What is the purpose of the Presidential Library?

It is for historic preservation.

Across the U.S. there are a lot of libraries that are historically preserved and serve mainly as libraries for old out of print books.

Here is a link to an article about one.

http://articles.philly.com/1993-03-07/news/2595102...

Presidential libraries preserve Presidential papers and documents; acquire books, films, and videotapes about Presidents; conduct oral history interviews with members of Presidential administrations; sponsor research conferences; and provide scholars with access to Presidential documents.

The White House papers and documents of all Presidents from George Washington through Warren Harding are located in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. All Presidents beginning with Herbert Hoover have donated their White House papers to separate Presidential libraries. The libraries are built with private funds. The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955 provided that the National Archives and the National Park Service would maintain the libraries and grounds and would fund professional archivists to take care of and catalog all Presidential papers. These libraries are supervised by their own governing boards and library staffs. The Presidential Libraries Act of 1986 provided that George Bush and his successors would have to use private funds to operate as well as build their Presidential libraries.

The Richard M. Nixon Library is an entirely private operation that receives no public funding and does not contain any original Presidential documents. According to the terms of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 and subsequent laws, Nixon's original papers and tapes are stored in a warehouse controlled by the National Archives.

Presidential libraries opened prior to 1978 are subject to restrictions imposed by each individual President on the use of his White House papers. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 divides materials for all Presidents elected after 1980 into two categories: Presidential papers and personal papers. The personal papers are those that “do not relate to or have an effect upon the carrying out of the constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties of the President,” such as a personal diary or personal correspondence. Presidents may put whatever restrictions they wish on their personal papers.

In the category of Presidential papers, former Presidents can restrict national security information and personnel files for up to 12 years; all other types of Presidential papers must be open within 5 years. Individuals such as cabinet secretaries or White House aides who donate materials (including oral histories) to Presidential libraries may place their own restrictions on use.

http://www.answers.com/topic/presidential-library

Moondog nails it.

The papers made while the President is in office are the property of the nation, not the fellow who had been President. Having the papers in his home state is a benefit to historians, who would also be doing research at other libraries in that state. It doesn't hurt to have some tourism go to the home state rather than to Washington D.C. And, "Don't keep all your eggs in one basket." applies to historical sources as much as it does to hen output.

These aren't libraries where you go in and check out books. They contain all the papers and information from a presidents term. It is like a memorial to each president.

first of all...

LMAOROFTL @ WIZARD09's response. Good one.

Secondly.....

There is no " THE Presidential Library"

There are many such libraries - each a storehouse of info on ONE President.

Was hoping that George W. Bush's would have pics of him in prison orange for his war crimes.

Bush needs a place to keep his Dr. Seus collection.