July 13, 1811 - The First Day at the New Easton Library

The newly established Easton Library Company opened for the first time from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on July 13, 1811. Thirty-five of the 107 shareholders borrowed books by the end of that hour.

We have the original records of their names and the titles of the books they checked out. Several of those books are on display in through July 31.

The Library retains 660 books from the original collection, giving us a good idea of what the first Library patrons were reading. Their tastes ran from history to travel, biography, farming, and classical literature.

In January we formed the 2011 Club with the goal of building a special collection of books that represent what people are reading today. Anyone can join by donating $20.11 toward the purchase of these books.

Each book will have a bookplate designating it as part of the 2011 collection, and a list of donors will become a part of the permanent bicentennial records to be held in the Marx Local History Room.

So far the 2011 Club has 125 members who have donated $5536.26. We’ve begun to purchase books for this special collection, among them The Glass Castle, The Help, Unbroken, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. We welcome suggestions of titles for purchase. The books do not have to be 2011 publications.

Which books should be in the 2011 legacy as representative of our time?