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History of Dole Branch Library and Dole Learning Center
In October 1918 a deposit collection was placed in Fair Oaks
Pharmacy at Ridgeland and Chicago Avenues. A storefront branch
was set up at 212 Chicago Avenue in 1923 and it was moved to
208 Chicago Avenue in 1932.
In 1939 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Dole presented the building at
Augusta Street and Cuyler Street to the Village of Oak Park
to be used for for "cultural and recreational purposes."
In 1940 the North Branch Library moved to its current location
in the re-modeled, village-owned Dole building and became the
Dole Branch Library.
The current building serving as the Dole Learning Center
has a history of varied purposes and renovations.
North Congregational Church
 A
prairie landmark which had been moved from Iowa Street in
Oak Park in 1906 occupied the site when local architects Tallmadge
and Watson designed a New England style church with a belfry
and community house for the North Congregational Church. A
more modest building was erected in 1926 around the already
existing frame structure of the prairie landmark. The rapidly
growing number of automobiles made transportation to larger
central churches more convenient and the neighborhood church,
North Congregational, closed less than a decade after construction.
Oak Park Junior College (1933 - 1938)
In the fall of 1933 the old church became the Oak Park Junior
College. The Oak Park Junior College operated from 1933 to 1938.
Two views of the Oak Park Junior College
from the North West.
Dole Learning Center
 By
1939 the building had changed hands twice more. Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Dole, the new owners, presented the old college building
to the Village of Oak Park for "cultural and recreational
purposes" to be decided by the Village Board. The board
decided it should be used as a branch of the Public Library,
and later, for recreational purposes. In May of 1940 the North
Branch extension of the Oak Park Public Library (originally
housed at Fair Oaks Pharmacy at Ridgeland and Chicago), finally
moved to the re-modeled, re-conditioned Dole building.
Early photograph of the
circulation desk
at the Dole Branch Library. New Design for Dole Learning Center
The Village of Oak Park began renovations
to the Dole Learning Center in January 2001. In 2002 the
Library renovated the main library room and community room within
the Dole Learning Center.
 Drawing
of the new exterior viewed from Cuyler Street to the west. Presentation
elevation by Image Fiction.
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