List of public libraries in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

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.

System office in Middletown Township

The libraries in the county system are independent non-profit organizations which are funded by local municipalities, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the county system, and from donations. 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]

Name Image Founded Built Location Description
Aston Public Library 1977 c.1985 3270 Concord Road, Aston
39°52′03″N 75°25′15″W / 39.8676°N 75.4209°W / 39.8676; -75.4209 (Aston Public Library)
In the community center
Collingdale Public Library 823 MacDade Blvd. Collingdale
39°54′41″N 75°16′43″W / 39.9115°N 75.2786°W / 39.9115; -75.2786 (Collingdale Public Library)
Darby Free Library 1743 1872 1001 Main Street, Darby
39°55′13″N 75°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 1940 1973 1725 Delmar Drive, Folcroft
39°53′39″N 75°16′44″W / 39.8941°N 75.2789°W / 39.8941; -75.2789 (Folcroft Library)
Glenolden Library 1894 1939 211 S. Llanwellyn Ave., Glenolden
39°54′00″N 75°17′34″W / 39.8999°N 75.2927°W / 39.8999; -75.2927 (Glenolden)
Haverford Township Free Library 1934 1601 Darby Road, Havertown 39°58′53″N 75°18′18″W / 39.9815°N 75.3049°W / 39.9815; -75.3049 (Haverford Township)
Helen Kate Furness Library 1902 1916 100 N. Providence Road, Wallingford
39°54′16″N 75°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 1769 1877 (1st building)
1976 (current building)
620 Engle Street, Chester
39°50′16″N 75°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 1851 1933 (4th floor of courthouse) 201 West Front Street, Media
39°55′11″N 75°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 1898 1982 55 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne,
39°56′11″N 75°16′18″W / 39.9365°N 75.2716°W / 39.9365; -75.2716 (Lansdowne Public Library)
Marple Public Library 2599 Sproul Rd., Broomall
39°58′29″N 75°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 10th & Green, Marcus Hook
39°49′10″N 75°25′07″W / 39.8194°N 75.4187°W / 39.8194; -75.4187 (Marcus Hook)
In the borough hall
Media-Upper Providence Free Library 1901 2016 1 E. Front Street, Media
39°55′08″N 75°23′20″W / 39.9190°N 75.3889°W / 39.9190; -75.3889 (Media Free Library)
Middletown Free Library 1956 21 N. Pennell Road, Lima
39°54′49″N 75°26′21″W / 39.9137°N 75.4393°W / 39.9137; -75.4393 (Middletown Free Library)
Newtown Public Library 1974 2003 201 Bishop Hollow Rd., Newtown Square
39°58′50″N 75°24′28″W / 39.9806°N 75.4079°W / 39.9806; -75.4079 (Newtown Public Library)
Adjoins the township office
Norwood Public Library 1925 1951 513 Welcome Ave., Norwood
39°53′27″N 75°18′07″W / 39.8909°N 75.3019°W / 39.8909; -75.3019 (Norwood Public Library)
Prospect Park Free Library 1923 720 Maryland Ave., Prospect Park
39°53′17″N 75°18′30″W / 39.8881°N 75.3084°W / 39.8881; -75.3084 (Prospect Park Free Library)
Rachel Kohl Community Library 1979 1989 687 Smithbridge Road, Glen Mills
39°52′02″N 75°30′48″W / 39.8673°N 75.5133°W / 39.8673; -75.5133 (Rachel Kohl Library)
Radnor Memorial Library 1940 1980 167 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne
40°02′34″N 75°23′20″W / 40.0429°N 75.3890°W / 40.0429; -75.3890 (Radnor Memorial Library)
Ridley Park Public Library 1888[10] 1912 107 East Ward Street, Ridley Park
39°52′51″N 75°19′24″W / 39.8808°N 75.3232°W / 39.8808; -75.3232 (Ridley Park Public Library)
A Carnegie Library
Ridley Township Public Library 1957 1971 100 East MacDade Blvd., Folsom
39°53′10″N 75°19′45″W / 39.8862°N 75.3291°W / 39.8862; -75.3291 (Ridley Township Library)
In the Municipal Building
Sharon Hill 246 Sharon Ave., Sharon Hill
39°54′24″N 75°16′21″W / 39.9067°N 75.2724°W / 39.9067; -75.2724 (Sharon Hill Library)
Springfield Township Library 70 Powell Road, Springfield
39°55′51″N 75°19′48″W / 39.9307°N 75.3299°W / 39.9307; -75.3299 (Springfield Township Library)
Next to the Municipal Building
Swarthmore Public Library 1929 1951 121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore
39°54′05″N 75°20′54″W / 39.9015°N 75.3484°W / 39.9015; -75.3484 (Swarthmore Public Library)
In the municipal building
Tinicum Memorial Public Library 620 Seneca St., Essington
39°52′07″N 75°17′36″W / 39.8686°N 75.2932°W / 39.8686; -75.2932 (Tinicum Memorial Public Library)
Upper Chichester Library 2001 3374 Chichester Ave. #19, Boothwyn
39°50′13″N 75°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 1931 1975 76 South State Rd., Upper Darby
39°57′44″N 75°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 501 Bywood Ave., Upper Darby
39°57′33″N 75°15′59″W / 39.9592°N 75.2665°W / 39.9592; -75.2665 (Sellers Municipal Branch Library)
Upper Darby Township/Sellers Library – Primos Branch 409 Ashland Ave., Primos
39°55′07″N 75°18′18″W / 39.9186°N 75.3051°W / 39.9186; -75.3051 (Upper Darby Primos Branch Library)
Yeadon Public Library 809 Longacre Blvd., Yeadon
39°56′10″N 75°15′04″W / 39.9362°N 75.2511°W / 39.9362; -75.2511 (Middletown Free Library)

References

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  1. ^ a b "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.
  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.
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