Back in the day, only the wealthy and religious could afford a library. On top of this, because of the costs to produce or import the books, it was more cost-effective to have bookstores sell their wares in bigger cities. Thankfully, Benjamin Franklin came along. On July 1, 1731, the Junto Club (a club that discussed philanthropic endeavors in which Franklin and a handful of tradesmen belonged) signed the Articles of Agreement to Subscription, creating the first lending library in America.

Today, libraries are accessible to almost everyone, and they not only house books of all ages, but they can also act as hubs for educational purposes. Children's programs include storytime for toddlers, book clubs, and even movie screenings. Adults can take classes on practically anything from computer software to physical fitness. Teens typically gather at libraries to study or research school projects, however, most libraries offer programs.





Even though most schoolbooks are provided for free through high school, the moment you set foot on a university's campus, you get faced with a common issue: the costs of the most up-to-date texts for your future field. While some books could be resold at bookstores, they're only at a fraction of the price. The library then comes to the rescue.





With your collection of books, do you think we could figure out what your college major was (or is)? Take the quiz to see!