Oakland Public Library (Oakland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oakland Public Library |
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| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1915 |
| Location | 18 Church St., Oakland, Maine |
| Collection | |
| Size | 33,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 28,000 |
| Population served | 6,240 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $134,659 |
| Staff | 3 |
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Oakland Public Library
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 18 Church St., Oakland, Maine |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Coombs, Harry S. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Maine Public Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000375 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 2000 |
The Oakland Public Library is a special place in Oakland, Maine. You can find it at 18 Church Street. This library is inside a beautiful old building. It was designed by Harry S. Coombs in 1915. The building has a fancy style called Classical Revival style. In 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building. The library got a big update and grew larger in 2003.
The Library's Design and Look
The Oakland Public Library is on the east side of Church Street. It is a very nice building made of brick. It has one main floor and a sloped roof. The front of the building has three sections. The middle section sticks out a bit, forming an entryway.
You walk up stairs to reach the main door. Big concrete columns stand next to the entrance. The top of the entrance has a fancy decorated triangle shape. This decoration goes all the way around the building. The windows on the sides have three parts. They also have a small shelf-like part underneath them.
A Brief History of the Library
The library in Oakland started a long time ago, in 1891. At first, it was located in a different building called Memorial Hall. By 1911, the library had too many books. It needed a bigger space.
A local businessman asked Andrew Carnegie for money. Andrew Carnegie was a very rich person. He helped build many libraries across the country. At first, Carnegie said no. He thought the Memorial Hall space was big enough.
But in 1912, he agreed to give money. He had one condition: the town had to promise to take care of the new building. The Carnegie Foundation and the town committee then talked about the building's design. It took some time to agree on everything.
Finally, in 1914, the plans from architect Harry S. Coombs were approved. Alice Benjamin donated the land for the new library. The building was finished in 1915. It was built to hold about 4,000 books. By the 1990s, the library had grown to over 16,000 books!
In 2003, the library building became twice as big. This expansion made it easier for people with disabilities to visit. It also added more parking for everyone.
