List of public libraries in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Last updated

System office in Middletown Township DelCo Library System HQ.jpg
System office in Middletown Township

There are 30 public libraries in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Delaware County Libraries is a federation of 26 library organizations, with 28 branches. [1] The law library in the county courthouse is not a member of the county system, but its holdings are listed in the system catalog. The Upper Chichester Library is also located in the county but not part of the system.

The libraries in the county system are mostly independent non-profit organizations which are funded by local municipalities, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the county system, and from donations. Some of the libraries in the system are municipal entities. A library card from any library in the system is valid at all other libraries in the system and at most libraries in the state. [2] [1]

The county system serves 550,000 residents with a collection of 1,400,000 volumes. 2,150,000 items circulate per year. [3]

NameImageFoundedBuiltLocationDescription
Aston Public Library Aston Community Center And Library 3000px.jpg 1977c.19853270 Concord Road, Aston
39°52′03″N75°25′15″W / 39.8676°N 75.4209°W / 39.8676; -75.4209 (Aston Public Library)
In the community center
Collingdale Public Library Collingdale DelCo PA Public Library.jpg 823 MacDade Blvd. Collingdale
39°54′41″N75°16′43″W / 39.9115°N 75.2786°W / 39.9115; -75.2786 (Collingdale Public Library)
Darby Free Library Darby Free Library PA from W.jpg 174318721001 Main Street, Darby
39°55′13″N75°15′47″W / 39.9202°N 75.2631°W / 39.9202; -75.2631 (Darby Free Library)
Organized March 10, 1743 by 29 Quakers as a subscription library. First 45 books arrived from England on November 5, 1743, [4] In 1898 the library became free and open to the public. [5] [6] [7]
Folcroft Public Library Folcroft DelCo PA Public Library.jpg 194019731725 Delmar Drive, Folcroft
39°53′39″N75°16′44″W / 39.8941°N 75.2789°W / 39.8941; -75.2789 (Folcroft Library)
Glenolden Library Glenolden Library DelCo PA.jpg 18941939211 S. Llanwellyn Ave., Glenolden
39°54′00″N75°17′34″W / 39.8999°N 75.2927°W / 39.8999; -75.2927 (Glenolden)
Haverford Township Free Library Haverford Public Library DelCo PA.jpg 19341601 Darby Road, Havertown 39°58′53″N75°18′18″W / 39.9815°N 75.3049°W / 39.9815; -75.3049 (Haverford Township)
Helen Kate Furness Library HK Furness Library.JPG 19021916100 N. Providence Road, Wallingford
39°54′16″N75°22′29″W / 39.9045°N 75.3748°W / 39.9045; -75.3748 (Furness Free Library:landmark_region:US-PA)
Founded to honor Shakespearean scholar Horace Howard Furness. He later endowed the library with $5,000 on the condition that it be named for his wife. Located on his former estate Lindenshade.
J. Lewis Crozer Library Crozer Library Chester PA DelCo.jpg 17691877 (1st building)
1976 (current building)
620 Engle Street, Chester
39°50′16″N75°23′15″W / 39.83783°N 75.3875°W / 39.83783; -75.3875 (J. Lewis Crozer Library)
Founded February 14, 1769. Operated, with hiatuses during the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, until 1871 when it was reorganized. Renamed Crozer Library in 1925. The current building, a former branch, is in Veterans Memorial Park. [8] [9]
Judge Francis J. Catania Law Library – Delaware County Courthouse Delaware Co PA Courthouse.JPG 18511933 (4th floor of courthouse)201 West Front Street, Media
39°55′11″N75°23′30″W / 39.9197°N 75.3917°W / 39.9197; -75.3917 (Delaware County Courthouse)
In the courthouse and open to the public, but very limited circulation
Lansdowne Public Library Lansdowne PA Public Library.jpg 1898198255 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne,
39°56′11″N75°16′18″W / 39.9365°N 75.2716°W / 39.9365; -75.2716 (Lansdowne Public Library)
Marple Public Library Marple Public Library DelCo PA.jpg 2599 Sproul Rd., Broomall
39°58′29″N75°21′48″W / 39.9747°N 75.3633°W / 39.9747; -75.3633 (Marple Public Library)
In the municipal building
Mary M. Campbell Marcus Hook Public Library Marcus Hook PA Boro Hall 1.jpg 10th & Green, Marcus Hook
39°49′10″N75°25′07″W / 39.8194°N 75.4187°W / 39.8194; -75.4187 (Marcus Hook)
In the borough hall
Media-Upper Providence Free Library Media Public Library new DelCo PA.jpg 190120161 E. Front Street, Media
39°55′08″N75°23′20″W / 39.9190°N 75.3889°W / 39.9190; -75.3889 (Media Free Library)
Middletown Free Library
Front Entrance Bike Rack Roof.jpg
Front Entrance
19562021464 S. Old Middletown Rd. Suite 3, Media, PA 19063Attached to the community center. Main entrance at larger parking lot facing the fire station.
Newtown Public Library Newtown Twp and Library.jpg 19742003201 Bishop Hollow Rd., Newtown Square
39°58′50″N75°24′28″W / 39.9806°N 75.4079°W / 39.9806; -75.4079 (Newtown Public Library)
Adjoins the township office
Norwood Public Library Norwood Public Library DelCo PA.jpg 19251951513 Welcome Ave., Norwood
39°53′27″N75°18′07″W / 39.8909°N 75.3019°W / 39.8909; -75.3019 (Norwood Public Library)
Prospect Park Free Library Prospect Park Free Library DelCo PA.jpg 1923720 Maryland Ave., Prospect Park
39°53′17″N75°18′30″W / 39.8881°N 75.3084°W / 39.8881; -75.3084 (Prospect Park Free Library)
Rachel Kohl Community Library Rachel Kolh Library DelCo PAjpg.jpg 19791989687 Smithbridge Road, Glen Mills
39°52′02″N75°30′48″W / 39.8673°N 75.5133°W / 39.8673; -75.5133 (Rachel Kohl Library)
Radnor Memorial Library Radnor Public Library construction DelCo PA.jpg 19401980167 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne
40°02′34″N75°23′20″W / 40.0429°N 75.3890°W / 40.0429; -75.3890 (Radnor Memorial Library)
Ridley Park Public Library Ridley Park Library DelCo PA.jpg 1888 [10] 1912107 East Ward Street, Ridley Park
39°52′51″N75°19′24″W / 39.8808°N 75.3232°W / 39.8808; -75.3232 (Ridley Park Public Library)
A Carnegie Library
Ridley Township Public Library Ridley Township PA Municipal Building and Library Front.jpg 19571971100 East MacDade Blvd., Folsom
39°53′10″N75°19′45″W / 39.8862°N 75.3291°W / 39.8862; -75.3291 (Ridley Township Library)
In the Municipal Building
Sharon Hill Sharon Hill DelCo PA Public Library.jpg 246 Sharon Ave., Sharon Hill
39°54′24″N75°16′21″W / 39.9067°N 75.2724°W / 39.9067; -75.2724 (Sharon Hill Library)
Springfield Township Library Springfield Township Public Library DelCo PA.jpg 70 Powell Road, Springfield
39°55′51″N75°19′48″W / 39.9307°N 75.3299°W / 39.9307; -75.3299 (Springfield Township Library)
Next to the Municipal Building
Swarthmore Public Library Swarthmore PA Library n Municipal Building.jpg 19291951121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore
39°54′05″N75°20′54″W / 39.9015°N 75.3484°W / 39.9015; -75.3484 (Swarthmore Public Library)
In the municipal building
Tinicum Memorial Public Library Tinicum Library DelCo PA.jpg 620 Seneca St., Essington
39°52′07″N75°17′36″W / 39.8686°N 75.2932°W / 39.8686; -75.2932 (Tinicum Memorial Public Library)
Upper Chichester Library Upper Chichester Library DelCo PA.jpg 20013374 Chichester Ave. #19, Boothwyn
39°50′13″N75°26′35″W / 39.8369°N 75.4430°W / 39.8369; -75.4430 (Upper Chichester Library)
Small township-supported library in a shopping mall across from Chichester High School. Not part of the County Library system [11]
Upper Darby Township/Sellers Library – Main Sellers Branch Abe Pennock House old Sellers Library Upper Darby DelCo PA.jpg 1931197576 South State Rd., Upper Darby
39°57′44″N75°16′24″W / 39.9623°N 75.2733°W / 39.9623; -75.2733 (Main Sellers Branch Library)
Sellers library founded in 1934 and merged with the municipal library in 1935. Sellers moved into the historic Hoodland house in 1935, with a large modern style building built and connected to the house in 1975. [12]
Upper Darby Township/Sellers Library – Municipal Branch Upper Darby Public Library DelCo PA.jpg 501 Bywood Ave., Upper Darby
39°57′33″N75°15′59″W / 39.9592°N 75.2665°W / 39.9592; -75.2665 (Sellers Municipal Branch Library)
Upper Darby Township/Sellers Library – Primos Branch Upper Darby Public Library Primos Branch DelCo PA.jpg 409 Ashland Ave., Primos
39°55′07″N75°18′18″W / 39.9186°N 75.3051°W / 39.9186; -75.3051 (Upper Darby Primos Branch Library)
Yeadon Public Library Yeadon Public Library PA.jpg 809 Longacre Blvd., Yeadon
39°56′10″N75°15′04″W / 39.9362°N 75.2511°W / 39.9362; -75.2511 (Middletown Free Library)

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Libraries". Delaware County Libraries. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  2. See, e.g. Aston Public Library's annual report, "Aston Public Library - 2015" (PDF). Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  3. Breeding, Marshall. "Delaware County Library System". Libraries.org. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. "History of Darby Library". Darby Free Library. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  5. Serrill, Kate W. (1908). "A Sketch of the Darby Library Company". Pennsylvania Library and Museum Notes, Volumes 1-8. Pennsylvania. Free Library Commission. p. 68.
  6. Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the OLDEST of them all…?, Sturgis Library
  7. Bello, Marisol (February 2, 2009). "Country's oldest public library could close this year". USA Today . Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  8. "Crozer Library's History". Crozer Library. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  9. Martin, John Hill (1877). Chester (and Its Vicinity,) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania. W. H. Pile & Sons. p. 450. ISBN   9785871484241 . Retrieved August 15, 2017.{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  10. Lockhart, Keith (1987). Ridley Park Centennial: 1887 - 1987.
  11. "About Us". Upper Chichester Library. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  12. "About". Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Libraries. Retrieved September 24, 2017.