Vigo County Public Library
The Vigo County Public Library serves the people living in Terre Haute and Vigo County, Indiana. A funded public library, it has been in operation since 1882, when the existing library was purchased by local school trustees from the Terre Haute Library Association. Prior to this, there were multiple libraries in the Terre Haute area operated by various township and private organizations. When a state law in 1881 connected the establishment of free public libraries to common schools in cities with more than ten thousand residents, the Terre Haute Board of School Trustees organized the current set-up. In 1906, the library was moved to a new building and named the Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library. A West Branch was opened in 1961. The current main branch held its grand opening in 1979. Free cards there are to those who live, own property, or go to school or college in Vigo County. In addition to a wide-ranging collection of books, newspapers, and magazines, materials for local his ...
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Public Library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries: they are generally supported by taxes (usually local, though any level of government can and may contribute); they are governed by a board to serve the public interest; they are open to all, and every community member can access the collection; they are entirely voluntary, no one is ever forced to use the services provided and they provide library and information services services without charge. Public libraries exist in many countries across the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries, academic libraries and other special libraries. Their mandate is to serve the ...
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