Approximately 9,000 library systems operate across the United States, comprising more than 17,000 individual branches that collectively draw around 800 million in-person visits each year. Libraries are funded primarily through local property taxes, with additional support from state grants and federal programs.
The roots of the American public library trace back to Benjamin Franklin, who founded the country's first lending library in 1731 and later donated a book collection to a Massachusetts town that later became home to the nation's first public library. The first municipally funded free library opened in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1833. The development of libraries in the US was driven, in part, by Andrew Carnegie's donations to build over 1,600 library buildings and by women's clubs that organized and lobbied for libraries in communities that lacked them.
Today, libraries offer services that extend well beyond books, including free internet access, digital literacy training, job assistance, and community programming.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
Franklin convinced members of his intellectual club to pool resources and purchase books none could afford individually. The Library Company of Philadelphia was founded with 50 shareholders, each contributing 40 shillings, and served as the unofficial, de facto Library of Congress from the Revolutionary War until 1800.
In 1778, the town of Franklin, Massachusetts—named in his honor—asked Benjamin Franklin for a bell, but he donated a book collection instead, saying "sense" was more important than "sound." Residents voted in 1790 to make the books freely available to all, creating the nation's first public library.
Greg Priore, who managed the library's rare book collection, systematically removed maps and prints and sold them through a local bookseller. He was eventually caught during a routine audit and sentenced to three years of house arrest.
Property taxes form the backbone of most library budgets, covering staff and operations. State grants expand access to literacy and technology programs, while federal funding helps libraries in rural and low-income communities.
Carnegie, who left school at 12 and credited borrowed books for his self-education, began funding libraries in 1881. Of the 2,509 libraries built, 1,681 were in the United States. He required each community to maintain the library as a condition of his gift.
Eric Klinenberg argues that social infrastructure that brings people together is as vital to a community as roads or power grids. He contends that when communities invest in these spaces, residents grow more connected, and when they are neglected, isolation follows.
During that period, more than 2,500 titles were challenged across 37 states, with activists targeting books on race, slavery, and gender identity. This CBS report hears from the founders of Moms for Liberty, a teacher removed for giving students access to banned books, and "Maus" cartoonist Art Spiegelman.
The American Library Association recorded 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second-highest level ever documented. Nearly all challenges, 92%, came from organized groups or government officials rather than individual parents.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services distributes funds annually to State Library Administrative Agencies, which support statewide initiatives and channel funds to public and academic libraries.
Founded in 1848, the McKim building opened in 1895 during a period of cultural optimism and social reform. Its Beaux-Arts architecture features marble staircases, murals by John Singer Sargent, and a Renaissance-inspired courtyard.
Become informed on key topics that help you participate in the world around you