Tree House Books, a literacy center serving North Philadelphia for two decades, sustained significant water damage due to a burst pipe, forcing the temporary closure of its community Giving Library.
The organization is now seeking community support to restore the beloved neighborhood resource.
The incident, discovered on Dec. 25, affected multiple areas of the building located at 1430 West Susquehanna Avenue. While some programs continue to operate, including the organization’s mobile book distribution service, the Giving Library — which provides free books to community members — remains closed until restoration is complete.
“This is a significant setback for our community, but we’re committed to rebuilding and reopening as quickly as possible,” said Michael Brix, Executive Director of Tree House Books. “The Giving Library serves as a crucial resource for North Philadelphia residents, distributing thousands of free books annually to promote literacy and learning in our neighborhood.”
Tree House Books has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to reopen the facility and replace damaged books and is seeking community support. Donations can be made online at treehousebooks.org.
The facility is also seeking book donations, which can be coordinated through Emma Goldstein, emma@treehousebooks.org.
“While this is a challenging moment, we’re heartened by the initial response from our community,” Brix said. “We’re working to minimize disruption to our services while ensuring the space is safe and welcoming for our return.”
