Lithuanian Public Libraries

The first library was opened to the public of Šiauliai city in 1902. Its activities have been discontinued in 1914, with the start of World War I. 1920 witnessed the concern about the re-establishment of the public library and the State Public Library was established that was the only such library in the city until 1950.

Since 1951, the institution of the libraries in Šiauliai has accelerated: within 25 years 9 mass libraries were established. In 1977, they were integrated into the centralized system: a library network with the joint book stock, staff and centralized acquisition system was formed. On the basis of the 2nd mass library (established in 1951) Šiauliai City Central Library with 7 departments and 9 branches was established in 1977.

Since 1995, it functions as Šiauliai City Municipality Public Library with 6 departments: Reader Service, Bibliography & Reference, Children’s Literature, Document Acquisition & Processing, Methodics, and Maintenance.
At present, the Library has over 11 thousand readers. 180 thousand visitors come to the Library annually; the Library has a stock of 269,424 prints and subscribes 100 periodical titles.

The Library has 45 computerised work places, 24 of which are intended for users. The toy collection, the Internet reading-room, and the Children Information & Education Centre was set up; in Lieporiai, Rėkyva and Spindulys branches, the public Internet centres are established; other programmes are implemented and sponsors for their implementation are pursued. The Library has a collection of old and rare books (970 copies) and a collection of emigration publications (622 copies).