The building was built in six years from 1882 until 1888. Even during the tsarist occupation, the "Žiburys" society began to operate in Vilkaviškis. It encouraged people to move to cities, founded schools, bookstores, and organized plays. The first Lithuanian gymnasium established in Vilkaviškis was named "Žiburys". In 1930, the surname of Jonas Basanavičius appeared in the name of the gymnasium. Kazys Bradūnas, Antanas Vaičiulaitis, Salomeja Nėris walked through the corridors of the building in the past. After the war, the People‘s Commissariat of Internal Affairs (Rus. NKVD) built interrogation cells in the basements of the old building. Students could hear the screams of tortured prisoners while sitting in class. In 1978, the Central Library moved into this building, which on 15 October 1995 changed its name and became the Vilkaviškis Public Library.
Reviews