Free Library of Philadelphia, Oak Lane Branch, 6614 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Significance: Oak Lane was one of twenty-five branch libraries constructed between 1904 and 1930 by the Free Library of Philadelphia using a $1.5 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation. Andrew Carnegie's public library construction grants were a major impetus for the growth of these institutions throughout the country. Philadelphia was second only to New York City in the size of its Carnegie grant and number of branch libraries constructed. Each jurisdiction receiving Carnegie library funds was responsible for providing a site and operating expenses equal to ten percent of the cost of construction. Prior to receiving the Carnegie funds in 1903, branch libraries of the Free Library of Philadelphia (founded 1891) were housed in a variety of preexisting structures. The Carnegie library construction campaign provided twenty-five purpose-built branch libraries for the City of Philadelphia, each designed within the current ideal of efficient operation and using fashionable, but conservative, architectural forms and motifs.

Oak Lane was the twelfth Carnegie branch library opened by the Free Library of Philadelphia. Plans for the structure were approved by the Free Library Board of Trustees Carnegie Fund Committee on January 21, 1910 and the branch opened to the public on December 7, 1911. The Oak Lane Branch was designed by Philadelphia architect Ralph E. White.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1447
Survey number: HABS PA-6760
Building/structure dates: 1911 Initial Construction