Oak Lane Library
6614 North 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19126-3299
(12th St. & Oak Lane)
215-685-2848
LIVE! Chicken Storytime!
Friday, August 25th at 10:00 a.m.
Oak Lane Library
Toddlers, preschoolers, and families are invited to a special story-time with a guest storyteller who will bring live chickens! Children will have the opportunity to gently pet the chickens after the story-time.
Closed Today
| Sunday, 8/13 | Closed |
| Monday, 8/14 | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, 8/15 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, 8/16 | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, 8/17 |
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.* |
| Friday, 8/18 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 8/19 | Closed |
- * Thursday had hour changes – Due to staff development.
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 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 | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Sep. 4 : Closed Labor Day
- Thu., Sep. 21 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Mon., Oct. 9 : Closed Columbus Day
- Thu., Oct. 19 : Opening at 2:00 PM Due to staff development.
- Sat., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
Facilities
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking (free)
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party!
Mon, Aug 21, 1:00 P.M.
View the Solar Eclipse with us! We will have Solar Eclipse Viewers that allow you to safely view the eclipse. We'll also have a…
Family Movie Night
Mon, Aug 21, 6:00 P.M.
Join us for a family movie in the Community Meeting Room. Refreshments will be served. June 19: Moana July 17: …
Chicken Storytime
Fri, Aug 25, 10:00 A.M.
You are invited to a special storytime with a guest storyteller who will bring her live, tame chickens. Children can have the opportunity to…
Movie Monday
Mon, Aug 28, 6:00 P.M.
Come watch a movie with us. This week it's Much Ado About Nothing - Shakespeare's play featuring Denzel Washington (rated PG-13).
Oak Lane Bibliophiles Book Discussion
Wed, Sep 6, 6:00 P.M.
Join us as we discuss Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson. Branch staff can assist you to obtain copies of the books, from the Free Library…
History of the Book
Tue, Sep 26, 1:00 P.M.
The Free Library's Traveling Treasures program is a one-hour,hands-on exploration of book history. Participants will be encouraged to…
About
Serving the community of Oak Lane, which is east of Broad Street at the city's northern border.
History
The neighborhood's earliest settlers arrived in 1697, when Griffith Miles and several Welsh families came to settle and farm. Miles built a log cabin in the vicinity of Old York Road and Haines Street. The area became known as Milestown in 1711.
After farming began to flourish, water power from streams was used to operate mills. The products of the mills were sold in the surrounding communities.
In 1761, Joseph Armitage built a school on the site of the present Ellwood School - a plot of land on the north side of Oak Lane, between 12th and 13th Streets. Subsequently, three larger schools were built on the site to accommodate the growing population. The name changed from the Armitage School to the Milestown School, and finally to the Ellwood School.
The name Oak Lane comes from a beloved, large oak tree that stood on the property of Hall W. Mercer, who lived on Martin's Mill Road. After the tree blew down during a storm in 1860, Mercer changed the name of the road to Oak Lane.
The Oak Lane Library was built in 1910-11 with the combined efforts of the Ladies Review Club of Oak Lane, the Library Association, and funding from Andrew Carnegie. During the Great Depression, a Friends of Oak Lane Library group formed in order to provide book funds until budgets were restored by City Council.
In 1958, the newly rehabilitated Oak Lane Branch held an open house, and a new "Friends" group formed, sponsoring lectures and purchasing materials. The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet service to every library.