U Varaždinu je između dvaju svjetskih ratova postojala intenzivna knjižnična
djelatnost. Većina značajnijih knjižnica bila je zatvorenog tipa, a djelovale su
u sklopu različitih varaždinskih društava. Društva Narodna čitaonica, Jugoslavensko
akademsko društvo „Tomislav“ i Radničko prosvjetno-kulturno društvo
„Sloboda“ u međuratnom razdoblju imali su knjižnice te su putem knjiga, novina,
časopisa, predavanja i ostalih aktivnosti marljivo radili na širenju kulture i
prosvjećivanju Varaždinaca. Kako bi knjige, novine te časopisi postali dostupni i
širim društvenim slojevima, početkom 1919. godine osnovana je Gradska pučka
knjižnica zahvaljujući inicijativi Gradskoga poglavarstva, Narodne čitaonice
i Jugoslavenskog akademskog društva „Tomislav“. Štoviše, neko vrijeme nakon
završetka II. svjetskog rata upravo je ujedinjenjem knjižne imovine međuratne
Gradske pučke knjižnice, Narodne čitaonice i Radničkog kulturno-umjetničkog
društva „Sloboda“ nastala nova institucija imena Knjižnica i čitaonica „Sloboda“.In Varaždin, the period between the two world wars was marked by intense
activities involving libraries. The majority of significant libraries were closed
stack libraries functioning within various Varaždin societies. During the interwar
period the National Reading Room, Yugoslav Academic Society “Tomislav” and
Workers’ Educational and Cultural Society “Sloboda” had their own libraries,
and through books, newspapers, magazines, lectures and other activities they
worked diligently on broadening the culture and education in Varaždin. In order
to make books, newspapers and magazines accessible to all society layers the
Public Town Library was founded at the beginning of the 19th century due to
the initiative of the Town Government, National Reading Room and Yugoslav
Academic Society “Tomislav”. Moreover, some time after the end of the Second
World War library items belonging to the Public Town Library, National Reading
Room and Workers’ Educational and Cultural Society “Sloboda” functioning in
the interwar period, were merged for the purpose of founding a new institution
named Library and Reading Room “Sloboda”
