in time for Halloween! 👻🎃

For students grades K-6th

10/19/2026

Hunt Ghosts this week at Walnut Street West Library!👻👻👻

10/18/2026

Come to the first meeting of the Q***r Crying Club, a monthly Q***r peer-support group for grief of all kinds.

Saturday, October 24th at 4pm. Follow on Instagram for updates and details.

Address

201 S 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA
19104

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 7pm
Tuesday	11am - 7pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12156857671

Website

https://linktr.ee/walnutstwest, https://forms.gle/RwUHbdM5pvLcsNCe9

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