Due to exhibition construction, our museum will open at 1pm today, Friday, March 13.
visitors in the reading room looking at book displays

It’s National Library Week!

Celebrate spring in the library with exhibits, activities, and experiences that explore the role herbs, plants, and flowers have played in the history of science and medicine.

Join our curators and librarians for a fun after-hours event in the Othmer Library’s reading room where you’ll have the opportunity to

  • see unexpected treasures not usually on display
  • get a temporary tattoo
  • make a craft to take home
  • enjoy a taste of spring with a special botanical-themed cake and other light refreshments
  • support the library by adopting collection items
  • and much more!

Admission is free, and registration is required.

Featured image: Cupid Inspiring Plants with Love, hand-colored plate from Robert John Thornton’s A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus, 1799.

More events

person doing research in a library
March 13, 2026
Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

illustration of a building
March 13, 2026
First Fridays

Philadelphia: Workshop of the World

Join us for March First Friday as we unveil Philadelphia: Workshop of the World, the latest exhibition from our A Closer Read series.

March 14, 2026
For Families

Stories of Science: Celebrating Women’s History

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.