Dwight Evans Library of West Oak Lane
Sunday, 8/3 | Closed |
Monday, 8/4 | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, 8/5 |
12:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. * |
Wednesday, 8/6 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Thursday, 8/7 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Friday, 8/8 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Saturday, 8/9 | Closed |
- * Tuesday had hour changes – Due to staff shortage. Materials pick up services offered 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sunday | Closed |
Monday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
- Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Tue., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
- Thu., Nov. 27 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
Services
- Book Drop
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Printing Services
- Reference Services
- Wi-Fi
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Computer lab
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Handicapped accessible
- Meeting space (reservation required)
- Parking lot
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking (free)
- Street parking
- Study rooms
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Sketch Club
Thu, August 14, 2025
2:30 P.M.
Are you interested in learning how to sketch, or just want a relaxing space to draw with others? Come join our Beginners Sketch Club , which is a welcoming, no-pressure group for teens and adults. You can learn the fundamentals of drawing such as working with shapes, texture, shading and…
Sketch Club
Thu, August 21, 2025
2:30 P.M.
Are you interested in learning how to sketch, or just want a relaxing space to draw with others? Come join our Beginners Sketch Club , which is a welcoming, no-pressure group for teens and adults. You can learn the fundamentals of drawing such as working with shapes, texture, shading and…
Snakes Alive!
Mon, August 25, 2025
3:15 P.M.
Join snake expert Scott Prior for a fun, interactive presentation of live snakes (all harmless) from around the world. We'll learn general information on types of snakes, their habits, care and conservation, and he will help dispell any negativity or fears. If you dare, you may…
Yoga Storytime
Wed, August 27, 2025
11:00 A.M.
Stretch, breathe, and imagine! This playful program combines children's stories with beginner-friendly yoga poses and calming mindfulness exercises. As we read picture books aloud, kids will act out characters and scenes using yoga movements - like becoming tall trees, fluttering…
About
Located at the intersection of 74th Avenue, Washington Lane, and Limekiln Pike, the West Oak Lane Branch serves West Oak Lane and parts of Cedarbrook, Ivy Hill, and East Mt. Airy.
Find us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/WOLLibrary to see our programs and activities!
History
Before 1854, when the area became incorporated into the city of Philadelphia, the future neighborhood of West Oak Lane was made up of settlements called Pleasantville, Cedar Park and Pittville. As the region was mostly farmland in the 19th century, they were not really towns, just crossroads or a few acres of cleared land.
It is reported that a realtor began calling this collection of settlements West Oak Lane to distinguish it from Oak Lane, which occupied the area east of Old York Road and Broad Street. The area was officially named West Oak Lane in 1925, when real estate development began in earnest.
Limekiln Pike takes its name from the limestone quarries in Montgomery County, the road's original terminus. This old road, running north-south through the West Oak Lane community, was a toll road from 1735 to 1903. One of the toll gatehouses still stands.
A block away, Ogontz Avenue is named for Chief Ogontz, a Native American who entertained Civil War financier Jay Cooke when Cooke was a boy at his family's home in Sandusky Ohio. In 1865, Cooke named his Oak Lane mansion for Chief Ogontz.
The West Oak Lane Branch first opened to the public on August 26, 1957. 2,000 people visited the library during the first hour it was open. In 1980, disaster struck, and the West Oak Lane Branch was almost totally destroyed by fire. After reconstruction, it re-opened in 1985. The library was renovated in 2000 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet access to every branch.
Look for sculptures of abstract mask forms in the picture book area. Artist Charles Searles created them, reflecting his American, African and Native American heritage.