Lithuanian Public Libraries

On 15 March 1937, the State Public Library was established in Pakruojis. Occupation of Lithuania has changed the work of the Library: stock clean-up was started, when the old literate was replaced by prints of the soviet ideology. In 1941, the Library was closed and lots of books were lost. Its work was resumed in 1944, when the frontline passed.

After spending almost 40 years in the building of the cultural centre, in 1998, the Library moved to the renovated and much more spacious premises in the centre of the city. It was granted the name of the fellow-countryman and writer Juozas Paukštelis. In the name of the friendship between Pakruojis and the Swedish Mariestad city in 2000, Mariestad Environmental Community has granted the first new computer to the Library that was connected to the Internet.

Since 2000, the Library takes part in the project EU Libraries in the Lithuanian Libraries. During implementation of this project Information Centre of the European Commission Delegation to Lithuania has granted a computer and a printer with all the software to the Library.

In 2000, the Children’s Literature sector has moved to the new renovated premises. With the winning of the project Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programmes, the toy collection was set up in the Children’s Literature sector and with continuation of this project in 2001, a video collection was set up.

In 2002, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania the Internet reading-room with 4 workstations was launched at the Library. The Library subscribes the electronic data bases. After winning the call for applications of the Open Society Fund Lithuania Development of Services to the Community in Lithuanian Public Libraries in 2002, a Foreign Language Learning Centre was established in the Children’s Literature sector. The Library provides a number of paid services: document scanning, binding and lamination.

Under the project of Window to the Future alliance the Public Internet Centre was opened in Linkuva city branch in late 2002. 2 computerised work places were set up. Public Internet access points were established in the libraries of Balsiai, Guostagalis, Klovainiai, Lygumos, Medikonys, Pašvitinys, Rozalimas, Ūdekos and Žeimelis under the project Establishment of Public Internet Access Points in Rural Areas.

At present, Juozas Paukštelis Public Library has 2 departments and 24 branches. Its book-stock comprises over 237 thousand items of printed matter. Unconventional work forms are employed to interest the residents in the library; affinity clubs and groups meet there.