The Free Public Library Service (FPLS) was one of two state library agencies in
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
.
It was created in 1894 through an act of the State Legislature.
The act mandated the creation of a state board of library commissioners, who would offer advice to existing free public libraries.
The commission would also offer $100 for towns without libraries to purchase books to start a library, provided they set it up with a trained board of trustees.
FPLS ran a series of regional libraries, maintained a
union catalog
A union catalog is a combined library catalog describing the collections of a number of libraries. Union catalogs have been created in a range of media, including book format, microform, cards and more recently, networked electronic databases. Pri ...
, and provided for
bookmobile
A bookmobile, or mobile library, is a vehicle designed for use as a library. They have been known by many names throughout history, including traveling library, library wagon, book wagon, book truck, library-on-wheels, and book auto service. Boo ...
and
interlibrary loan
Inter-library loan (abbreviated ILL, sometimes called document delivery, document supply, inter-lending, inter-library services, inter-loan, or resource sharing) is a service that enables patrons of one library to borrow materials that are held by ...
services in the state between 1894 and 1970.
It also oversaw the
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
The Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) annually recognizes one new American children's book selected by the vote of Vermont schoolchildren. It was inaugurated in 1957.
The award is co-spon ...
and provided library services to individuals with print disabilities.
It merged with the State Library to become the
Department of Libraries on March 31, 1970.
Bookmobile service
FPLS began Vermont's first "book-wagon" service in 1922 funded by the state
Federation of Women's Clubs.
It delivered book and other materials to small libraries, and loaned materials directly to individuals in towns without libraries.
By 1940, FPLS has developed regional library services and divided the state into four regions, each with its own bookwagon funded by the Federation of Women's Clubs.
In 1957 as a result of funding received through the new federal
Library Services Act, FPLS purchased two larger type bookwagons that could hold materials and patrons.
In 1970, FPLS merged with the State Library to create the Department of Libraries.
The State Board of Libraries decided to discontinue state-operated bookmobile service in 1974.
FPLS Executive Secretaries
References
Libraries in Vermont
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