Tours of the Central Library & Rare Book Department
Thursday, May 25
10 am (carpool from the Falls Library at 9:30)
Register for this morning of special tours of the Parkway Central Library – space is limited.
At 10 am, we will have a private guided tour of the Free Library’s Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. The Library opened to the public in 1927. In 2019, extensive renovations created 41,000 square feet of new public spaces.
At 11 am, we will have a tour of the Rare Book Department. One of the largest public library special collections, the Rare Book Department contains collections of illuminated manuscripts, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, Pennsylvania German fraktur, cuneiform tablets, Beatrix Potter, and the complete library of William M. Elkins.
Then at 12 noon, we can join a curator-led tour of “Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building,” the current exhibition in the 3rd floor William B. Dietrich Gallery. This features maps of real places dating from the 17th century to the present and imaginary maps from fantasy, sci fi, and graphic novels.
We can also view some of the artwork created by Philadelphians 55 + older in Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s 21st Annual “Celebrate Arts & Aging” exhibit in the 1st floor Gallery.
SPACE IS LIMITED – Register here or call or text 267-444-4507. Members only.
Parking – There is a lot directly behind the Library (enter from Callowhill between 19th and 20th Sts.) the fee is $18 for over 2 hours. Four-hour parking is available on 19th St. between Spring Garden and Vine Sts. Pay at the kiosk.
From the lot, enter the Library through the Handicapped entrance on Wood St. (behind the Library).
If you don’t wish to carpool, the #32 bus from Henry Ave. stops near the Library.