American civil rights activist, politician, and lawyer Cecil Bassett Moore is iconic in the City of Philadelphia as a member of Philadelphia City Council, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the NAACP, and for leading those legendary protests that led to the desegregation of Girard College.
The West Virginia native, a World War II Marine veteran whose military experiences precipitated his move to Philadelphia following his military discharge, decided that he could most effectively battle racial injustice by becoming an attorney.
In 1987, the Columbia Avenue Branch of the Free Library was renamed the Cecil B. Moore Library, paying homage to the legacy that Moore left Philadelphians. In recent years, the library has fallen into disrepair, causing City Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young to consider a complete demolition and replacement of a new structure, complete with low-income housing.
Built-in 1961, the building is old and in desperate need of repairs. As of the March 11, 2025 meeting, there was a discussion of repairs to the electrical, heating, and HVAC systems, windows, and exterior and interior renovations. Councilmember Young, Senator Sharif Street and Representative Keith Harris were in attendance and shared that they all in support of Cecil B. Moore Library. There are plans for an elevator installation, new flooring, a new ceiling on the lower level, ADA-accessible bathrooms, a new circulation desk, and new furniture.
The latest update following the community meeting held on March 11, 2025, has scrapped plans for the addition of low-income housing on the site.
Karen Asper Jordan, a member of the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters, said, “The Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters are supporters of the Cecil B. Moore Library and the community’s efforts to imagine a greater footprint for the future and the library’s continued positive impact. The library is the repository of sustainable information to elevate any citizen to be able to compete and be fully integrated into today’s economy, which includes education, job readiness, housing, and family stability.”
“Cecil B. Moore was a staunch supporter of education and the impact it has on breaking the chains of ignorance and poverty, making a better existence for our children, expanding the world around them, improving neighborhood dynamics, and making success a concrete vision,” continued Jordan.
The library had been shattered since January 2025 but has since reopened and is operating with space heaters due to the ongoing heating issue.
Cierra Freeman, Volunteer Founding Director and Administrator of the Brewery Town Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, shared the following thoughts regarding the situation at the Cecil B. Moore Library, “I believe the spirit of Ancestor Cecil B. Moore is with us as we navigate this campaign. Four hundred North Philadelphians coming together (mostly from around the neighborhood but some from around Philly) is unprecedented in these times, but it was something we saw back in the day with Cecil B. Moore’s leadership. We need a response from the Councilman telling us that he intends to renovate the library. Until we receive that response, and until we get responses for our neighbor’s other concerns, we will continue to be vocal. We seek to work in partnership with the Councilman and his office to find a satellite space to build out the plan for the library by way of participatory research, planning, and engagement.
BSNC is the organization that formed the Save the CBM Library Greater Coalition (fiscally sponsored by the Federation of Neighborhood Centers), comprised of Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters, Friends of Cecil B. Moore, and the Cecil B. Moore Library Workers (AFSCME DC 47 Local 2187 and AFSCME District Council 33).
We will share more news on the status of the Cecil B. Moore Library in the upcoming weeks.
