Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library

06/17/2026

Kids, stop by and eat lunch! We have a program for students enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade that provides a light boxed meal, which will be available most weekdays, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Meals must be eaten at the library.

06/16/2026

The Free Library is unveiling a new summer learning experience for children, teens, and adults, Summer Quest! We invite participants of ALL ages to stop by any Free Library location between June 8 and August 14 to get an Activity Map and start their adventure.

Follow along with five characters, the Reader, the Creator, the Gamer, the Explorer, and the Scientist—as you read books, explore new hobbies, and meet new people at library programs. Stop by Joseph E. Coleman or any other neighborhood Free Library location to sign up, choose your character, and get your sign-up gift! When you sign up, you’ll also get a raffle ticket to enter a drawing for great prizes, including Skullcandy RIFF2 wireless headphones for adults & teens (12 and up).

Come back throughout the summer as you follow the map and complete activities to get more raffle entries.

Visit freelibrary.org/summer and stop by your local library to get started!

06/16/2026

This Thursday, June 18, all Free Library locations will be closing early at 1:00 p.m., and will remain closed on Friday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday. Coleman Library will be open regular hours on Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Stop by for the Black Imagination Book Club with Lindo Jones from 12:00-2:00 p.m.

06/15/2026

It’s never a dull weekend in Germantown, but boy, did y’all show out on June 13th? 🙂‍↔️ While we couldn’t make it to every single thing, we did manage to:

🦵🏽 Get a Black Art walking tour with Chrissy Dominique
🛍️ Catch a vibe at the Juneteenth Jubilee Fest with Black And Planted
⚖️ Watched the Democracy TED Talk at Joseph E. Coleman NW Regional Library
🖼️ Checked out the new Sun Ra Arkestra mural at October Gallery (October Gallery)
🧶 Checked out some crafts making at My Dye Garden Studio off Greene and Rittenhouse

What did you do in Germantown this past Saturday? 👀 Drop it in the comments. 👇🏽

🎥: Rasheed Z. Ajamu (Rasheed Z. Ajamu), engagement reporter

06/14/2026

Here is our schedule for the week of June 15-20! Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note:

TUESDAY, JUNE 16
➡️4:30-6:30 p.m. Teen Anime Night series continues! Come hang out with us this summer as we watch a different movie or TV series each week, drawn from the wide world of anime. Selections range from action-packed shonen to adventurous, romantic shoujo and will include some Studio Ghibli selections. Vote on your favorites and help choose upcoming shows. Bring a friend or two and come share in the otaku fun!

THURSDAY, JUNE 18
➡️1:00 p.m. EARLY CLOSURE

FRIDAY, JUNE 19
➡️CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 20
➡️12:00-2:00 p.m. Black Imagination Book Club. Join poet Lindo Jones for a new take on book clubs. This one will explore Black imagination using graphic novels, sci-fi, fantasy, and comics. There is no reading commitment, just come to the library, pick up something that catches your eye, read for about 10 to 20 minutes and then talk about what came up for you. Meets on the 2nd floor.

06/09/2026

Celebrate Pride across the Free Library this June! Drop by J.E. Coleman Library to check out our Pride Month book selections or to ask us for more recommendations. We have all kinds of books for all ages.

Throughout June, Free Library locations will offer a variety of programs that honor LGBTQ+ communities, stories, creativity, history, and resilience. Together We Thrive celebrates the power of learning, connection, and belonging in our libraries. Be sure to save the date on Saturday, June 27, at 2:00 p.m., and join us at Coleman Library for a documentary screening and discussion for Talking Walls, a 2025 BlackStar Film Festival award-winning documentary short (27 min.) by Marcellus Armstrong. Talking Walls moves through the Black q***r spaces of Detroit, Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia (including Germantown), tracing the architecture of q***r resistance and joy in the lives of its characters.

06/08/2026

One day. 50+ libraries. 15+ TED Talks. One national conversation.

Join us for a livestream broadcast of TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, a national event featuring 15+ TED Talks centered around the past, present, and future of modern democracy, streamed live from the city where it started. Coleman Library is one of only 60 locations across the nation where you can watch the event live! Join us for the watch party, including pizza and discussion. Be part of the conversation.

Saturday, June 13, 2026
Morning session: 11:00 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
Pizza & discussion: 12:30 p.m. –2:00 p.m.
Afternoon session: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public!

06/03/2026

Come hang out with us this summer as we watch a different movie or TV series each week, drawn from the wide world of anime! Selections will range from action-packed shonen to adventurous, romantic shoujo and will include some Studio Ghibli favorites. Bring a friend or two and come share in the otaku fun! Snacks will be provided. This program is best for ages 12 - 18 years old.

05/30/2026

Here is our full schedule for the month of June! For the most up-to-date information that may include changes or additions to our programs and events schedule, please see our page at freelibrary.org/coleman or click the link in our bio. Below are a few highlights. Happy Summer! 🌞

Please join us June 2nd at 4:00 p.m. for our Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration and the start of the Ultimate Quest, this year’s Free Library summer reading game! We will have live music, face painting, and crafts for kids and teens.

“To Be Free,” The Free Library’s oral history project, will be at Coleman Library on Saturday, June 6, all day. Come share your response to one basic and fundamental question, “What does it mean to be free?” The library will be collecting these recordings as a time capsule for future generations to understand Philadelphia today. People of all ages are encouraged to participate.

Starting on June 9th and running every week through August 11th, teens 12-18 years old are welcome to join us for a special anime-themed night. Come hang out with us this summer as we watch a different movie or TV series each week! Selections will range from action-packed shonen to adventurous, romantic shoujo and will include some Studio Ghibli selections.

And finally, join us at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, for a documentary screening and discussion for Talking Walls, a 2025 BlackStar Film Festival award-winning documentary short (27 min.) by Marcellus Armstrong.

05/28/2026