Petit Branch Library
105 Victoria Place
Syracuse, NY 13210
Telephone: (315) 435-3636
Fax: (315) 435-2731
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Accessible 
Petit
Branch Newsletter [PDF]
HOURS
Monday 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday closed
SUMMER HOURS
[June 22 - Labor Day]
Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday closed
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
See News and Events for holiday closings at the Petit Branch and other city libraries.
GRACE DAYS: 1
EVENTS
See the monthly Petit
Branch Newsletter for upcoming events.
Check the OCPL Events Calendar to search for programs, classes, story times and more at your library.
NOTE: this link will take you to a site outside the OCPL website
STAFF
Branch Manager: Marilyn Smith
DIRECTIONS
From the North: Rt. 81 southbound to Rt. 690 eastbound. Take Teall Avenue exit. Right on Teall. Left on East Genesee St. Right on Westcott St. Left on Victoria Pl. Library is second building on left.
From the East: Rt. 690 westbound to Teall Avenue exit. Left on Teall. Left on East Genesee St. Right on Westcott St. Left on Victoria Pl. Library is second building on left.
From the South: Rt. 81 northbound to Rt. 690 eastbound. Take Teall Avenue exit. Right on Teall. Left on East Genesee St. Right on Westcott St. Left on Victoria Pl. Library is second building on left.
From the West: Rt. 690 eastbound to Teall Avenue exit. Right on Teall. Left on East Genesee St. Right on Westcott St. Left on Victoria Pl. Library is second building on left.
ABOUT THE LIBRARY
Petit Branch Library is located on Syracuse's near
east side off Westcott Street, in an eclectic area
known as the University Neighborhood (for its proximity
to Syracuse University) and the Westcott Nation. It
is named for Douglas E. Petit, President of the Board
of Syracuse Public Library until his death in 1926.
Petit, then called Westcott Station, first opened
in the Lawrence Drug Store at the corner of Westcott
and Dell Streets in 1912. The station was discontinued
in 1926, in anticipation of the Douglas E. Petit Branch,
which opened on Nov. 20, 1928 at 746 South Beech Street.
The current building on Victoria Place was dedicated
on May 10, 1961.
This branch offers a wide range of adult and children's
materials in many formats—print, video, DVD,
compact disc. It is a bright, open building, with
a very large collection of children's picture books.
It also specializes in "out-of-the-way"
fiction and maintains a special collection of books
about New York State.
Children's programs, such as preschool story times
and the summer reading program for children and teens,
are regular features at Petit. A book discussion group
for adults meets once a month, and special programs
for adults and families, including a variety of entertaining
and informational offerings, are very popular. The
library also displays works by local artists, featuring
a new exhibit each month.
Several computers with Internet access and word processing
for adults and children are available. The children’s
computers also offer educational software.
Petit does not have a meeting room, but community
groups, such as the Westcott East Neighborhood Association
(WENA), often meet in the children's nonfiction room.
Petit enjoys participating in neighborhood events
such as the Westcott Street Cultural Fair in September.
Many of the Cultural Fair performances take place
in the area right in front of the library. Since 2000,
Petit has held an annual book sale in conjunction
with the Fair.
The Petit Garden Courtyard represents a collaborative
community project that began in 2000 as a joint effort
between neighborhood residents and OCPL. Planned and
created by members of the Westcott community, the
garden consists of stone pathways, flower plantings,
shrub beds, trees, a water feature, and a brick courtyard.
Individuals, families, organizations, and businesses
have purchased bricks for the courtyard engraved with
names, quotations, and logos.
Last updated October 20, 2009