Southwark (now known as Queen Village) is the oldest settlement in Philadelphia.
King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden granted a charter for settlement in 1638,
and Swedish settlers were already established before William Penn's arrival.
The Southwark district, named after a neighborhood in London, was created
in 1762. In the 1960s, the district’s name changed to the one we know today:
Queen Village.
The original Southwark Library was a Carnegie Building located at 5th
and Ellsworth on land donated by the Young Man's Institute. It opened on
November 15, 1912.
The Library opened in its current location on November 1, 1963. It was
renovated in 1998 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which refurbished
branches and ensured Internet access.
The Library was renamed on March 26, 2004 to honor Charles Santore. A
South Philadelphia native born in 1910, Santore was a former boxer, Republican
ward leader, and founder of Municipal Employees Union Local 696. At the
time of his death, he was the oldest active ward leader in any party.
Janet Puchino, Adult/Teen Librarian, currently serves as Branch Manager.
932
South 7th Street