Northeast Regional Library

2228 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19149-1297
(Cottman Ave. & Oakland St.)
215-685-0522

Open today 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12/17 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, 12/18 Closed
Tuesday, 12/19 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 12/20 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, 12/21 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, 12/22 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.*
Saturday, 12/23 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed
  • * Friday has hour changes – preparation for the Christmas Day holiday
  • * Saturday has hour changes – Christmas Day (Observed)
Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday Closed
Tuesday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

  • Mon., Dec. 18 : Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Due to closing on Christmas Weekend
  • Fri., Dec. 22 : Open 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM preparation for the Christmas Day holiday
  • Sat., Dec. 23 : Closed Christmas Day (Observed)
  • Sun., Dec. 24 : Closed Christmas Day (Observed)
  • Mon., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
View all holiday closings

Photo of Northeast Regional Library

Facilities

  • Baby changing station
  • Bicycle rack
  • Book drop box
  • Change machine
  • Children's only restroom
  • Computer lab
  • Computers for public use
  • Meeting space (reservation required)
  • Photocopier (black/white)
  • Printing (black/white)
  • Public restrooms
  • Screen magnify tools
  • Self-service checkout
  • Street parking
  • Street parking (free)
  • Water fountain
  • Wireless internet access (wi/fi)

Location

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Upcoming Events

Annual Polar Express Party

Sun, Dec 17, 2:00 P.M.

Families are welcome to join us for our annual Polar Express Party featuring a reading of the classic story, Christmas Carol Sing-a-long, visit…

Open Computer Lab

Mon, Dec 18, 10:00 A.M.

Work on a special project and get one-on-one assistance.  This class is offered on a first come, first served basis and space is limited.…

Introduction to Microsoft Word

Mon, Dec 18, 3:00 P.M.

Learn to use this popular computer program.  This class is offered on a first come, first served basis. We encourage attendees to come…

Yoga Class

Tue, Dec 19, 11:50 A.M.

Join us for an hour of stretching, bending, and relaxation with Dusica.  Bring your yoga mat and please wear comfy clothing.  …

Yoga for Adults

Tue, Dec 19, 7:00 P.M.

An inclusive yoga class for people of all skill levels and abilities.  Wear something comfortable and come to the library for wellness,…

GCF Learnfree

Wed, Dec 20, 5:45 P.M.

Easy to follow tutorials on Microsoft Excel, Word, and Office, as well as Internet Basics,  social media, and more. GCF Learnfree also offers…

View all events

About

The Northeast Regional Library is second only to the Central Library in size, available resources and number of staff. Located near the intersection of Cottman and Bustleton Avenues, it serves the greater northeast area as a regional library, and the entire city for research.

History

The area served by Northeast Regional Library encompasses land that was originally Lower Dublin Township and parts of Oxford and Delaware Townships. Settlers from northern Europe first arrived there in the seventeenth century, and established farms. The area remained primarily agricultural until the early twentieth century. In 1854, these townships, along with the boroughs of Frankford and Bridesburg, were consolidated into Philadelphia County.

In 1955, the Free Library of Philadelphia developed the concept of the regional library, which would serve as a branch for its immediate area, and also as a bridge between the comprehensive collections of the Central Library and the more modest resources offered by neighborhood branches. A proposal to build the first regional library was approved for the 1957-1962 capital budgets. On July 11, 1962, ground was broken for the Northeast Regional Library, the first in a proposed series of regional libraries that would be built in each geographical sector of the city.

The city's northeast saw rapid development after World War II. Large tracts of vacant land were soon filled with thousands of row homes and twins. The homes were occupied by returning servicemen, many the sons of immigrants.

Retail development soon followed. In 1952, ground was broken for a $5,000,000 shopping complex that included a department store and supermarket at Cottman and Castor Avenues. The Roosevelt Mall opened in the early sixties, followed by another department store at Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in 1965. The site selected for Northeast Regional is located in the heart of this shopping complex.

Northeast Regional offers a collection of more than 150,000 books divided into four subject departments, including the children's department. A fifth department offers an extensive collection of periodicals and newspapers. Each department occupies an entire floor of the building; the lowest level is an auditorium meeting room. The circulation desk is located in the ground floor lobby of the building. When you visit, look for the 9x44' three-dimensional wooden mural that adorns the right wall of the lobby.

The children's department of the library opened on Monday, October 28, 1963; the adult departments opened in December, 1963. In 1998, the library was renovated as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet service to every branch.
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