Our Mission, Vison, Purpose and History
Vision
We intend to provide an environment where lifelong habits of learning, self-improvement, and self-expression are encouraged, and where patrons can meet their educational, informational, and recreational needs. To also provide the materials and information to improve the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom for all who make contact with us, especially the patrons of the Lebanon-Laclede County Library area.
Mission
We seek to provide the information and materials to inform, educate, inspire, and entertain. Also to reach out to the general public to make them aware of all the Library offers. And to provide the training to staff to improve their abilities to provide these services.
Purpose
The Library system is community-focused and committed to providing public access for patrons to informational materials regardless of format with friendly, competent, accurate, and expeditious service.
The Library's essential services include a highly trained and dedicated staff, a wide array of library programs, a broad range of reference assistance a balance of print and technological resources, and a museum.
We seek to make the best use of the funds provided by tax payers, general contributions, and the fund raising efforts to the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation.
A little history on our Library
We started out as the Shakespeare Club in 1896 with 50 books. These books were kept in a cabinet in the home of Mrs. Mary Wallace for 2 years. After that, the cabinet was moved to various stores and was manned by volunteers. The collection moved in 1920 to the Laclede County Courthouse and there it remained until 1936. A Library tax was passed in 1938, and on June 6 of that year the Lebanon Public Library was opened with Mrs. Charlotte Bass as the Librarian. In 1951 the Lebanon Public Library opened its doors to a newly constructed building at 135 Harwood. In 1961 the Lebanon Public Library and the Laclede County Library merged, creating a new City-County Library. Shortly after that a regional system was started, creating Kinderhook Regional Library. The Regional system continued for many years until 2000, when we became Lebanon-Laclede County Library. We remained at the Harwood location until 2004, when the collection was then moved to our present location.