Ben's Legacy

Ben’s Legacy

Ben Franklin was a busy man. Busy running his printing shop. Busy drawing and publishing the first political cartoon. Busy inventing stoves, bifocals, and musical instruments. Busy discovering that lightning is electricity and then inventing a lightning rod to safeguard houses against it. But Ben was never too busy for one of his favorite pursuits — reading.

In 1731, twenty-five-year-old Ben needed more books to read, so, along with a few like-minded friends in the Junto Philosophical Society, he started the first lending library in Philadelphia. The library had fifty subscribers, each paying 40 shillings to join and to stock books and pledging ten shillings a year to add to the collection. Members borrowed freely. Non-members could borrow books by putting up “surety,” something of value which could be sold if the books were not returned.

Franklin’s library spawned a city-wide interest in reading and libraries. By the 1740s, several other American cities opened their own libraries. Leaders realized that an educated public was necessary for a civilized society. Ben wrote, "these Libraries have improved the general Conversation of Americans, made the common Tradesman and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from other Countries, and perhaps have contributed in some Degree to the Stand so generally made throughout the Colonies in Defence of their Privileges.”

Ben placed the fate of the American colonies squarely on the shoulders of a population with access to books. Today, libraries are just as important. Access to knowledge must be available to all of our citizens so that they can contribute to society. Books, videos, and electronic information sources must be as available to everyone as Ben and his friends envisioned.

Today, many libraries face funding shortages. Some community leaders assume that the internet has replaced the library, that libraries are fossils of an earlier age. Educators and librarians know better. Not every student has equal access. Not all people have tablets or laptops. Many use the library every day to complete and submit homework assignments, find information for projects, research and apply for jobs, or enter the magical world of reading. The library provides space for tutoring, language acquisition, and community clubs and resources. Librarians help patrons find the information they need, organize it for use, and acquire literacy.  

Having a library in your community lifts the economy. Job seekers use library computers and newspapers to find jobs. Realtors point out community libraries to home-buyers and businesses. Clubs have a place to meet. A library is a hive for learning — each patron using it with the goal of securing knowledge to produce something good.

The Junto Club took as its motto: To support the common good is divine. Libraries support the common good. How can we support our libraries? Join up. Get a library card — no surety required! Visit often and take out books. Many funding sources rely on statistics based on traffic and lending to allocate funds. Donate to your local libraries at book sales or just for the good of it. Follow in the footsteps of Ben and his friends. Visit your library today and support the common good. 

(The American Philosophical is still open in the building adjacent to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Visit to see some of Ben’s books!)