First Public Lending Library in America (1731) – 52 Weeks of Firsts
Posted to Washington Square West on January 3, 2026
Check it out… no, really! Founded by Ben Franklin, the Library Company became America's first public lending library, putting books in hands and ideas in motion. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia wrote the first chapter.
Check it out… no, really! Founded by Ben Franklin, the Library Company became America's first public lending library, putting books in hands and ideas in motion. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia wrote the first chapter.
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Check it out… no, really! Founded by Ben Franklin, the Library Company became America's first public lending library, putting books in hands and ideas in motion. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia wrote the first chapter.
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