Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library

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Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library Located in historic Germantown, Northwest Regional was renamed in 2002 to honor the late Councilman Coleman. The library serves Northwest Philadelphia.

We provide access to much more than books, and can help you with technology and finding information!

Here is our schedule for the week of October 12-17. Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note: MONDAY, OCTOBE...
10/12/2026

Here is our schedule for the week of October 12-17. Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12
➡️Closed for Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
➡️4:30-5:30 p.m. Storytime Yoga in Vernon Park. Join Heartwell Yoga for songs, stories, breath, yoga poses and relaxation to move us through all that the back-to-school transition brings up. (For young children with a grown-up). Please bring a towel or yoga mat and dress for moving around. No yoga experience is needed. Meet at the first base benches in Vernon Park. In case of bad weather, we’ll move inside into the Children’s department.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
➡️12:00-4:30 p.m. Commerce Dept Office Hours. Local business owners are welcome to drop in in for one-on-one consultations with the Commerce Department to learn about how the city can support you and your business.
➡️3:15-4:30 p.m. (NEW) Teen Performance: Drop-in Sessions with MB. All teens are welcome to drop-in for a weekly program with musical artist MB to explore performance practices that express what makes you you. Develop your creative voice to sing, rap, move, make magic, or story-tell.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
➡️12:00-4:00 p.m. 3rd Annual Germantown Community Archiving Fair. Everyone is welcome to participate in community archiving at Coleman Library with hands-on archiving activities to record personal stories, explore family histories, and share in local and library history together.
➡️1:00-2:30 p.m. Celebrate the Day of the Dead a little early by making Calaveritas (sugar skulls) with Tia Ivonne Pinto. Learn about the tradition, watch a short movie about the creator of Skeleton-Art, and then, if you want, place one of your skulls in our library ofrenda. All ages welcome. Supplies are limited.

Mark your calendar—the 3rd Annual Germantown Community Archiving Fair is one week away! Please join us at J.E. Coleman L...
10/10/2026

Mark your calendar—the 3rd Annual Germantown Community Archiving Fair is one week away! Please join us at J.E. Coleman Library on Saturday, October 17, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to participate in community archiving with hands-on archiving activities to record personal stories, explore family histories, and share in local and library history together. You can participate in one or more of our Community Conversation Circles (see schedule below), and any time between 12:00 and 4:00, you can scan photos or paper documents to a digital collection, digitize a home movie from VHS tape, consult with a genealogy specialist, create a scrapbook to hold photo and other memories, participate in a collaborative craft project making a foam-core quilt with your heirloom fabric scraps, and more.

Community Conversation Circle Schedule:
➡️12:00 p.m. Storytelling: tell a story from your personal or family history
➡️12:30 p.m. Show & Tell: share a few objects, artifacts, or memorabilia
➡️1:00 p.m. Germantown History: what does Germantown History mean to you?
➡️2:00 p.m. Art & Archives: where do they connect?
➡️3:00 p.m. Hyperlocal Democracy: how can we use our voices to support a thriving local democracy?

Our tabling and Community Conversation Circle partners:
DORIANA DIAZ Germantown United CDC The Colored Girls Museum Johnson House Philly Germantown Info Hub gtownradio iMPeRFeCT Gallery
Photo credit slide 4 andrew piccone


Free Library of Philadelphia Archives Month Philly

New Club alert! Starting October 20th, join our weekly after-school craft meet up for TEENS. We will work on projects su...
10/08/2026

New Club alert! Starting October 20th, join our weekly after-school craft meet up for TEENS. We will work on projects such as blackout poetry, collage, painting, and fiber arts. Get fearlessly creative together! Supplies will be provided and all skill levels are welcome. We’ll meet on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Teen Department. Craft project recommendations welcome!

Back by popular demand- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. The Lives of Others memoir book club will resume at Coleman...
10/06/2026

Back by popular demand- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. The Lives of Others memoir book club will resume at Coleman NW Regional Library on Wednesday, October 21st at 3pm. Warning: You may leave hungry after we discuss this one! But that’s OK, as we’ll be sharing culinary blogger Maangchi’s recipe for Doenjang-jjigae (Korean stew). 

Reading the book beforehand is encouraged but not required. Limited copies of the month’s selection will be available to check out at Coleman’s adult reference desk.

Get ready! The College Scholarships 101 workshop at Coleman Library is TOMORROW—Tuesday, October 6, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. ...
10/05/2026

Get ready! The College Scholarships 101 workshop at Coleman Library is TOMORROW—Tuesday, October 6, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. In this free workshop hosted by The Alexander Advantage LLC, you’ll learn about available scholarships and strategies for winning them. For college-bound students and their parents or guardians.

And while you’re here, check out some of the Free Library’s other college & career resources. See the display in the teen area on the 3rd floor or check in at a reference desk to get help finding more books and online resources to help you prepare for applying to college and to learn about different careers.

The Free Library’s 2026 College Prep program series is made possible through the Philadelphia City Institute Board of Managers.

Here is our schedule for the week of October 5-10. We are so happy to welcome you back at Coleman! Aside from our usual ...
10/05/2026

Here is our schedule for the week of October 5-10. We are so happy to welcome you back at Coleman! Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
➡️1:00-4:00 p.m. L&I & Quality of Life Office Hours. Community members are welcome to drop in for one-on-one consultations to get department-specific questions answered and to address constituent issues.
➡️5:00-5:30 p.m. Touch a (Fire) Truck. Come celebrate Fire Prevention Week with us. Meet real Philadelphia Firefighters, learn about keeping safe, and explore a real fire engine! For all ages.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
➡️1:00-3:00 p.m. Work SuccessPhilly/Hiring Bus. Come meet the Office of Human Resources at your Neighborhood Community Action Center and have 1-on-1 time with a Human Resources Professional every month.
➡️4:30-6:30 p.m. College Scholarships 101. In this free workshop hosted by The Alexander Advantage, you’ll learn about available scholarships and strategies for winning them. For college-bound students and their parents or guardians.
➡️NOTE that Digitize Your Archives from 5:00-6:30 p.m. will not be held this week

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
➡️11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Mindful Painting. Do you enjoy painting with inspiration and guidance? If so, this “paint-by-numbers” session is for you. Supplies are limited, so please register at bit.ly/paintnum or click the link in our bio.
➡️1:00 p.m. Early closure for the holiday weekend

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
➡️12:00-2:00 p.m. Fairmount Water Works: Your Watershed and You. Join the Water Works team for a hands-on workshop that will deepen your understanding of our watershed using interactive models. For all ages.

We are so happy to welcome you back at Coleman! Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note: MONDAY, OCTOBER 5➡...
10/05/2026

We are so happy to welcome you back at Coleman! Aside from our usual offerings, a few things to note:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
➡️1:00-4:00 p.m. L&I & Quality of Life Office Hours. Community members are welcome to drop in for one-on-one consultations to get department-specific questions answered and to address constituent issues.
➡️5:00-5:30 p.m. Touch a (Fire) Truck. Come celebrate Fire Prevention Week with us. Meet real Philadelphia Firefighters, learn about keeping safe, and explore a real fire engine! For all ages.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
➡️1:00-3:00 p.m. Work SuccessPhilly/Hiring Bus. Come meet the Office of Human Resources at your Neighborhood Community Action Center and have 1-on-1 time with a Human Resources Professional.
➡️4:30-6:30 p.m. College Scholarships 101. In this free workshop hosted by The Alexander Advantage, you’ll learn about available scholarships and strategies for winning them. For college-bound students and their parents or guardians.
➡️NOTE that Digitize Your Archives from 5:00-6:30 p.m. will not be held this week

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
➡️11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Mindful Painting. Do you enjoy painting with inspiration and guidance? If so, this “paint-by-numbers” session is for you. Supplies are limited, so please register at bit.ly/paintnum or click the link in our bio.
➡️1:00 p.m. Early closure for the holiday weekend

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
➡️12:00-2:00 p.m. Fairmount Water Works: Your Watershed and You. Join the Water Works team for a hands-on workshop that will deepen your understanding of our watershed using interactive models while promoting better behaviors. For all ages.

Here is our schedule for the month of October! We will still be closed for building repairs October 1-3, but will reopen...
10/02/2026

Here is our schedule for the month of October! We will still be closed for building repairs October 1-3, but will reopen as scheduled on Monday, October 5. 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. We have a busy month ahead; here are a few highlights:

College-bound students and their parents & guardians, please join us on Tuesday, October 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for College Scholarships 101. In this free workshop hosted by The Alexander Advantage, you’ll learn about available scholarships and strategies for winning them.

On Saturday, October 17, the 3rd Annual Germantown Archiving Fair returns to Coleman! You can scan your photos, documents, and VHS tapes, make a scrapbook, record oral history, explore family roots, and more! The fair runs from 12:00-4:00 p.m.

On Monday, October 19, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) presents an Estate Planning Workshop at 5:30 p.m. Planning ahead is crucial to protect your family and property. Whether you are starting from scratch or have questions about a Power of Attorney or existing will, this workshop will provide guidance to help you take the next step.

Finally, two new teen programs begin this month! First, starting on Wednesday, October 14, and running every Wednesday (3:15-4:30 p.m.) through December 12, all teens are welcome to drop-in for a weekly program with musical artist MB to explore performance practices that express what makes you you. Develop your creative voice to sing, rap, move, make magic, or story-tell in any kind of performing way that feels right to you. Second, the weekly Teen Craft Co-op begins on Tuesday, October 20 (3:30-5:30 p.m.) We will work on projects such as blackout poetry, collage, painting, and fiber arts. Get fearlessly creative together!

Joseph E. Coleman Library will reopen as scheduled on Monday, October 5, and this is just a reminder that everyone is in...
10/01/2026

Joseph E. Coleman Library will reopen as scheduled on Monday, October 5, and this is just a reminder that everyone is invited to “Touch a (Fire) Truck” on Monday at 5:00 p.m. Come celebrate Fire Prevention Week with us! Meet real Philadelphia Firefighters, learn about keeping safe, and explore a real fire engine. All ages are welcome. Meet in the Children’s Department and walk outside together.

Please join us on Monday, October 19th (5:30-6:30 p.m.) for a FREE estate planning workshop with the Affordable Housing ...
09/30/2026

Please join us on Monday, October 19th (5:30-6:30 p.m.) for a FREE estate planning workshop with the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA). Topics to be covered include:

➡️ How planning ahead can protect your family and property
➡️ Who should have a will and why it matters
➡️ What goes into a will
➡️ How you may qualify to get a will prepared at no cost
➡️ How planning ahead can protect your family and property
➡️ How to prevent or resolve tangled titles
➡️ The differences between a will and a trust
➡️ And more!

Stop by with your estate questions on Monday, October 19th, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Address

68 W Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19144

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7pm
Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(215) 685-2150

Website

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