Parkway Central Library — Attraction in Philadelphia

As a tourist exploring the wonderful city, I had the pleasure of visiting Parkway Central Library, and it turned out to be a delightful experience overall. The library is a gem, and the exhibition on the last floor, "Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building," was an absolute treat for any creative mind.

The exhibition showcased a fascinating collection of world-building art that captivated my imagination. From intricate fantasy maps to mind-bending sci-fi landscapes, the curation was exceptional and allowed me to delve into the minds of brilliant artists. It's truly a must-see for anyone who loves to immerse themselves in the wonders of creativity and imagination.

Parkway Central Library offers a plethora of services and activities, making it an invaluable resource for both locals and tourists alike. The diverse range of offerings, from literature to technology, truly reflects the library's commitment to enriching the community and encouraging knowledge exploration.

However, there were a couple of unfortunate incidents that marred my otherwise positive experience. One such instance was with a security personnel who was stationed within the library. When I approached him with a question, his behavior was shockingly rude and unprofessional. It made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, which was disappointing given the library's overall reputation for being a welcoming place.

Furthermore, at the library's entrance, I encountered a lady who made fun of my accent. While I understand that not everyone may be accustomed to interacting with people from different places, it was disheartening to face such mockery. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, regardless of where they come from.

Despite these unfortunate encounters with the security and the lady at the entrance, I want to emphasize that Parkway Central Library itself is a fantastic institution. The exhibition, the vast array of services, and the welcoming atmosphere are testaments to the city's good fortune in having such a valuable resource.

I hope that these incidents are addressed and that the library continues to be a place where everyone feels genuinely welcome. Let's strive for an environment that embraces diversity and fosters positive interactions. Overall, I would still recommend visiting Parkway Central Library and exploring its treasures, just be mindful of potential encounters with unkind...

I love coming here by myself! The rare book room is always open to walk around both the rotating exhibits and the usual exhibits. My favorites are the Oliver Twist and Edgar Allan Poe tables. They even have Dickens’ Raven, Grip! There is also a huge selection of books and small gallery exhibits on every floor. The libraries at checkout are also always really friendly and helpful.

However, I would not recommend this location for a school trip or if you have a group of kids. I tried taking my students here a couple years ago for the Jason Reynolds’ author talk, thinking that they could browse the kids/young adult room for a short time before we went to the auditorium. The kids’ room was closed, despite there being an event for kids/teens that day (the author talk). Librarians and customers were not happy about the kids being in the general sections of the library. A librarian got upset that a kid took a book off the shelf, an old man (not a librarian) flipped out on an 8th grader and called security because he thought a kid was too close to his computer. We got asked to leave the room. I get that adults who are there to study or get work done might not want to necessarily be around a school group; however, I feel like my kids were discouraged from looking around, which sort of defeated half the purpose of the trip. I’m sure they had a reason for why they closed the kid/teen room, but I feel like in that case they should have provided an alternative space with simple card games and word searches or something for the school groups to do instead before the author talk. I know some time has passed and I’m not even sure they do the teen book talks anymore, but something for them to consider if they have one again.

So great location as an adult who loves literature and reading (5 stars!) but for large groups of kids/school groups, you might want to try a smaller branch that is more geared towards kids’ activities (2 stars for school group trip...

This is a BEAUTIFUL Library and kind of a snail museum as well! I was so impressed the first time I came here and got lost! There’s still multiple parts of the library that I have yet to explore !

This library also constantly has a lot of events going on like free professional headshots once a month, a sewing/knitting club, and all kinds of other groups and activities.

MY COMPLAINTS:

1,

Most of the staff are friendly and helpful but I took off a star because there are a few that are really not understanding that many that come there are HOUSELESS and need to use a computer or the electricity for charging devices and can’t always “step out” to make phone calls at the same time.

And 2,

The bathrooms can also be a bit messy and unclean so I took off a star due to those complaints.

Other than that, you can use your same FREE LIBRARY CARD with this library same as any other public library in Philadelphia. Most of the staff will EXTEND the computer times if you need extra time and perhaps help with a courtesy print if you’re really strapped for cash.

I find I’m able to hide in here a bit and still find some space for myself no matter how many people are there. There is also a really cool Rooftop on the top floor.

It’s usually kept quiet in the departments, the best area if you need to be able to use your phone or want to make sound is the HALLWAY with all the computers on the 2nd floor where there is 2 laptop work area stations on the end as well.

This library offers a lot of material and functions as a library...