"In the winter of 1872-1873, E. Francis, Principal of Schools, having organized and successfully carries through a course of public lectures, found himself at their close with a small balance on hand; and, in publishing an account of receipts and expenditures of the course, offered to donate this sum toward starting a public library or reading room...Stimulated by this liberal proposal...a committee was elected to take subscriptions which should amount to at least one thousand dollars for the purpose of founding a Public Library in Carbondale." We were finally incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth on the 26th day of January, 1875. We are now part of the Lackawanna County Library System established in 1983 and in 1996 built a new library next to City Hall in Carbondale.