Lillian Marrero Library
Dublin Core
Title
Lillian Marrero Library
Description
Background
Originally known as the Lehigh Avenue Branch Library, this was the third library built with funds from Andrew Carnegie to serve the communities of Central North Philadelphia, Fairhill, St. Edwards/Hartranft, and West Kensington. Carnegie’s grant program went on to fund twenty-five branch libraries, which greatly increased public resources available to everyone. This program provided the funds to build 1,679 libraries throughout the country and Philadelphia was one of the largest grant recipients for library construction. The library was designed by Philadelphia architectural firm Hewitt & Hewitt and was opened on November 20, 1906. It was one of the most elaborate and largest libraries in the city. There were talks about relocating the library in 1965 but it was rehabilitated instead in 1967.
The site was later renamed in 2005 as the Lillian Marrero branch, in memory of a dedicated librarian who worked there since the 1990’s. She wasa Puerto Rican immigrant who moved to the city with her husband and later completed a PhD at Temple University. Lillian Marrero-Rios was incredibly dedicated to her community, she even ran a food bank which is still serving the community. Inspired by Marrero’s legacy, this library is currently part of an initiative called the 21st Century Free Libraries, which rethinks the purpose of libraries in today’s world. In this way, they can serve their community in the most impactful way: through increasing digital literacy and access to resources.
Originally known as the Lehigh Avenue Branch Library, this was the third library built with funds from Andrew Carnegie to serve the communities of Central North Philadelphia, Fairhill, St. Edwards/Hartranft, and West Kensington. Carnegie’s grant program went on to fund twenty-five branch libraries, which greatly increased public resources available to everyone. This program provided the funds to build 1,679 libraries throughout the country and Philadelphia was one of the largest grant recipients for library construction. The library was designed by Philadelphia architectural firm Hewitt & Hewitt and was opened on November 20, 1906. It was one of the most elaborate and largest libraries in the city. There were talks about relocating the library in 1965 but it was rehabilitated instead in 1967.
The site was later renamed in 2005 as the Lillian Marrero branch, in memory of a dedicated librarian who worked there since the 1990’s. She wasa Puerto Rican immigrant who moved to the city with her husband and later completed a PhD at Temple University. Lillian Marrero-Rios was incredibly dedicated to her community, she even ran a food bank which is still serving the community. Inspired by Marrero’s legacy, this library is currently part of an initiative called the 21st Century Free Libraries, which rethinks the purpose of libraries in today’s world. In this way, they can serve their community in the most impactful way: through increasing digital literacy and access to resources.
Source
Free Library of Philadelphia (2018). “Lillian Marrero Library” Free Library of Philadelphia. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/locations/lillian-marrero-library
Library of Congress (1933). “Free Library of Philadelphia, Lehigh Avenue Branch, 601 Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.pa4074.photos?st=gallery
Ortiz-Blanes, S (2018). “Beyond the Books” The Philadelphia Citizen. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/beyond-the-books/
Library of Congress (1933). “Free Library of Philadelphia, Lehigh Avenue Branch, 601 Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.pa4074.photos?st=gallery
Ortiz-Blanes, S (2018). “Beyond the Books” The Philadelphia Citizen. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/beyond-the-books/
Files
Collection
Citation
“Lillian Marrero Library,” Community Development Workshop, accessed April 24, 2024, https://lcdssgeo.com/items/show/121.