The award-winning Plainfield Public Library serves Plainfield’s residential, educational, and business communities through a central 45,000sf facility that is open six days and four evenings a week. Through inter-local agreements, the Library also serves residents of many neighboring towns. The Library houses approximately 310,000 volumes, including 150,000 special collection items, and employs approximately forty full and part time staff members; fifteen of whom hold M.L.S. degrees.
Centrally located with free parking, the Library is heavily used as a community meeting place. Meeting rooms of various-sizes are available to the public for programs, meetings, tutoring, and private study. Special events, such as town-hall meetings and awards programs, are regularly sponsored by community organizations. The Library itself presents a variety of special events, such as exhibits by local artists and photographers, thematic local history exhibits, lectures, candidate forums, computer training, and children’s activities. The basic services of the Library are funded by the City of Plainfield. Grants from private and government agencies provide funds for upgrading and enhancing services.