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Modeled after Versailles, this beautiful building on the famous Philadelphia Benjamin Franklin Parkway houses an incredible variety of historic, scholarly, and modern materials. "First imagined in the mid-1890s, begun in earnest in 1910, and not completed for 17 years, the Central Library building is a triumph of civic architecture and library science as well as a monument to the fortitude, commitment, and aspirations of the librarians, trustees, local politicians, architects, and general public, who persevered during decades of tribulation including legal and political battles and a world war." Specialized collections range from Pennsylvania German Fraktur and imprints; the history of the automobile; a treasure trove of maps, prints, and drawings; a fine library of choral and chamber music; and a collection of vintage theatre materials. The digital collections include: historical materials on Philadelphia, vintage postcards, and medieval manuscripts.
Walking tour: 15 minute walk
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Founded in 1802, Jenkins is America’s First Law Library. It is a membership law library that also serves as the public law library for the City and County of Philadelphia. Jenkins houses a fine portrait gallery and its collection of more than 250,000 volumes includes extensive current materials, as well as centuries-old rare legal documents.
The library is a blend of old and new and underwent a major renovation 7 years ago. It often refers to itself as “the library without walls” as many of its databases are available to members remotely whether at the office, at home or commuting on the train. Its website was recently updated and contains original content such as Pennsylvania Legislative Histories as well as briefs and records. Jenkins conducts a successful CLE program taught by staff librarians as well as its members. It has a staff of 32 employees.
Walking tour: 10 minute walk
These three law firms are located in two adjacent office buildings located at the corner of 18th and Cherry Streets, behind the Four Seasons Hotel on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The proximity affords those touring an opportunity to see a variety of facilities and services, including the offices of Blank Rome and Drinker Biddle in One Logan Square. Both firms moved within six months of each other during 1999-2000—one into a space formerly occupied by another law firm library, and the other into a completely renovated space, using movable compact shelving. The library for Pepper Hamilton has been housed in the Two Logan Square Building since 1988, in an impressive space which is only slightly reduced in size from the initial 2-story facility with an internal staircase. The 8-person staff has been through various renovations incorporating electronic services and digital formats in response to lawyer and user needs.
Walking tour: 15 minute walk
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The Earle Mack School of Law was launched in 2006, with an emphasis on cooperative education and pro bono programs, providing opportunities to engage with practicing lawyers. The programs offered include one of the few joint J.D.-Ph.D. programs in law and psychology in the United States. The Legal Research Center is a state-of-the-art library located on the 3rd floor in the Earle Mack School of Law. The collection reflects the curricular and research needs of the faculty and students with a particular emphasis on the areas of concentration: business and entrepreneurship, health law, and intellectual property.
Tour involving public transportation
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The U.S. Courts Library for the Third Circuit serves the federal courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands. The main location of the library is in Center City Philadelphia, at the corner of 6th and Market Streets, very close to the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Among recent major projects is an extensive digitization of the materials in the collection.
Please note that tour registrants will need to pass through security and have a valid, government-issued photo ID.
Walking tour: 10 minute walk
