What was the first public library in the US?

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

The town of Peterborough, NH established the first free publicly funded library in the world in 1833.