Private Contributions Enhance Public Libraries

Abstract

When Benjamin Franklin wrote about launching a subscription library two hundred seventy years ago, he effectively described the basis of how to begin the process of expanding a funding base. Today, and into the twenty-first century, this passage holds true for library fund raising. Many issues important to lending libraries echo in Franklin's words -- the concept of fines for materials returned late, or not returned; the practicality of a book-lending institution for its users; the heightened image of a community with a library; the entertainment value; and the "bragging rights" of a literate, informed citizenry. All are important still today. Yet what is even more startling about this passage is the keen intuition of Franklin the philanthropic fund raiser in quietly making the case for private support for libraries.