This month’s Second Sunday Speaker Series at the Franklin Historical Museum on August 16th will feature “Massachusetts: The Library State,” a presentation, by Alan Earls, about the amazing history and cultural treasures represented across the Bay State’s hundreds of libraries.

When Benjamin Franklin donated more than 100 books to the tiny Massachusetts town, newly named in his honor, he probably didn’t realize the impact he would have. In 1790, the citizens of the Town of Franklin voted to make Ben’s books freely available to any resident – a library policy that is all but universal in today’s libraries but was a novelty at the time. His books are still on display at the Franklin Public Library, though too fragile for modern citizens to borrow or even touch. 

Those books are among the treasures and the remarkable stories of our libraries, including:

• The oldest library building in the United States, now part of the Sturgis Library in Barnstable, MA

• The location of the first dedicated children’s library in the world, at Arlington, MA

• The first taxpayer-supported library, at Wayland, MA –a town named for its library benefactor.

• The W.E.B. Dubois Library at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, the tallest in the western hemisphere. 

• The first large city library to be funded by the public-— the Boston Public Library – with its millions of books and priceless art treasures.

• A death on the Titanic that led to creation of the Centerpiece of the Harvard Libraries -- largest academic library system in the world.

• Local libraries with remarkable art treasures

• In addition to dozens of libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie, the story of many other wealthy individuals who funded local libraries is fascinating and inspiring. For example, merchant Jacob Edwards funded the library that bears his name in Southbridge, MA. He was also responsible for acquiring many of the most famous impressionist paintings now at the Museum of Fine Art!

In his presentation, local author and historian, Alan Earls, will help you look at our library legacy with fresh appreciation and excitement.

The museum opens at 1 p.m.; our presentation begins at 1:15.