LACONIA — A new exhibit at the Laconia Public Library has opened in the upper floor gallery space and traces “The History of Public Libraries and Their Evolution and Importance in the United States.”
Organized by the Laconia Historical and Museum Society at the request of the library, the exhibit will remain on display through Nov. 15.
With a nod to the importance of Benjamin Franklin, whose Junto Club in 1727 and Library Co. of Philadelphia in 1731 were the pioneer libraries in this country, the exhibit’s “representation” of Franklin greets visitors, at the left, as they enter the gallery.
Posters and display cases, clockwise around the room, present library facts, other early American libraries, the impact of Andrew Carnegie, library involvement in adult education and Americanization classes, films and discussion groups.
One library fact: “There are 17,000 libraries in the United States. That’s more than the number of McDonald’s.”
Banned books are noted and one display case features volumes from the Meredith Bridge Social Library of 1803.
Another display focuses on the development of the Laconia Public Library since its founding in 1878.
The exhibit is free, open to the public and may be viewed during normal library hours.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.