America’s First Public Lending Library Memorial
Standing beside this marker for the Franklin Public Library, you are reminded of one of the town’s proudest distinctions: Franklin is the home to what is recognized as America’s first public lending library. The granite marker commemorates a moment in American history when the ideals of education, literacy and public access to knowledge became woven into the identity of this small Massachusetts town.
When this town incorporated, it called itself Franklin in honor of the founding father, Benjamin Franklin. The town had hope that Franklin might donate a bell to the town, but instead they received books. Franklin believed that “sense” was preferable to “sound” and in 1786, he donated 116 volumes for the use of the town residents. The collection included books on history, philosophy, theology, government, science, geography and practical knowledge.
At first there was a debate of who should be allowed to use the books. On November 20, 1790, Franklin’s town meeting voted to lend the books free of charge to all inhabitants of the town. That decision established the Franklin collection as what is considered America’s first public lending library.
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