Books were rare and expensive in colonial America, but Franklin had an idea. He conceived of a library with a subscription fee, the Library Company of Philadelphia, which he founded in 1731.

To wit: the Norfolk County town of Franklin is home to America's first public library. And who donated the original set of dozens of books that gave the Franklin Public Library its start in 1790?

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va ... The policy implemented last fall allows employees and parents to request books in the library to be reviewed. They also give parents the opportunity to fill out a form ...

According to the website of the Franklin Public Library, Franklin instead decided to donate a collection of books. After some controversy over who should have access to Franklin's books ...