Many of you have checked out books or taken your kids for activities to the Walnut Street West Library at the corner of 40th and Walnut. This Saturday, the library is celebrating its 110th anniversary, and this is a perfect opportunity to visit on this special day – to thank the staff for all the work they’ve been doing and to celebrate with them.

A lot of fun activities are being planned throughout the day, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., for children, adults, and families, such as live music and singing performances, storytimes, chess coaching, salsa and zumba classes, cake, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sampling, and more.

Library and city officials will also speak at the event. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will read a resolution from City Council, followed by remarks and cake at 2 p.m.

The party will take place rain or shine, with activities outside as weather permits. For more information and event and activities schedule, visit the Friends of Walnut Street West Library website.

The Walnut Street West Library serves the communities of University City and Spruce Hill and is one of the most used Free Library of Philadelphia branches. 

And here’s a little bit of history:

The original library opened in 1895 and was housed in three rooms on the first floor of the West Philadelphia Institute at 40th and Ludlow streets. It became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on January 1, 1896. The current location, which opened to the public on June 26, 1906, was the first library funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie on land donated by Clarence Clark, a West Philadelphia banker and Clark Park namesake.

By the way, did you know that the library’s public entrance at one point was moved to Walnut Street? It happened in 1960. In 2004, the building was fully renovated and the entrance was restored to its original location on 40th Street.