The Franklin Public library is considered America's first public library. According to a publication, "A History of America's First Public Library at Franklin, Ma," in 1778, when the town was incorporated, the designated name Exeter was changed to Franklin in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. In return, Franklin was asked to donate a bell for the town's church steeple. 
Acknowledging that ‘sense" was preferable to "sound", Dr. Franklin responded with an offer of books to be used by the town's residents. When the books arrived, a great controversy arose over who should use them On November 20, 1790, those attending Franklin's town meeting voted to lend the books to all Franklin inhabitants free of charge. This vote established the Franklin collection as the first public library in the United States. The original Franklin collection is still housed in a book case in the library's Reading Gallery.
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