The Reading Public Library occupies a handsome Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Street, one of the better pieces of civic architecture in downtown Reading. The building dates from 1912 and was funded with a Carnegie grant — Andrew Carnegie funded over 2,500 public libraries, mostly in smaller American cities, and the Reading branch is one of the more attractive examples of the programme.
Beyond its architectural merit, the library is worth visiting as a functioning institution in a city that has faced significant urban challenges. It remains heavily used by the community, including a large Spanish-speaking population, and represents the kind of civic infrastructure that cities like Reading depend on. The periodicals room has good views over Fifth Street.