Introduction. The purpose of this research is to investigate the significance of public libraries as educational institutions. The meaning of lifelong learning in public libraries from the perspective of women's autonomous activities is re-examined. Method. The literature of the grassroots library movement and that of the empowerment of women is analysed within the framework of critical theory. The focus is on the history of a specific study group. Results. The research shows public libraries as mechanisms for empowering women and their learning efforts affirm their identities as independent women learners. It also describes how their activities broke the relationship between libraries as providers and citizens as beneficiaries merely enjoying fixed library services. Conclusion. Women's autonomous learning shows the essential value of the public library's function of providing lifelong learning. It validates the existence of public libraries, which have a unique role in society. Public libraries are places where lifelong learning is fully achieved in relation to empowering women. [This paper was published as part of: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science, Copenhagen, Denmark, 19-22 August, 2013.]