The Library Company is America's first successful lending library and oldest cultural institution. It was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library supported by its shareholders, as it is to this day. See: http://www.librarycompany.org/about/index.htm
-- Libarian, University of Hawaii at Manoa
That is not an easy question to answer. Several libraries might be considered for the title; however, the Darby Free Library in Darby, Pennsylvania is probably the winner.
* Added - the Public Library solely supported by public contributions, a free public library, was opened in Dublin, New Hampshire in 1822. It lays claim to being the first in the US.
Library Company of Philadelphia was the very first lending library in America. It was founded by Benjamin Franklin during the 1731, he worked there for a good 3 months as a librarian.
The town of Peterborough, NH established the first free publicly funded library in the world in 1833.
In 1890, the first Illinois public library opened in Princeton, Illinois. The library began as a dream of Nehemiah Matson in 1885.
The first public libary in England was in the year 1608
Plymouth
The first free public library supported by taxation was the Peterborough, New Hampshire Public Library, established on April 9, 1833.
John Bright opened the first free public library in 1874 (that is also when it was built)
Benjamin Franklin
That is not an easy question to answer. Several libraries might be considered for the title; however, the Darby Free Library in Darby, Pennsylvania is probably the winner. * Added - the Public Library solely supported by public contributions, a free public library, was opened in Dublin, New Hampshire in 1822. It lays claim to being the first in the US.
sidney public library
Scoville Public Library in Salisbury, Connecticut claims to be the oldest public library; they have a plaque.
The first public libary in England was in the year 1608
In 1890, the first Illinois public library opened in Princeton, Illinois. The library began as a dream of Nehemiah Matson in 1885.
The address of the Quemado Public Library is: 19791 Us 277, Quemado, 78877 M
The first public library was opened in 1747 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Benjamin Franklin. It was called the Library Company of Philadelphia and allowed members to borrow books for free.
The address of the Bartlett Public Library is: 1313 Us Rte 302, Bartlett, 03812 0399
Illinois first public libary opened in this town
Plymouth
The address of the Mounds Public Library is: 418 First Street, Mounds, 62964 1208