Members of younger generations living in the neighborhood likely think the Lakewood Branch of the Dallas Public Library has occupied today's location since its inception.

Older generations of residents know better.

For the first 32 years of its existence, the library operated out of what now is the Diener Mills Building, in the same parking lot as the Lakewood Theater and Matt's Rancho Martinez.

Lakewood Library friends wants to hear from people who have recollections of visiting the library when it occupied its original site and would like to get photos of the library dating back to its initial run from 1938-70 in the building.

Copies of those old photos — not the originals — and written recollections can be dropped off at or mailed to the library's contemporary location at 6121 Worth St.

The memories will be woven into the 70th anniversary celebration of the library, which takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 13. The recollections will help punctuate an address by local historian, author, and speaker Rose-Mary Rumbley, whose mother took her to the library's opening in 1938.