Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
68 West Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-2795
(Greene St. & Chelten Ave.)
Library is temporarily closed.
Upcoming Events
CANCELLED - Literacy Lab
Sun, Apr 5, 1:15 P.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
Literacy Lab is a small group literacy instruction program for students in 1st to 3rd grade who struggle to read on grade level. The…
CANCELLED - Literacy Lab
Sun, Apr 5, 3:15 P.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
Literacy Lab is a small group literacy instruction program for students in 1st to 3rd grade who struggle to read on grade level. The…
CANCELLED - Free Workshop for Job Seekers
Tue, Apr 7, 1:00 P.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
Looking for a job? Get the help you need, right here at the library - in the computer lab, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. A representative…
CANCELLED - EveryBODY Yoga for Adults
Tue, Apr 7, 6:00 P.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
All bodies. All abilities. With Roots2Rise. Please wear comfortable clothing. Mats will be provided and you are welcome to…
CANCELLED - Baby Storytime
Thu, Apr 9, 10:30 A.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
Books, songs, rhymes and bounces for children and their adult caregivers. Program is designed for babies, birth to 23 months. Also on April…
CANCELLED - Literacy Lab
Sun, Apr 19, 1:15 P.M.
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
Literacy Lab is a small group literacy instruction program for students in 1st to 3rd grade who struggle to read on grade level. The…
About
Originally, the Germantown Branch Library, in 2002, the library was renamed in honor of Joseph E. Coleman, Philadelphia's first African-American City Council President. The library serves Northwest Philadelphia and features Regional Ricky, a life-size, reader-friendly dragon.
History
Germantown was founded in 1683, one year after William Penn founded Philadelphia. Many historic events occurred in Germantown, including the first public protest against slavery in English America (1688), and the Battle of Germantown (1777). Germantown Avenue, a block away from Coleman Northwest Regional Library, is an old Indian trail called Main Street by the first settlers.
In 1895, Germantown Branch Library opened in Vernon Hall at Chelten and Germantown Avenues. The library moved to Vernon House, known at the time as Wister Mansion, in 1898. Vernon House is currently located in the center of Vernon Park a half block north of Chelten Avenue between Germantown Avenue and Greene Street.
In 1907, a new Carnegie library building opened in Vernon Park. It served as the Germantown Branch Library until Tuesday, July 25, 1978, when the Northwest Regional Library officially opened to the public. Northwest was the third regional library in the Free Library system. In 1986, Center in the Park, an activity center for older adults, opened in the former Germantown Branch Library.
Northwest Regional Library was renovated in 1997 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet service to every library. In 2002, the Northwest Regional Library was renamed the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library. Coleman served City Council for 20 years, and he was for 12 years (1980-1992) the first African-American president of Philadelphia City Council. As a member of City Council, Mr. Coleman worked for the development of the Northwest Regional Library and its location at the corner of Chelten Avenue and Greene Street.
The Dragon Sculpture by Stewart Paul was originally installed in the children's department, but has since been moved to the lobby, where it overlooks the amphitheatre and the children's department. The mural of medieval knights and a variety of animals was painted by Richard Watson.