Oak Lawn Branch Library
🏢 Dallas Public Library · Dallas, Texas
Oak Lawn Branch Library
Rooted in Cedar Springs Road since 1929 and home to one of the largest circulating LGBTQ+ collections in the country, the Oak Lawn Branch is both a neighborhood library and a cultural anchor for Dallas's historic LGBTQ+ community — its rainbow Progress Pride front steps a visible symbol of welcome on the Strip.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 4100 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 670-1359
Website: dallaslibrary.org
Plus Code: 8645R56Q+X2 (Dallas, TX)
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📖 About Oak Lawn Branch Library
The Oak Lawn Branch began in 1929 as a children's book depository inside Sam Houston Elementary School at 2827 Throckmorton Street, moved to rented quarters on Reagan Street in 1930, and settled into its current 1996 building at 4100 Cedar Springs Road through a public-private partnership: Kroger purchased the prior branch site for $1 million and funded construction of the new library at the corner of Cedar Springs and Knight Street. The branch serves the dense, walkable Oak Lawn neighborhood — historically the heart of Dallas's LGBTQ+ community — and has been building its collection of LGBTQ+ literature since the 1980s; a major donation from ilume GALLERIE and the Stonewall National Museum and Archives placed it among the largest circulating (non-reference) LGBTQ+ collections in the United States. In June 2026, the library unveiled rainbow Progress Pride steps at its entrance, joining Oak Lawn United Methodist Church's steps as twin colorful bookends to the Cedar Springs corridor. Beyond its collections, the branch doubles as the busiest voting center in the city, hosts monthly art exhibitions by local artists, and is supported by the Oak Lawn Library Friends (founded 1995), who fund programming extras including the Knittie Gritties knitting group, sewing classes, and seed library.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1929 — one of the oldest branches in the Dallas Public Library system, now in its 1996 Cedar Springs Road building built with a $1 million Kroger partnership
- Home to one of the largest circulating LGBTQ+ collections in the U.S., built since the 1980s and bolstered by donations from ilume GALLERIE and the Stonewall National Museum and Archives
- Rainbow Progress Pride front steps unveiled June 27, 2026 — a community-funded landmark on Cedar Springs, the heart of Dallas's LGBTQ+ neighborhood
- Busiest voting center in the city on Election Day, with consistent lines spanning the block; meeting rooms and auditorium available for community use
- Seed Library on-site (open-pollinated & heirloom seeds to borrow), monthly local-artist exhibitions, and active Friends group running Knittie Gritties, sewing classes, and gardening programs
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Dallas Public Library cardholders access books, films, and research databases free — including TexShare's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet and word processing
- Notary services
- Job and technology assistance
- Tax preparation help (seasonal)
- Library card registration
- Meeting rooms and auditorium for community events
- Seed Library — borrow open-pollinated and heirloom seeds
- Interlibrary loan via Dallas Public Library network
- LEAP Backpacks for children
- Voting center — busiest in Dallas on Election Day
🎸 Programs
- Oak Lawn Book Club — monthly novel discussions (contact branch for schedule)
- Knittie Gritties Knitting Group — regular meetups for all skill levels
- Sewing Classes — hands-on sessions coordinated by the Oak Lawn Library Friends
- Gardening Programs — seasonal workshops paired with the in-branch seed library
- Monthly Local Artist Exhibitions — rotating visual art shows in the branch
- Children's Storytime and Family Programming — ongoing; contact branch for current schedule
- Homework Help for K–12 students
📍 Nearby Libraries in Dallas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oak Lawn Branch's LGBTQ+ collection, and how did it come about?
The Oak Lawn Branch has been building its collection of LGBTQ+ literature since the 1980s, making it one of the longest-running efforts of its kind in U.S. public libraries. A landmark donation from ilume GALLERIE in partnership with the Stonewall National Museum and Archives placed the branch's circulating (non-reference) LGBTQ+ collection among the largest in the country. The collection covers fiction, nonfiction, memoir, history, and youth titles — all borrowable on a standard library card, no special access required.
What are the rainbow steps at the Oak Lawn Branch Library?
On June 27, 2026, the City of Dallas unveiled rainbow Progress Pride-painted steps at the front entrance of the Oak Lawn Branch, following a community ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration. The steps were a direct community response to the removal of rainbow crosswalks elsewhere in the neighborhood and were funded through local advocacy and city support. They now form one of two 'rainbow bookends' on the Cedar Springs corridor, with the other at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church.
Why is the 1996 building located at Cedar Springs and Knight Street?
The original Oak Lawn Branch occupied a building that sat in the middle of what became a Kroger parking lot. In 1995, the Dallas City Council approved a public-private partnership: Kroger paid $1 million to purchase the library's prior site and funded construction of a new branch on the corner of Cedar Springs Road and Knight Street. The new building opened December 15, 1996, and has served the neighborhood from that location ever since.
Does the Oak Lawn Branch have extended evening hours, and are meeting rooms available?
Yes — the branch stays open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays (versus the standard 5 p.m. closing Mon, Tue, Fri), and until 4 p.m. on Saturdays; it is closed Sundays. Meeting rooms and an auditorium are available for reservation Tuesday through Saturday (10am–5pm weekdays; 10am–4pm Saturdays). Contact the branch at (214) 670-1359 or oaklawn@dallas.gov to check availability.
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