This news may already be making the rounds, but hadn't seen it on this
listserve yet:
"The Darby Free Library, which was founded in 1743 and
is believed to be the oldest continuously operating public library in
America, will be forced to close its doors at year's end if somebody
doesn't write a big check or a lot of little ones.
It would be a shame if this old library closed. It is not only a vital
resource for its community but also a symbol, as our oldest known
public library, of our country's commitment to access to knowledge and
education for everybody."
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70775442008&ref=mf
Some side comments here:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/01/26/americas-oldest-free.html