2008 Woodie Awards
Rare finds in the Philadelphia Free Library
David King '08
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Features
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There is no greater thrill for a museum aficionado than the discovery of a hidden gem. These collections are usually housed in unlikely places, well-kept secrets from all but the most curious members of the public. Philadelphia is home to its fair share of famous museums, but few are likely to delight and surprise as much as the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia's central branch.
The central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia is located at 19th and Spring Garden Streets. Admission is free, but prepare to search for parking. The Rare Book Room is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Be sure to give yourself at least an hour to see everything.
Many of Philadelphia's lifetime residents may be surprised to learn that the library is home to a museum. One could easily be a regular library patron and remain unaware of its existence. Finding the Rare Book Department may be a little difficult.
From the main desk, follow signs for the elevator and take it to the third floor. When you step off to a balcony overlooking the library just below its domed ceiling, the first exhibit rests in the hallway. Under a glass case, various items that were left in some of the collection's books are displayed.
Advertising pamphlets and correspondence from 100 years ago or more that once served as makeshift bookmarks are now a part of the museum's permanent collection. This quirky display is the first sign that the Rare Book Department is a special kind of museum.
A sign next to the double glass doors instructed me to ring the doorbell and wait to be granted entry. As the time passed, I anxiously waited with my fellow bibliophiles in the lobby under the watchful eye of a security camera. I got the feeling that I was being sized up, having to prove myself worthy of entry into this secret chamber of literati. Pretending to ignore the camera, I tried to look as bookish and studious as possible, donning my glasses purely for show.
The central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia is located at 19th and Spring Garden Streets. Admission is free, but prepare to search for parking. The Rare Book Room is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Be sure to give yourself at least an hour to see everything.
Many of Philadelphia's lifetime residents may be surprised to learn that the library is home to a museum. One could easily be a regular library patron and remain unaware of its existence. Finding the Rare Book Department may be a little difficult.
From the main desk, follow signs for the elevator and take it to the third floor. When you step off to a balcony overlooking the library just below its domed ceiling, the first exhibit rests in the hallway. Under a glass case, various items that were left in some of the collection's books are displayed.
Advertising pamphlets and correspondence from 100 years ago or more that once served as makeshift bookmarks are now a part of the museum's permanent collection. This quirky display is the first sign that the Rare Book Department is a special kind of museum.
A sign next to the double glass doors instructed me to ring the doorbell and wait to be granted entry. As the time passed, I anxiously waited with my fellow bibliophiles in the lobby under the watchful eye of a security camera. I got the feeling that I was being sized up, having to prove myself worthy of entry into this secret chamber of literati. Pretending to ignore the camera, I tried to look as bookish and studious as possible, donning my glasses purely for show.
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