Library Notes

On this day 278 years ago (July 1,1731)

Benjamin Franklin began the first circulating

library, The Library Company of Philadelphia.

In those days books were more expensive than

most people could afford. So Franklin invited

50 intellectual friends to share the expense by

pooling their funds. Each contributed 4o shillings

to help buy books and 10 more in yearly dues.

Donated books were also gratefully accepted.

In exchange, members could borrow what they

wanted to read. From the Revolution to 1800

while Philadelphia was the capital of the US

it served as the Library of Congress. Until 1850

it was the largest library in the country.

Today, The Library Company of Philadelphia

continues as an historical research library

(right down the street from here) of the

17th -19th centuries. The original books in

Ben Franklin's library are still in the collection.

http://www.librarycompany.org/

The first library on wheels was begun

in 1905 by Mary L. Titcomb, head of the

Hagerstown, MD Public Library.

Like Franklin, Mary Titcomb wanted to make

books available to people who could not

afford them. Mostly rural families who

lived far from towns with libraries.

At first she placed circulating books in general

stores and churches.

Then she designed a horse drawn wagon that could

carry hundreds of books around the countryside.

I am posting several of my illustrations from

Nancy Smiler Levinson's, Clara & The Bookwagon.

A fictional account of the very real Ms. Titicomb

and her brilliant idea.

Note:

My "model" for Ms. Titicom's wagon, was an actual

delivery wagon that the old and now sadly closed,

Strawbridge & Clothier department store used to

have on display in the food hall on the first floor.