New Book Highlights Franklin's Vital Role in History of American Libraries

A new book focused on New England, Common Place: The Public Library, Civil Society and Early American Values, has been authored by Thomas E. Johnson, Jr. and published by Levellers Press of Amherst, MA. Common Place tells the story of the first public libraries in America (and thus the world), all of which were founded in New England through civil society efforts, their current operation and future of all public libraries. Even today many public libraries across America are run by non-profit, civil society organizations, with New England having the highest proportion.

After a preface and introduction, Section I of the book discusses the history of public libraries, the rise of civil society in America and the nexus between the two, focusing on key individuals such as Benjamin Franklin - the "father of the public library" and educator Horace Mann who was born and raised in Franklin, location of America’s first public library.

Section II consists of 16 case studies of libraries located in small, cities, towns and villages across all six New England states with all the earliest public libraries in America covered. The case studies include several public libraries in Massachusetts, not least of which the library in Franklin, established in 1790 by an action of the town meeting, based on a donation of books from Benjamin Franklin four years earlier.

The present and future of the public library, not just in New England but across America is covered in Section III. For the first time, data is used to illustrate correlations between strong library support and use with community wellbeing, opportunity and social capital. Not surprisingly, the correlation is strongest in New England. Conversely, weak library support and use is correlated with poor wellbeing, opportunity and social capital in several southern states and Appalachia. The author argues for public libraries to play a greater role in life-long adult learning as America's population ages. particularly in underserved areas.

The author, a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer now living in Amherst, MA, has published previously but this is his first book. The writer of the book's foreword and principal advisor to the author is a New England native, former American Library Association president and current chairperson of the Connecticut State Library Board.

Common Place is available at the Franklin Public Library and can be purchased on Amazon. The book website is https://commonplace-book.online.