Session description:
Kaunas City Municipality Vincas Kudirkas Public Library is one of the oldest municipal public libraries in Lithuania. It was founded in 1925. April 24 and immediately acquired the name of Vincos Kudirkas. The founder and first manager of the library is Vincas Ruzgas, a pedagogue and museologist. Its fund consisted of books donated by pedagogues and other intellectuals of that time.
in 1925 April 25 in the newspaper "Lietuva" it was written: "Yesterday 5 v. vak. Laisves Al. 48 no. a reading room named after Vincas Kudirkas of the city municipality was opened. The mayor of the city, members of the education commission and the city council, primary school teachers and others participated in the opening ceremony. The reading room has a large, beautifully decorated and neatly furnished hall. In the meantime, there are only 4 incomplete cupboards with books, but we have to hope that the generous society will fill not only theirs, but others as well."
Vincos Kudirka's reading room was loved by the townspeople and was widely visited, and in 1939 it was already visited by a million readers. At that time, the library had more than 13 thousand books. books in Lithuanian, Russian, German, Polish, French, etc. languages.
From its foundation until 1960. the library was often moved from one room to another. 1930 the library was moved to a more secluded place - the corner of Kanto and Nemunas streets (Fireman's Palace). After 10 years, it moved again to new premises in the then Ugniagesių st. 4 (now J. Gruodis st.). After the start of the war, the library was returned to Kanto and Nemunas streets. the corner. It operated there until 1944, until August 3. library funds were destroyed during a German air raid. She had to move to the former premises of the Jewish Bank at Laisvės al. 76, but again, not for long. Due to the poor condition of the building, the library could not function there for long. In the local press, it was written about the intention to build a modern library building, but it remained only an intention. The library was located in the Old Town, at that time on Banaičio st. 10 (now - A. Mapu str.). Not long after, it was moved again, this time to K. Donelaičio St. 46, then to Kęstučius st. 19, and then to K. Donelaičio st. 13. After long "wanderings" around the center of Kaunas, the library in 1960 located at Laisvės al. 57, where it continues its activities until now.
