Free Library of Philadelphia Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement

We now offer the following:

Gadget Bar

The Heim Center staff are available to assist you with your smartphones, tablets or laptops.

The Robert and Eileen Kennedy Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement is a flexible atrium for lively engagement and interaction, intellectual discourse, and grassroots problem solving. Call or message us with any questions.

______________________________________________________________________________

Huddle Rooms

We have 4 meeting rooms available for patrons to use on a first come basis

Events: Book Discussion: Interior Chinatown 05/31/2023

Join us today for a book talk in the HEIM Center Conference Room as we discuss this years' One Book One Philadelphia, Adult selection, Interior Chinatown!

Events: Book Discussion: Interior Chinatown Join the Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement at Parkway Central Library for a discussion of the One Book, One Philadelphia selection. Interior Chinatown is a deeply personal novel about race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation, and escaping the roles we are forced to play. Meticulously...

02/10/2023

Congratulations to John for winning the $25 gift card on our Chess Swiss Tournament on Tuesday night 2/7/23. The Free Library Chess Club is open on Tuesday night 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Heim Center and also Thursdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. If you are interested in being on our Chess Club email list just message us.

Behind the scenes of a chess club inside an iconic Philadelphia building 01/17/2023

Hi All,

The Free Library Chess Club was featured on the news! You can watch the video below.

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/video/behind-the-scenes-of-a-chess-club-inside-an-iconic-philadelphia-building/

Behind the scenes of a chess club inside an iconic Philadelphia building CBS Philadelphia photojournalist Brad Nau takes us inside the club.

12/14/2022

Good afternoon,

I wanted to thank everyone who showed up last night for the Free Library Chess Club tournament! We had a solid turnout and had a photojournalist from CBS 3 working on a story featuring the chess club!

Congratulations to Otis for winning the tournament! The trophy was kindly provided by Steve.

We will keep you updated on future events and when the story will appear on CBS 3!

09/29/2022

Current print newspapers are available in the Heim Center. We look forward to seeing you!

Photos from Free Library of Philadelphia Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement's post 09/23/2022

Alexander Calder's Bicentennial Banners

Hanging on the north wall of the Heim Center are two of American artist Alexander "Sandy" Calder's Bicentennial Banners.

During the years 1975 - 1976, Calder produced eight banners as part of the Centre Square public art project.

Over the years, the banners have been lost and found a number of times. They were most recently discovered in 2018 and at that point were donated to the Free Library.

Two of the banners are currently installed in the Heim Center. Additional banners are installed above the main staircase.

09/09/2022

Alexander Calder's Bicentennial Banners

Hanging on the north wall of the Heim Center are two of American artist Alexander "Sandy" Calder's Bicentennial Banners.

During the years 1975 - 1976, Calder produced eight banners as part of the Centre Square public art project.

Over the years, the banners have been lost and found a number of times. They were most recently discovered in 2018 and at that point were donated to the Free Library.

Two of the banners are currently installed in the Heim Center. Additional banners are installed above the main staircase.

Events: Free Library Chess Club 09/06/2022

Free Library Chess Club tonight 5:00-7:30!

Events: Free Library Chess Club Are you looking for a place to play chess, or are you interested in learning how to play? Join us on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Heim Center on the First Floor. We have 20 chess sets and a limited amount of clocks available for use, or feel free to bring your own. RSVP at Facebook Events *Must...

Events: Free Library Chess Club 09/01/2022

Free Library Chess Club today 1:00-4:00!

Events: Free Library Chess Club Are you looking for a place to play chess, or are you interested in learning how to play? Join us on Thursdays from 1:00-4:00 pm in the Heim Center on the First Floor. We have 20 chess sets and a limited amount of clocks available for use, or feel free to bring your own. RSVP not required, but encou...

Events: Free Library Chess Club 08/18/2022

Free Library Chess Club today 1-4!

Events: Free Library Chess Club Are you looking for a place to play chess, or are you interested in learning how to play? Join us on Thursdays from 1:00-4:00 pm in the Heim Center on the First Floor. We have 20 chess sets and a limited amount of clocks available for use, or feel free to bring your own. RSVP not required, but encou...

Events: Free Library Chess Club 08/15/2022

The Free Library Chess clubs next meeting is tomorrow from 5:30-7:30! If you are already playing at 5:00 you can stay and continue playing until the official start of the event. Must enter through the rear entrance on Wood Street! Front doors will be locked.

Events: Free Library Chess Club Are you looking for a place to play chess, or are you interested in learning how to play? Join us on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Heim Center on the First Floor. We have 20 chess sets and a limited amount of clocks available for use, or feel free to bring your own. RSVP at Facebook Events.

Photos from Free Library of Philadelphia Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement's post 07/14/2022

The first meeting of the Free Library Chess Club was a success! Over 25 people attended and played over 75 games! Hope to see everyone again next Thursday 1-4. Spread the word!

07/11/2022

Chess club starting this Thursday 1-4 in the Heim Center!

Did you know that the Free Library has chess clubs? Both the Charles Santore Library and the Free Library of Philadelphia Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement offer a space to play and learn ♟️!

» https://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/?q=chess&type=&series=&location_code=&age=&date_range=

Photos from Free Library of Philadelphia Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement's post 06/29/2022

Looking for a welcoming place to play Chess? Stop by the Heim Center where we have multiple boards available. We also have many other games that you can play while you're here.

06/28/2022

The Free Library system will close at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1st, and will remain closed through Monday, July, 4th 2022, in observance of Independence Day. However, our website remains open 24/7. Visit www.freelibrary.org anytime!

Events: Still Doing Life: 22 Lifers, 25 Years Later 06/23/2022

Opens for public view on Monday June 27th.

Events: Still Doing Life: 22 Lifers, 25 Years Later Opens for public view on Monday June 27th. Special after hours opening reception Thursday June 30th 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Please RSVP on Eventbrite for the reception. This exhibition of a project by Howard Zehr Barb Toews consists of 22 pairs of photographs taken 25 years apart of individuals serving life...

06/23/2022

Check out the online collection from the Philadelphia Museum of Art!

https://philamuseum.org/search/collections

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Philadelphia?
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.

Videos (show all)

We present a time-lapse video of how the Heim Center was converted from the bookstacks to the modern space we have avail...

Category

Telephone

Address


1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Other Libraries in Philadelphia (show all)
Free Library of Philadelphia Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, 19103

Advancing literacy, guiding learning, and inspiring curiosity.

Tree House Books Tree House Books
1430 W Susquehanna Avenue
Philadelphia, 19121

Tree House Books is growing & sustaining a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in Philadelphia, PA

Penn Libraries Penn Libraries
3420 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, 19104

The Official page for the University of Pennsylvania Libraries.

Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street, Fl 3rd
Philadelphia, 19103

Free Library Youth Services Free Library Youth Services
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, 19103

Welcome to the Free Library of Philadelphia Youth Services and Programs!

The Library Company of Philadelphia The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, 19107

The Library Company is an independent research library specializing in American history

Urban Archives (Paley Library, Temple University) Urban Archives (Paley Library, Temple University)
1210 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, 19122

For all your 20th century Philadelphia needs

Free Library Author Events Free Library Author Events
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, 19103

Philadelphia’s premier speaker series presenting meaningful dialogue with today’s most celebrated wri

Regional Foundation Center of the Free Library of Philadelphia Regional Foundation Center of the Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street, Fl 2nd
Philadelphia, 19103

RFC houses Delaware Valley's largest, publicly accessible collection of print & electronic resources for nonprofits. Hours: M-F & the 1st Sat. each month.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
219 S 6th Street
Philadelphia, 19106

Print and Picture Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia Print and Picture Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, 19103

The Free Library of Philadelphia's unique collection of fine art prints, photos, drawings, artists'

Business Resource and Innovation Center at the Free Library of Philadelphia Business Resource and Innovation Center at the Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, 19103

The BRIC supports entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and inventors through research, programs, and resources.