The Little Library on High St, between Magnolia and Morton. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)
Nestled throughout Germantown are these containers, which come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. But they all share one commonality — FREE 24/7 access to books.
And there are no books considered “too childish” or “too academic” to fill these reading hubs that we know as Little Libraries.
Little Libraries are typically stewarded by local organizations, community groups, and even individuals who aim to promote literacy, community engagement, and imagination. In Germantown, there’s certainly no shortage — more than TWENTY in the two-mile span of our borders!
That means if you can’t find something of interest at the spot you visited, you’re bound to find it just a few blocks away. And if you’re already at one of your favorite Germantown hangouts, you’ll probably naturally come across them.
Whether you’re hanging in Vernon Park, grabbing some plants and fresh produce from the Germantown Kitchen Garden, or catching a lesson in history at the Johnson House Historic Site, you’re bound to have your attention caught by the bright and bold, and usually handcrafted, boxes that connect neighbors to one of the oldest forms of storytelling.
Little Libraries aren’t native to Germantown, but certainly have a presence. These can be found nationally, especially when searching for them through the Little Free Library network.
This network doesn’t steward them, but instead provides support and registration to publicly list them through their map, which can be accessed through their app (available on iPhone and Android devices).
The Germantown Info Hub has compiled a list of the 22 that can be found around Germantown. Some are included in the larger network, while others aren’t.
Digital Map
List of Little Libraries
All photos were taken by Rasheed Z. Ajamu
Copley Rd.
Between Manheim St. & W. Clapier St.
Chew Ave.
Between Chelten Ave. & E. Woodlawn St.
E. Rittenhouse St.
Between Sprague St. & Ardleigh St.
Harvey St.
Between Pulaski Ave. & the Harvey St. Trailhead
Sherman St.
Between Johnson St. & W. Duval St.
Sherman St.
Between W Pomona St. & W. Washington Ln.
The Johnson House
Between Washington Ln & W. Pomona St.
W. Duval St.
Between Cherokee St. & Germantown Ave.
W. Johnson St.
Between Cherokee St. & McCallum St.
E. Duval St.
Between Morton St. & Baynton St.
E. Mayland St.
Between Morton St. & Baynton St.
Vernon Park (2)
One on the Greene Street side and the other on the pathway leading to the Black Writers Museum.
Germantown Kitchen Garden
Penn St., between Wakefield & Baynton Sts.
Market Square
Church Ln., between Germantown Ave & Market Sq.
School House Ln
Between Wayne Ave. & Greene St.
School House Ln
Between Greene St. & Germantown Ave.
Germantown Community Fridge
High St., between Germantown Ave. & Baynton St.
6100 McCallum Street (2)
Between W Walnut Ln & W Tulpehocken St
High St
Between Magnolia St & Morton St
W School House Ln
Between Morris St and Wissahickon Ave
Know another library unlisted? Tag us on social media or email rasheed@resolvephilly.org, when you visit one!
This story was adapted from an Instagram post, with new inclusions made based on suggestions from neighbors, so that our non-social media readers can also see and enjoy it. You can find the original here.