Paul Allen Towne (December 8, 1823 - August 27, 1903) was an American educator, bibliophile, editor and librarian.
Two years before coming to Louisville, Towne catalogued the library of the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, New York.
In 1872, Towne was hired by Reuben T. Durrett, as librarian of the Public Library of Kentucky, located in downtown Louisville.
In 1877, Towne wrote for the Louisville Monthly, a magazine, where he published articles about the Public Library of Kentucky and the Polytechnic Society.
His discharge came after he refused to surrender the safe in his office and card-index to his catalogue of books.