Bushrod Branch Library: Free Library of Philadelphia

Bushrod Branch Library: Free Library of Philadelphia The Bushrod Library, named for Philadelphia eye surgeon and humanitarian Dr. Bushrod Washington James Keep an eye out for fun programs for children and adults!

The Bushrod Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia is located at the corner of Castor Avenue and Stirling Street. We have a sizable selection of books, magazines, DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks, and more. Our public computers and free wifi are available to anyone with a Free Library card - come get one, today! Our Literacy Enrichment After-School Program (LEAP) offers homework help. Through the Mayor's Commission on Literacy, we host ESL classes, too!
*Contact 215-474-1235 extension 229, for more information about signing up for ESL.

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day!

Bushrod Library will be closing at 1pm today, Friday, September 4, in anticipation of the Labor Day weekend.

We will be OPEN 10-5 on Saturday, September 5

Bushrod Library will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Weekend!

Teen Leadership Assistants needed! We're looking for teens who want to work with the LEAP after-school program this fal...
09/04/2026

Teen Leadership Assistants needed!
We're looking for teens who want to work with the LEAP after-school program this fall, beginning in October. Teens will help our Assistant Recreational Leader with providing homework help to kids, and creating and providing activities. This will be a paid work experience.

Please contact the library if you're interested!
phone: 215-685-1471
email: [email protected]

AUNT ORPHIA'S POUND CAKETUESDAY, AUGUST 4 4:00pmWe're looking forward to hosting Aunt Orphia's Pound Cake tomorrow in o...
08/03/2026

AUNT ORPHIA'S POUND CAKE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 4:00pm

We're looking forward to hosting Aunt Orphia's Pound Cake tomorrow in our Meeting Room downstairs. This Workshop is a great opportunity to get advice about starting your own small business - as well a sample of pound cake, from a local entrepreneur. See you there!

TOMORROW!The GEOGRAPHY LADY presents: FLAGSCome join our good friend Alycia Larson, better known as The Geography Lady, ...
07/15/2026

TOMORROW!

The GEOGRAPHY LADY presents: FLAGS

Come join our good friend Alycia Larson, better known as The Geography Lady, as we spin the globe and see where we land. This time we'll be talking about flags of the world. You've seen the flags lining the Ben Franklin Parkway, and the giant field-covering flags from the World Cup games. Now come find out what all the colors and symbols mean, and why the countries chose the flags they did. We'll be upstairs in the Bushrod Room, so you can leave your passport at home!
Thursday, July 16 - 2:30pm
Upstairs in the Bushrod Room

06/17/2026

The Free Library will close at 1 PM on Thursday 6/18 and will remain closed on Friday 6/19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Our thanks to Courtney Mitchell of "Once Upon a Nation", the Storytelling division of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., for b...
06/08/2026

Our thanks to Courtney Mitchell of "Once Upon a Nation", the Storytelling division of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., for bringing history to life at Bushrod this afternoon! With Courtney's energetic and enthusiastic storytelling style, our audience got to hear - and participate - in the lesser-known histories of Philadelphia natives, like James Forten, a young Black man who heard the Declaration of Independence proclaimed in 1776 at the age of nine, and later became a privateer during the Revolution, and Caroline LeCount, a young woman who dared to test a new law desegregating Philadelphia's streetcars - in 1867, almost a century before Rosa Parks sat down in a bus in Alabama. Thank You, Courtney and Once Upon A Nation!

Monday, June 8th4:00 pmOna Judge: Escape from the President's MansionCome learn the story of Ona Judge, a Black woman wh...
06/05/2026

Monday, June 8th
4:00 pm

Ona Judge: Escape from the President's Mansion

Come learn the story of Ona Judge, a Black woman who was enslaved by George Washington, and her daring escape to freedom here in Philadelphia. This and other stories of historic African Americans in Philadelphia will be presented by Historic Philadelphia, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to making American history relevant, real and fun.

PRIMARY ELECTION DAYTuesday, May 19, is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania, and Bushrod Library will once again serve ...
05/18/2026

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, May 19, is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania, and Bushrod Library will once again serve as a polling place. Our doors open for VOTING ONLY at 7:00am.
LIBRARY SERVICES will be offered from 11:00am to 7:00pm
VOTING continues until 8:00pm

The GEOGRAPHY LADY presents: ANTARCTICACome join our good friend Alycia Larson, better known as The Geography Lady, as s...
05/07/2026

The GEOGRAPHY LADY presents: ANTARCTICA

Come join our good friend Alycia Larson, better known as The Geography Lady, as she once again introduces us to far-off places around the globe. This time we'll be going to the southernmost continent, Antarctica. Come join the fun on Tuesday, May 12 at 4pm. Don't worry, we'll be exploring Antarctica from the comfort of the Bushrod Room, so you can leave your parka and your passport at home.

Tuesday, May 12 - 4pm
Upstairs in the Bushrod Room

Hello Friends, and Happy May Day! We have some great programs coming up this month, so we hope you’ll stop in and check...
05/01/2026

Hello Friends, and Happy May Day! We have some great programs coming up this month, so we hope you’ll stop in and check them out.

Tuesday, May 5 - 4:00pm :
The Mobile Cooking Teacher, Keisha Prosser, presents a hands-on demonstration of some easy and delicious recipes you can make at home.

Tuesday, May 12 - 4:00pm :
The Geography Lady takes us to Antarctica, one of the coolest spots on Earth, in many ways.

And as always, Mr. Frank hosts our LEAP afterschool program, featuring activities and homework help, upstairs in the children’s department every weekday. No registration required.

Come on in and join the fun!

Address

6304 Castor Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19149

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+12156851471

Website

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