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August 26, 2014 by Gary Price

Pennsylvania: Oldest Public Library in the Nation in Danger of Closing (Video)

August 26, 2014 by Gary Price

From NBC Philadelphia:

For more than two centuries, the Darby Free Library has remained both a vital part of its community as well as a historical landmark. Built in 1743 by Quakers, it remains the oldest public library [in continuous service] in the nation. But a financial crisis has left it in danger of shutting down by the end of the year.
Currently 60 percent of Darby residents and 1,500 people a month regularly use the library’s services.
[Clip]
Yet despite the community support, the library is in the midst of a financial crisis. Recent state cuts wiped out $50,000 in the library’s operating budget.

View Video Report (Runs 2:10)
Read the Complete Article
See Also: Darby Borough residents react to Darby Library closing fears (via Delaware County News Network)
See Also: Visit the Darby Free Library Web Site

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries

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About Gary Price

Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.

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