You :
One day he decided to establish the first Public library to which generations of Americans were subsequently "forced" to contribute.Me :
Franklin and friends started a subscription library not public and not forced. It is still in existence today as a non-profit organization called the Library Company.>Sure you want to argue this? ;-)
Yes. ;)
My point in regard to Franklin starting a "public" library was not regarding the availability to the public, but that its establishment and contribution to the library was voluntary, not forced. The concept was later adopted by State entities, what Franklin started was not "publicly" financed from the State coffers.
Wine is sunlight, held together by water - Galileo Galilei
Un jour sans vin est comme un jour sans soleil - Louis Pasteur
Water separates the people of the world; wine unites them - anonymous
Wine is the most civilized thing in the world - Ernest Hemingway
Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance - Benjamin Franklin
