PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After more than two centuries, Philadelphia’s first central medical library is open to the public with one of the world’s premier collections of printed medical knowledge.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s Historical Medical Library began in 1788, serving medical schools, hospitals and health professionals. It eventually became the city’s main medical library. Today, it’s an independent library.
Library Director Heidi Nance said the newly-renovated space is now open on weekends.
Visitors can explore in-person, see rare books, art, historic medical photographs, and even access resources historic publications and films. Online, they can see the library’s digital exhibits with storytelling crafted by staff and scholars.
“Very much a time capsule in some ways, and an archeological layer of Philadelphia and medical history,” said Nance.
She added that the collection began when the fellows — many of them among the nation’s founding fathers — began donating their private collections when they passed away.
More than 400 of the library’s printed books were published before the year 1501, the library said.
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Nance said people are often confused because of the presence and location of the Mütter Museum in the same building. Both organizations act as history-preserving arms within the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
“One of the things people don’t know about the library is that we’re not actually the Mütter library,” said Nance. “We’re affiliated, in the same building, and have the same parent organization, but we are an independent organization.”
The library is open to visitors Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is included with timed tickets to the Mütter Museum, which must be reserved in advance.