Whether you're looking for a new direction, education, or a fun diversion, our Library programs can help you take the first step. We offer something special for every age and interest.

    • Adult Education Classes

      Get your High School Equivalency or improve your English.
      Adults

    • Author Events

      Your ticket to meeting the authors you enjoy.
      Adults

    • Book Bike

      The Book Bikes provide mobile outreach services to schools, to community organizations, and at events throughout the city.
      Adults

    • Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries

      The Free Library is in the midst of the Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative, a transformational project to reimagine and reshape neighborhood libraries to meet the changing needs of today's library customers. Learn more about our current projects.

    • Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC)

      Whether you are an emerging entrepreneur or an established small business owner, the Business Resource and Innovation Center is here for you!
      Adults

    • Business Resources

      Whether you are running a successful company, thinking of growing your business, or just planning your first venture: start here.
      Adults

    • Central Senior Services

      Parkway Central offers a variety of programs to help you thrive at any age.
      Adults

    • City Services

      Philadelphia's government right at your fingertips.

    • Computer Classes

      View upcoming computer classes throughout the city.
      Adults Teens

    • Conferences

      Current and past conferences hosted by the library
      Adults Teens

    • Culinary Literacy

      We offer culinary literacy programs for children, teens, adults, and families. Come hungry for knowledge!
      Adults Teens Children Families

    • Databases

      Use our subscription databases to find citations and full text articles, as well as access our Digital Media and Digital Learning portals. You can filter database results by Subject and / or Audience, as well as alphabetically. If you're outside the library, you may need to enter your library card number and PIN in order to access the selected database.
      Children

    • Digital Collections

      Our Digital Collections portal currently houses over 40,000 digital images, from automotives and fine arts to children's literature and historical images of Philadelphia—there's something for everyone!
      Adults

    • Early Literacy

      Learn how to bring books and literacy into the lives of young children.
      Children

    • Edible Alphabet

      Learn the English language and literacy skills through hands-on cooking projects.
      Adults

    • Exhibitions

      The Free Library is home to a wide variety of special exhibitions, which showcase the important, unique, and rare items in its collections.
      Adults Teens Children Families

    • Field Family Teen Author Series

      Your class reads a book, then meets the author at the Library.
      Teens

    • Framing Fraktur

      Join the Free Library in exploring traditional Pennsylvania German folk art and its relationship to contemporary art.

    • Government Publications

      Parkway Central offers access to federal, state, and local government publications, with professionally-trained librarians who can answer your reference questions and help you find the materials you need.
      Adults

    • Homebound Services

      Let the Library come to you.
      Adults

    • Hot Spots

      Bringing computer classes and access to the latest software, technological resources, and the internet to neighborhood community centers throughout Philadelphia.
      Adults Teens

    • Interlibrary Loan

      Borrow a book from anywhere in the United States.
      Adults Teens

    • Job Seekers

      Want to change your line of work, find a new job, learn core skills, or get that crucial first job? The Free Library of Philadelphia can help you take the next step.
      Adults Teens

    • Kids

      Resources for children ages 12 and under and their families, including our Digital Learning Portal, Overdrive Kid's eReading Room, Homework Help Online, LEAP Programing, storytimes, and other fun-filled events.
      Children

    • Languages and Learning Center

      The Languages and Learning Center offers relevant and engaging programs and resources for Adult Basic Education, English-language learning, world languages, and digital literacy.
      Adults

    • Literacy Enrichment After-School Program (LEAP)

      Visit the library for homework help, computer assistance, and special programs.
      Children Teens

    • Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP)

      LAMP circulates over 1.5 million titles in accessible formats like digital & braille, large print and audio described DVD's to Pennsylvanians.

    • Literacy in Early Learning Spaces

      Literacy in Early Learning Spaces is a three-year project focused on literacy and language development in children from birth through 5 years old.
      Children

    • Map Overlay Tool

      Our interactive map tool allows for you to explore selected historical maps and digital images overlaid on current maps from Google.

    • New Americans

      The Free Library has materials and services to help you as you get settled in Philadelphia.
      Adults

    • One Book, One Philadelphia

      Join your neighbors to read and discuss the same book, the 2023 One Book, One Philadelphia featured selection, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu.
      Adults Teens Children

    • Paschalville Partnership & Job Readiness Lab

      The Paschalville Partnership works with the Free Library as a hub for job seekers by bringing together a broad array of community and city partners in support of Southwest Philadelphia residents.
      Adults Teens

    • Passport Resources and Information

      Learn how to apply for and obtain a Passport.
      Adults Teens Children Families

    • Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC)

      Find information to protect your invention or business brand through patents and trademarks.
      Adults Teens Children Families

    • Philadelphia Poet Laureate Program

      The Poet Laureate is a civic position that recognizes an exceptional poet who also demonstrates a commitment to the power of poetry to engage and inspire people throughout Philadelphia's neighborhoods.
      Adults Teens Families

    • Podcasts

      The Free Library Podcast is an easy way to listen to and watch our Author Events and lectures series that take place at Parkway Central Library.

    • Prison and Re-entry Services

      Offering literacy-based resources to help bring together families separated by incarceration.
      Adults

    • Rare Book Department

      Among the largest in American public libraries, the Rare Book Department exists to serve the people of Philadelphia, as well as the students, scholars, and researchers who use its collections.
      Adults

    • Read by 4th

      Read by 4th is a citywide effort of over 80 organizations, public and private, large and small, convened and managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia, aiming to increase the number of students in Philadelphia reading on grade-level by the time they reach 4th grade.
      Children

    • Read, Baby, Read

      Read, Baby, Read is a Free Library initiative focused on encouraging early literacy development among infants and young toddlers under two years old. We work with 12 participating libraries across Philadelphia to reach caregivers of all ages, providing resources that support early literacy skills, language development, and purposeful play.
      Children

    • Reading Olympics

      Kids team up for an exciting competition.
      Children

    • Reproduction Services

      Request high-resolution images from our collections, for both commercial and noncommercial use.
      Adults

    • Regional Foundation Center

      Get help with nonprofit grantseeking, fundraising, and proposal writing.
      Adults

    • School Partnerships

      The Free Library of Philadelphia is always looking for ways to connect teachers, students, and their schools to our amazing resources and form lasting partnerships that support the literacy engagement of K-12 students in Philadelphia.
      Teens Children

    • The Rosenbach

      The Rosenbach, which officially merged with the Free Library in 2013, is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of rare books, manuscripts, and art. Both an exhibiting museum and library, it invites the public to explore those collections through exhibitions, programs, and more.

    • Science in the Summer

      Children learn about science through hands-on experience.
      Children

    • Special Collections

      Our special collections make accessible historic materials, provide reliable and knowledgeable research services, and offer instructional programs that promote understanding of our shared cultural heritage.

    • Summer Reading and Online Reading Challenges

      Fill your summer with reading, games, and creativity! Sign up for online reading challenges all year round.
      Adults Teens Children

    • Sundays on Stage

      Discover new cultures through dances, stories, and songs by renowned performers.
      Families

    • Teens

      From crafts to college prep, from movie screenings to film making, the Free Library has it all for teens!
      Teens

    • Traveling Treasures

      Traveling Treasures is the Rare Book Department’s first, hands-on traveling special collection.
      Teens Children

    • Volunteer Services

      Volunteering at the Free Library of Philadelphia can be rewarding and fun. We have opportunities at Central Library and our neighborhood branches throughout the city!
      Adults Teens

    • Wireless Access

      Learn more about wireless networking at the Free Library.