Philadelphia's Oldest Institution Set for Historic Merger with Temple University
The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, has agreed to merge with Temple University, marking a significant shift for the city's oldest cultural institution. The partnership aims to combine the university's research and grant-writing programs with the library's vast historical archives.
The deal, which received overwhelming support from both parties, will be reviewed and approved by state authorities before completion. Upon approval, the Library Company will become part of Temple Libraries but retain its full staff, programs, and collections. The historic institution has been facing financial difficulties for years, with estimates suggesting it would need to raise $23 million to remain independent.
The merger is seen as a key move to stabilize the library's operations while preserving its legacy. According to Temple President John Fry, the partnership will not only bring stability but also enrich the university's academic and research resources. "We are delighted to help preserve one of Philadelphia's most important educational and historical institutions through this partnership," Fry stated.
The Library Company, which has been a cornerstone of Philadelphian culture for nearly three centuries, is considered the city's oldest cultural institution. Its collections of 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century books, manuscripts, and documents are renowned, with its website hailing it as the "de facto Library of Congress" before the national capital moved to Washington D.C. in 1800.
Representatives from both parties have welcomed the partnership, with Director John Van Horne expressing his confidence that Benjamin Franklin would approve of the merged institution's expanded education mission. An integration council will be formed in the coming months to oversee the merger and ensure a smooth transition for the Library Company's stakeholders.
The move marks an exciting new chapter for the Library Company of Philadelphia, which has been navigating financial challenges in recent years. As it embarks on this new partnership with Temple University, the institution is poised to thrive while honoring its rich legacy as one of America's most revered cultural institutions.
The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, has agreed to merge with Temple University, marking a significant shift for the city's oldest cultural institution. The partnership aims to combine the university's research and grant-writing programs with the library's vast historical archives.
The deal, which received overwhelming support from both parties, will be reviewed and approved by state authorities before completion. Upon approval, the Library Company will become part of Temple Libraries but retain its full staff, programs, and collections. The historic institution has been facing financial difficulties for years, with estimates suggesting it would need to raise $23 million to remain independent.
The merger is seen as a key move to stabilize the library's operations while preserving its legacy. According to Temple President John Fry, the partnership will not only bring stability but also enrich the university's academic and research resources. "We are delighted to help preserve one of Philadelphia's most important educational and historical institutions through this partnership," Fry stated.
The Library Company, which has been a cornerstone of Philadelphian culture for nearly three centuries, is considered the city's oldest cultural institution. Its collections of 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century books, manuscripts, and documents are renowned, with its website hailing it as the "de facto Library of Congress" before the national capital moved to Washington D.C. in 1800.
Representatives from both parties have welcomed the partnership, with Director John Van Horne expressing his confidence that Benjamin Franklin would approve of the merged institution's expanded education mission. An integration council will be formed in the coming months to oversee the merger and ensure a smooth transition for the Library Company's stakeholders.
The move marks an exciting new chapter for the Library Company of Philadelphia, which has been navigating financial challenges in recent years. As it embarks on this new partnership with Temple University, the institution is poised to thrive while honoring its rich legacy as one of America's most revered cultural institutions.
... library's like super old and stuff but they need $23 million to stay afloat? that's a lot 
... i feel bad for ben franklin, he'd probably want the best for philly 
... merge with temple uni seems like good idea tho, at least they got each other's backs 
I don't trust this. What if they're just using this merger as a front to censor some of the library's more... sensitive materials? I mean, think about it - what if they find out something incriminating about our city's past and they want to cover it up? 
it makes total sense tho - the lib has been struggling financially for ages & this partnership is literally a game changer 
& let's be real, who wouldn't want to preserve ben franklin's legacy? 
anyway, can't wait to see how it all plays out 
... benjamin franklin would be so proud to see his birthplace institution come together with temple university 
... i'm all about preserving history and culture, and this merger does just that 
... think of the resources they'll be able to pool together - the library's archives will take the university's research to a whole new level 
... plus, the city gets to keep one of its most iconic institutions intact 
... can't wait to see what the future holds for this new partnership 
! they're talkin about mergin libraries research grants and all that jazz, think it's gonna bring some stability to the library's finances, but also let them keep doin their thing w/ historical archives 
They should've thought that one through before jumping into this deal. I mean, what's next? Merging with another library and just calling it... the biggest library ever? 
. I'm hoping this merger brings stability to the library and gets them back on their feet financially 
Also, I hope this partnership brings in more resources and visibility for the library so they can keep doing their thing without being too reliant on Temple. It's a win-win if done right 
This library has been around for centuries and now it's just gonna be merged with some university? It's not even a good fit! I mean, Temple University is all about research and stuff, but they don't have the same passion for preserving old books and documents. They're just gonna change everything to fit their own agenda... *sigh*
Temple Uni bringing in that research and grant expertise will really help stabilize the library's financials, but at the same time, it's also awesome to see the Library Co getting the support it needs to keep preserving all those historical archives 
. I mean, can you imagine having all those 17th-18th century books and documents under one roof? 
. seriously though, $23 mil to stay afloat? that's crazy talk 
. anywayz, it's gonna be interesting to see how this merger plays out 
. This merger isn't just about books and documents (although, let's be real, those are some pretty cool stuff 
. And hey, who knows, maybe Benjamin Franklin would've been all about this kind of collaboration too 
Benjamin Franklin's legacy lives on thru this merger & I'm SO here for it! 
The thought of all those historical archives combined w/ Temple's resources is giving me LIFE!!! 
and I saw these adorable baby birds with their tiny beaks open wide, chirping away... it made me think about how libraries are like bird nests for knowledge 
! You know, just like how birds come to roost in a cozy spot to learn new songs, we go to libraries to absorb all that awesome info. And speaking of cool things, did you hear about the new augmented reality exhibit at the Philly Science Museum? It's supposed to be super immersive 
... anyway, back to the library merger... sounds like it'll be a hoot for education 
!
so hopefully this merger helps it out and preserves all that history 
. Its cool to see them combining resources like that, Temple can learn from the lib's collections & expertise 
... gotta respect his legacy 
. The city of Philly is gonna be a better place for this 
.