Citizens Library & District Center

Mission

Our mission at Citizens Library is provide the resources to enrich, inform, and educate the public.

Goals

To ensure that all patrons will be able to rely on the quality and integrity of the library’s information, services and staff.
To select, acquire, organize, and maintain a diverse collection of materials in the most appropriate format.
To promote intellectual freedom and cultural growth.
To develop and maintain effective leadership on board, administrative, and staff levels.
To encourage staff participation, open communication, and development.
To implement ongoing fund development in order to achieve long-term financial stability.
To cooperate with government agencies, non-profits, and local businesses.
To develop and maintain local information and history collections.


Citizens Library is the District Center for all the libraries in Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties. It coordinates activities by the libraries and acts as an intermediary between the libraries and the state. The Washington County Library System is a loose federation of libraries in Washington County which guarantees library service to any county resident. The Greene County Library System is comprised of Bowlby Public Library and Flenniken Public Library. Fayette County consists of four state-aided libraries.



Founding

Citizens Library was founded in 1870 by Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, a leading citizen of this area in the 19th century. Until 1965, when the new building was dedicated, Citizens was located in the Town Hall for which the cornerstone was laid in 1869 by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1904, the Current Events Club of Washington persuaded the Washington Borough Council and the Washington School Board to contribute equal sums yearly to the library, transforming it from a fee to a free institution.