• Card catalog in the William H. Scheide Reading Room.
  • Visitors in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
  • Visitors in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
  • Sarah Weatherwax, Curator of Print and Photographs assisting a researcher in the Print Department Reading Room.
  • Visitors in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
  • Group of students including white women and Asian American woman peer down at object white man professor presents at Library Company.
  • Visitors in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
1234567

Explore the Library Company of Philadelphia

Founded in 1731, the library that once served our founding fathers now serves the nation as an internationally renowned research center. Since the days of Benjamin Franklin, the collection has grown to more than half a million rare books, manuscripts, pamphlets, broadsides, prints, and photographs, making the Library Company one of the nation’s largest collections of printed and graphic materials relating to early American history. There are many ways that you can explore America’s first lending library.

Library Catalog

Card catalog in the William H. Scheide Reading Room.

The Library Company’s online catalog allows researchers to search nearly 100% of the Library Company’s rare books collection and roughly 65% of our graphic holdings.

Digital Collections

Concetta Barbera, Digital Outreach Librarian and Curatorial Assistant, scanning a book in the Library Company Digitization Department.

Our digital collections catalog, contains over 120 digital collections, including over 27,000 images, which continue to increase.

LCP Events

A class being held in the Logan Room.

The Library Company of Philadelphia offers a wide variety of opportunities for the public to visit and learn about our world renowned collections. Visit our events page to view our many upcoming lectures, tours, workshops, book clubs, conferences, and more.

Online Exhibitions

Visitors in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.

The Library Company has made exhibitions available online since 1999. Each website portrays the unique vision and talent of our curators whether derived from our gallery exhibitions or born digital.

LCP News

Library Company white woman reference staff and a white woman researcher talk near white women readers looking at large volume and card catalog.

Our digital magazine features not only new insights into our collections and activities but also over ten years of articles written by library staff.

Social Media

Visitor in the Louis Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Gallery at the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Our Digital Outreach Librarians post frequently on multiple social media outlets, including Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our social media wall will give you a snapshot of our recent activity.