Danforth
Illinois
Franklin Public Library
Hours
Monday to Thursday: 9:00am to 8:00pm
Friday to Saturday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:30pm to 5:00pm (Sept - May only)
History
The Franklin Public Library is considered America's first public library. In 1778, when the town was incorporated, the designated name Exeter was changed to Franklin in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. In return Franklin was asked to donate a bell for the town's church steeple. Acknowledging that "sense" was preferable to "sound", Dr. Franklin responded with an offer of books for the use of the town's residents. When the volumes arrived, a great controversy arose over who should be allowed to use them. On November 20th, 1790, those attending Franklin's town meeting voted to lend the books to all Franklin inhabitants free of charge. This vote established the Franklin collection as the first public library in the United States. The original Franklin collection is still housed in a book case in the library's Reading Gallery.
In 1904, the Ray Memorial Building was dedicated and the Franklin Library got a permanent building - a gift from the Ray family. That same year, the Ray family also established the Ray Memorial fund to provide for and maintain the building.
The Franklin Library Association ran the library until 1981 when the Franklin Public Library became a department of the town of Franklin. From 1987 to 1989, the Library underwent extensive restoration to maintain the original beauty and splendor of this beautiful classical Greek structure and to add a children's wing.
In 1990, commemorate the library's bicentennial, the Franklin Public Library Bicentnnial Commission published a short history of the library, "A History of America's First Public Library at Franklin Massachusetts, 1790 ~ 1990" written by John Peters and Nina C. Santoro.
Recent News
Franklin Public Library News And Events - September 2023
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Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - March 2023
Library Hours The Library’s regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Book Sale Franklin Library Book Sale Friday, March 17,…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - February 2023
February 2023 Franklin Library News & Events Library Hours The Library’s regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - January 2023
Library Hours The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library will be closed on Sunday, January 1st and Monday, January…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News and Events - December 2022
Library Hours The Library’s regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library will be closing at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23rd,…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News and Events - November 2022
Library Hours The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library will be closed Friday, November 11th for Veteran’s Day and…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - October 2022
Library Hours The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library will be closed Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day and…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - September 2022
Library Hours The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Library will be closed Monday, September 5th for Labor Day. Sunday hours will resume September 11th,…
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - August 2022
Library Hours The Library’s summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Library is closed on Sundays in July and August. Book Sale Franklin Library Book Sale …
Read More »Franklin Public Library News And Events - July 2022
Library Hours The Franklin Public Library will be closed Monday, July 4th for Independence Day. The Library’s summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Library is…
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