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After South Philly philanthropist Stephen Girard died in 1831, the overseers of his will donated land to build a library for the surrounding community, known as Girard Estate.
Once funding arrived from another charity-minded fellow named Andrew Carnegie, Philadelphia was able to build several libraries all over the city. The Passyunk Branch at 20th and Shunk was the only Carnegie library built in South Philadelphia.
Construction of the library began in 1913, and the building opened to the public the following year. Ninety years after it first took shape, the library is still a centerpiece of the Girard Estate neighborhood.
The facility celebrated its 90th anniversary yesterday with an event highlighting the library’s impact on the community over the years, as well as its newest developments.
"It is not only a library, it’s more like a community center," said Passyunk Branch supervisor David Mariscotti. "I’ve had people come in here who have lived here since the 1930s. They tell me how they grew up here. It’s really nice to know that the library holds such a great history for so many people."
In 1997, the library was completely renovated for the first time. It wasn’t until then that the facility offered computer access. Now the branch has computers to serve everyone, from preschoolers to adults. The preschool children have an area of the library dedicated completely to them.
Despite the interior renovations, Mariscotti says very little, if any, of the original architecture has been changed. There is also a small collection of books from the library’s early years.
"We have pictures of what the library looked like in 1913 and some recent pictures of it now, and really nothing has changed," the supervisor said. "It looks pretty much the same on the outside. It’s the inside that’s really been spruced up over the years."
The Passyunk Branch is also a meeting place for organizations such as the Girard Estate Area Residents and the Adelphia Lions.
Over the past year the library has been able to make several improvements, courtesy of a $20,000 grant obtained by state Rep. Robert Donatucci. The money allowed the facility to add six summer programs for families and children, instead of the usual one or two programs.
The branch also has renovated its preschool center and installed two murals created by local artist Cavin Jones, who is working on a third painting.
Yesterday’s celebration featured a performance by the Adelphia Saxophone Quartet. Local author Stephen DeFelice read from his new book, Old Italian Neighborhood Values, about middle-aged men who grew up in South Philadelphia.
With a state budget that slashes aid to libraries poised to pass at the end of the month, Mariscotti said the branch will do its best to continue providing a variety of services. Like other South Philly libraries, it will have to close on Saturdays.
"We use the grants in order to add supplemental programs for the community," said Mariscotti. "The budget cut would only affect library hours, so the library probably won’t be accessible on weekends after the budget has been approved."
