David Cohen Ogontz Library
🏢 Free Library of Philadelphia · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
David Cohen Ogontz Library
Serving the Ogontz and Belfield neighborhoods of Northwest Philadelphia since February 10, 1997, the David Cohen Ogontz Library is the community branch that David and Florence Cohen fought more than three decades to bring to life — named in his honor in 2007 after his death in office as a Philadelphia City Council member at age 90.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 6017 Ogontz Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141
Phone: (215) 685-3566
Website: libwww.freelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G62RWX+RM (Philadelphia, PA)
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📖 About David Cohen Ogontz Library
The David Cohen Ogontz Library stands at the corner of Church Lane and Ogontz Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia, a neighborhood branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia that took 36 years to move from community request to ribbon-cutting. Residents first petitioned for a library in 1961; through the 1960s and 1970s the area was served by a bookmobile while sites were considered and funding was repeatedly rescinded. In 1984, the Ogontz Area Neighbors Association renewed the push, seeking to build on the lot where the former Ogontz Theatre had stood. Groundbreaking finally came in 1994, and on February 10, 1997, the branch opened its doors in a pre-engineered modular building with carousel bookshelves — a moment marked by a poem written and recited by community member Nikki Taylor, who recalled the bookmobile visits of her childhood as a kind of library in waiting. The library is named for David Cohen (November 13, 1914 – October 3, 2005), a lawyer and Democratic city councilman who represented northwest Philadelphia for 29 years and championed the Ogontz branch as a personal cause. He and his wife Florence circulated petitions and hosted community meetings in their home; the library was renamed in his memory in 2007.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for David Cohen (1914–2005), the northwest Philadelphia city councilman who spent decades fighting for the branch — renamed in his honor in 2007
- Opened February 10, 1997 after 36 years of community advocacy, with the opening poem recited by Nikki Taylor, who fondly remembered the weekly bookmobile visits the library replaced
- Built on the site next to the former Ogontz Theatre on land the community had sought since 1984, when the Ogontz Area Neighbors Association formally renewed the library campaign
- Full-service neighborhood branch with public computers, free Wi-Fi, a photocopier, a scanner, reservable meeting space, a parking lot, and a book drop — fully ADA-accessible
- Regular programming for all ages including Baby/Toddler Storytime & Toddler Construction Club (Thursdays), Homeschooler Hangout (Tuesdays) and Kids & Teens Chess Club (Tuesdays)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Ogontz cardholders access Pennsylvania's statewide digital collections plus the Free Library's own digital catalog:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing, scanning and free Wi-Fi
- Black-and-white photocopier
- Book drop (exterior, available 24/7)
- Materials & holds pick-up
- Reference services
- Reservable meeting space (reservation required)
- Parking lot
- ADA-accessible building and restrooms
- Bicycle rack
🎸 Programs
- Baby/Toddler Storytime & Toddler Construction Club (Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. — ages 4 and under)
- Homeschooler Hangout (Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. — all ages)
- Kids & Teens Chess Club (Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. — all skill levels)
- Summer Reading Program
- Year-round events and workshops for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Philadelphia County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Philadelphia · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was David Cohen, and why is the library named after him?
David Cohen (November 13, 1914 – October 3, 2005) was a Democratic lawyer and Philadelphia City Council member who represented northwest Philadelphia for a total of 29 years — the longest tenure in the at-large council position since it was created in 1951. He made the Ogontz branch library a personal cause: he and his wife Florence circulated petitions and hosted community organizing meetings in their home to keep pressure on the city through decades of delays. Cohen died in office at age 90, and in 2007 the Free Library renamed the branch in his memory.
How long did it take to build the Ogontz Library, and what was here before it?
It took 36 years from first request to opening day. Community members asked for a library in 1961; the area was served by a bookmobile through the 1960s and 1970s while sites were purchased and then rejected and funding was repeatedly rescinded. In 1984, the Ogontz Area Neighbors Association renewed the push for a site next to the former Ogontz Theatre on Ogontz Avenue. Groundbreaking was held in 1994, and the library finally opened on February 10, 1997.
What is the story behind the name 'Ogontz'?
The neighborhood takes its name from the Oak Lane mansion of Jay Cooke, the Civil War-era financier. As a boy, Cooke met Chief Ogontz of the Wyandot people in Ohio and was so struck by the encounter that he later named his Philadelphia estate 'Ogontz' in the chief's honor. The neighborhood that grew up around the area inherited the name, and so did the library — which added 'David Cohen' to the front when it was renamed in 2007.
Does the Ogontz Library have parking, and is it accessible by public transit?
Yes — the branch has its own parking lot at 6017 Ogontz Avenue, which is a convenience unusual among urban Philadelphia library branches. The building is fully ADA-accessible with accessible restrooms. For transit, SEPTA routes serve the Church Lane and Ogontz Avenue corridor; the library's page at libwww.freelibrary.org/locations/david-cohen-ogontz-library includes a public-transportation link with nearby stop details.
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