Dr. Franklin Departs

"Dr. Franklin" left, not by carriage, on Thursday evening, December 11 for the The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County, Mississippi, the next stop on his tercentennial tour of America's libraries.

He was anxious to be on his way so as not to conflict in anyway with the library's celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln.

Brilliant Ideas Bulletin Board in Youth Services Dept.

This display was crafted by Debbie Graham of the Niles Youth Services Department during the Franklin Festival, presented in conjunction with the Benajmin Franklin: In Search of a Better World Exhbition.

Dr. Franklin's Reception in the Irish House of Commons

The Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, Viscount Pery of Limerick, at the Opening Fall Session on Tuesday, October 8, in 1771, queried the House if “an American gentleman of distinguished Character and Merit” who wished to be present for the debates might be admitted. He pointed out that there was “a Rule of the House for admitting members of the English Parliaments,” and he supposed that the House would consider the American Assemblies as English Parliaments, but as this was the first instance he would ask for their directions.


“The whole House gave a loud, unanimous Aye.”

Above quotations taken from J. Bennett Nolan’s Benjamin Franklin in Ireland and Scotland, p. 157

Bust of Benjamin Franklin

now stands in the Reference Department of the Niles Public Library to commemmorate the successful visit of the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World Exhibition from October 15 through December 5. The exhibit was made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life and the American Library Association's Public Programs Office. The exhibit is based on a major exhibition of the same name mounted by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission.

Franklin's Travels in Scotland and Ireland

is the subject of the 1st floor display highlighting the 1938 book, Benjamin Franklin in Scotland and Ireland, 1759 and 1771, written by J. Bennett Nolan.

Dr. Franklin and Music

as described by J. Bennett Nolan in his book General Benjamin Franklin The quotation is displayed on the library's 3rd level to near the NEH/ALA exhibit: Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World

"General" Benjamin Franklin

First Floor display literally showcases charming 1936 monograph of the same title by J. Bennett Nolan, subtitled "the military career of a philospher, and referenced by Carl Van Doren in his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Benjamin Franklin.

Ben's Presidential Election Board

Franklin Exhibit and Festival Background

The World through Ben's Bifocals

has been chosen by Dr. Ralph Lerner as the title for his keynote speech at the opening reception for the "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" Exhibition at the Niles (IL) Public Library on Sunday, October 19th, at 2 p.m.

Dr. Lerner is the Benjamin Franklin Professor Emeritus in the College and of the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago.


He is the co-editor of The Founders' Constitution, ed. with Philip B. Kurland (1987),
The Thinking Revolutionary: Principle and Practice in the New Republic (1987), and
Revolutions Revisited: Two Faces of the Politics of Enlightenment (1994)

Franklin Festival Events Announced

Ben's "Education" Board in Reference Services

Ben's July Board in the Reference Services Department

Cecilia's Recent Photos of Ben's House on London's Craven St.

An Anglophile and cinephile, Cecilia is an Audio Visual librarian at the Niles Public Library.

July 4th Parade Niles Library Contingent

The Niles marchers assembled in the parking lot of Notre Dame High School before the
9 o'clock parade kick-off. Their t-shirts bore the Franklin quote, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." In observance of the holiday and in anticipation of the visit of the exhibition's visit this fall, they distributed free booklets, containing the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They were donated by David S. Glynn and the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Linda Weiss, the Niles Library Director, stands on the far left while Board President, Mr. O'Donovan, stands behind the library sign with Sue Wilsey, publicity coordinator on his left.

Ben's July Fourth Bookmark

Ben's London Home Today

These pictures were recently taken by the Niles reference librarian, "Maryellen" while in London, standing outside 36 Craven St. near Trafalgar Square where Ben lived from 1757-1775.

Ben's Board in Reference Services for June, 2008

Ben's Board in Reference Services for May

National Library Week

Ben's Board for April in Reference Services

The 1787 St. Patrick's Day Invitation to Ben

The March "Ben Board" in the Reference Services Department.

Ben's Greatest Triumph

The February "Ben Board" in the Reference Services Department,quotes from Stacy Schiff's A Great Improvisation in highlighting Franklin's diplomatic triumph in negotiating the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France in February of 1778.

Ben's New Year Resolution

Resolution appear as presented on the Ben Board in the Reference Services Department.

Woman's Club of Niles

The WCN was instrumental in the establishment of the Niles Public Library.
This photographic collage captures the excitement and achievement of the civic organization for the years of its existence, 1954-2007.The collage hangs in the Reference Department at the Niles Library. The WCN presented another copy to the Niles Historical Society and Musuem. All of the ladies depicted have not yet been identified. Their range of contributions to the civic life of Niles is reminiscent of Benjamin Franklin and his Junto!

January Bulletin Board Exhibit in Reference Services Deparetment

Colonial Dress

Staff member, Judy McNulty, supplied this picture of a dress her mother made for her to wear during the Bicentennial in 1776. She hopes to make it available for the library's celebration of the Franklin exhibition.

"Ben Franklin used electricity to cook turkey"

The Sunday Times issue of 12/23/07 carried this article by Science Editor Jonathan Leake.

Did Ben Franklin Add Up?

NPR link to 4 minute program with Weekend Edition's math guy Keith Devlin having read a book on the topic and revealing the answer.

Ben's January 17th Birthday Bookmark