Franklin Public Library is the first and oldest public lending library in continuous existence in the United States.

[1][2][4] Franklin's town meeting voted to lend the books to all Franklin inhabitants free of charge in 1790, and this small collection can therefore be considered the first public library in the United States.

[1][2] In 1904, the Ray family donated the current Ray Memorial Building which was dedicated as the first permanent building for the library collection.

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