Independence Library

My issue here is the tables are disgusting! I took one look at it and knew it needed to be cleaned. I had napkins so I grabbed one and used the hand sanitizer to try and do something. The napkin was BLACK when I finished. With Covid still around and it being flu season and then making you wait outside until exactly 10am you’d think they’d be inside wiping something down. I can only imagine the keyboards and mouse. The staff may be wearing mask but the library is a 🦠germ! The library was fairly quiet. Some lady came in and was talking to staff About a light or something she she was loud but outside of that it was quiet. Just have the staff clean. I came in to dried up whatever on the table. The table was a different color after I wiped it .

I used to volunteer here back in high school days and I’m glad to see it still open and available for the community. Good selection of Chinese books. Plenty of toys for kids too.

My first visit to this library in well over a decade despite it actually being a neighborhood branch for me. The library was quite busy with many patrons for lunchtime. I interacted with quite a few staff members who were all friendly, polite, professional & helpful for my time spent there. I hope they’re able to extend their branch hours if funding & additional staff become available.

As the other reviews note, yes it’s small, dated (shelves aren’t quite labeled correctly) and not the cleanest but there’s a good selection of books for both adults and kids. I brought my kids and because it’s small I could browse books for myself while keeping an eye on them. They were very engaged by all the books but also by the wide variety of toys and games for kids. Worth checking out if you have little ones.

This has been a great library for a family. It’s a warm and welcoming space with a nice selection for both kids and adults.

It's a small, intimate library tucked away in a nondescript locale of Philly. It seems that it serves a small Chinese community that is apparently in the area. The staff are courteous and friendly. The easiest way to get there from points west is to take the L to the 11th St station and walk the four blocks along Market Street to 7th. Make a right @7th. The library will be a block down on the right

The staff at Independence Library are very helpful, gracious and friendly. They had my books on hold waiting for me at the reference desk when I called about picking them up. This branch has been a lifesaver as a place to pick up book holds while our Charles Santore branch still struggles with HVAC issues and regular closures. Independence Library has a nice sized-selection of new books and a separate reading room with a special collection of Chinese-language books and materials. The branch has a lovely mural and activities in the children's section. There are free computers to use and a book drop for use when they're closed. This branch is open 6 days a week year-round and open weekdays until 7pm.

It's a small library with few books, small tables, and noisy patrons. There's a Chinese section with books written in Mandarin. The children's section is too small for children or their parents to enjoy or appreciate.

Awesome Resource in Center City. Pleasant staff.

haha I don't know what I expected just trying to print 1 page out in this city in a public library. The woman working the front desk on 6/25/26 was so hostile and rude. We close it 9 minutes, everything is shut down! Like what, I just rushed all the way and there are 9 minutes left. The whole time she had this look like she wanted to attack. Super bad experience, will never return to a philly library for the rest of my life...you'd have to be very desperate, but if you are, give it a shot.