Save the Darby Free Library

(Now this is a library worth saving, as opposed to a certain library being built at SMU...)

One thing that always strikes me when we travel to Europe is the sense of being inescapably surrounded by history. From the biggest city to the smallest village, it's always there. And it has been there for hundreds, even thousands, of years.

It's certainly quite a contrast to the constant construction and development going on here. So much so, that when a story comes around about needing to save a truly historic landmark, I can't help but take note of it.

The Darby Free Library in Darby, PA is the oldest library in the country, in service since 1743. What a tragedy it would be if they would have to shut down due to lack of funds:

Delaware County's 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 fat check, the Daily News has learned.

"We're on the chopping block," said Susan Borders, director of the library at 10th and Main streets, near the Southwest Philly border. "We thought we may have had four years left, but after going over our finances, we only have this year."

Founded by 29 Quaker townsmen, the library received its first shipment of 45 volumes from London in November 1743, with the assistance of botanist John Bartram. [...]

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the Darby Library Company, P.O. Box 164, Darby, PA 19023.

If you've the means, please consider making an investment in our history. I, for one, would like to see it stay around for a while.

[H/T to Susie @ C&L]