On March 11, 2025, Grassroots neighborhood groups and community al- lies will unite at Wayland Baptist Church (2500 Cecil B. Moore Ave) at 6 pm to fight for Cecil B. Moore Library.
The library shut its doors on January 21 of this year, when its original 1962 heating and cooling system finally failed. The branch was slated for a major renovation to begin in October with the City’s Rebuild project, but the library’s future is now uncertain amid political indecision and unnecessary funding delays.
The Town Hall will serve as both a platform for sharing ideas and a call to action, inviting all residents and local organizations to contribute to a renovation plan that honors the library’s historic legacy while meeting today’s needs.
Since 2018, community members and staff fought to win millions in City, State, and private funding for the Cecil B. Moore Library Rebuild project, which was initially slated for only minor repairs. Now, with nearly $10 million for the Cecil B. Moore library, residents designed a new Teen Space, a welcoming exterior with bold signage, new Adult shelving and seating areas, ADA accessibility, a private meeting room, modern plumbing and HVAC systems, and more.
“We organized to quintuple the budget. We designed extensive renovations in collaboration with Rebuild. Instead of sending our designs to bid, City officials and the Free Library are dragging their feet on those repairs while the branch stands closed. The community deserves action and accountability now,” said Jordan Holbert, BSNC team lead & Save the Cecil B Moore Library Coalition member.
“Every day that passes without decisive action, our community loses valuable community space, youth programming, computer access, and life-saving services,” said Robin Barber, generational neighbor and retired school teacher. Cierra Freeman, co-leader of BSNC & Save the Cecil B Moore Library Greater Coalition, says, “We are committed to a future where decisions about our library and our neighborhoods are made with—and by—the community.”
The Save the Cecil B. Moore Library Coalition—representing residents from Sharswood, Brewerytown, North Central, Strawberry Mansion, Stanton, and the neighbor- hood named for Cecil B. Moore—has outlined a clear vision:
● Rebuild for the 21st Century: Transform the library into a modern, accessible community hub–complete with digital access, youth programs, cultural spaces, and flexible learning environments.
● Community Control: The library must remain a stand-alone public asset, designed and governed by the people it serves—never as part of a privatized, top-down redevelopment plan.
● Transparency & Accountability: The Coalition calls on city officials to provide clear timelines, detailed budgets, and regular updates on the Rebuild design we planned.
● Uninterrupted Library Services: Establish a library satellite site to provide essential library services during renovations.
For more details, to participate in planning, or to RSVP for the forum, please reach out to the Save the Cecil B Moore Library Coalition at savethececilbmoorelibrary@gmail.com.
Coalition Members and Partners: Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, Friends of Cecil B. Moore Library, Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters, POWER Interfaith, Save UC Townhomes, Blues Babe Foundation, Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, North Philly Peace Park, Life Outside the Streets, Physicians for Social Responsibility PA, No Arena in Chinatown, Sunrise Movement Philly, Disruption Project (Stadium Stompers), We REIGN, Philly Boricuas Party for Socialism and Liberation.
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