Friends Historical Library is located on the main floor of McCabe Library on the Swarthmore College campus on Route 320 in the Borough of Swarthmore. The McCabe Library Building is located at the center of the campus. It is a large, stone building with long, narrow windows and a mansard roof.

Use resources available on the Swarthmore College website's Visit Swarthmore section for campus maps, driving directions and parking information.

See the Special Collection's Copies + Permissions page to learn more about taking photographs, making photocopies, and using microfilm readers in the Reading Room.

Need to stay overnight near Swarthmore? We recommend Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center welcoming all for Spirit-led learning and community. It is located a 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk from campus, and is significantly more affordably priced than nearby hotels. Their bed & breakfast service is perfect for short stays. Some of our visitors working on larger research projects choose Pendle Hill for longer-term sabbatical or personal retreat accommodations. Visit Pendle Hill website

• Find additional options for accommodations on the Swarthmore College Local Lodging page
• If you are exploring options on AirBnB, you can search for "Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA" and find our library close to the arboretum marker. For more numerous and affordable options, and to be closer to Center City, you may choose to stay in West Philadelphia and take the SEPTA regional transit train from the station on 49th Street between Chester Ave and Kingsessing Ave. Many of our staff live in this area, but it is an urban environment and travelers who are used to being in a city and are able to be aware of their surroundings will be most comfortable here. We recommend staying northeast of the station - search Airbnb for "Cedar Park, Philadelphia"

The most convenient food option is the campus Dining Center, which includes a full service dining hall while classes are in session, and "Essie's Corner" snack bar year round. Essie's offers made-to-order sandwiches and grain bowls, plus a selection of snacks and prepared items. (Note that the two coffee bars on campus, in Kohlberg and Science Center, are keycard-access only, limited to the campus community.)

There are also numerous dining options in the Swarthmore town center near the train station, less than a 10-minute walk away.

Visitors to the Friends Historical Library will have access to the wireless network SwatGuest. This is a self-service network; simply open your browser and follow the prompts to create a guest account. Consult this guide for more information.