Library officials criticized this second facility as "an entirely unsuitable building, where its work is done in unsafe, unsanitary and overcrowded quarters, temporary make-shifts".

Parkway Central Library had been planned for its current location since 1911; various obstacles, including World War I, held up progress.

In 2014, books located in storage were transferred to the Regional Operations Center (ROC) which is open only to staff.

[4] Philbrick Hall, located on the first floor, is the fiction, popular culture and central circulation department of the library.

After renovations, the 4th floor currently contains the Culinary Literacy Center, a commercial-grade kitchen used as a classroom and public education dining space which opened in June 2014.

The concept came from Free Library of Philadelphia's president and Director, Siobhan Reardon who wanted to "create a space to advance literacy through food and cooking around a communal table".

The CLRC archive holds of the one the largest collections of primary source material for children's literature in the country.

The Rare Book Department features the Charles Dickens’ collection, with first editions, personal letters, and Dickens’ stuffed raven, Grip, among illuminated manuscripts, Americana, Beatrix Potter, early children's books, Edgar Allan Poe, and Pennsylvania German folk art.

[10] On April 12, 2019, the Business Resource and Innovation Center which opened in 2016 was moved to the newly renovated space on the ground floor of Parkway Central Library.