I ran across some indications that perhaps the first lending library
was near Venice and started in the 15th or 16th century. But my web
searches have resulted in 10s of thousands of hits and no way I could
see to limit them. thanks for the information, this may help narrow it
down.
On Jan 24, 2005, at 2:57 AM, Pat Reynolds wrote:

> I visited the Library of San Daniel del Friuli a couple of years ago
> and
> think I was told that they were the first public lending library (any
> citizen of San Daniel could borrow the books - I seem to remember this
> was from the late 1500s.  It was established by a local man who had
> made
> his fortune (and collected his library) in Venice, and gave it as a
> gift
> to his home town.
>
> Large parts of their collection were 'borrowed' by Napoleon and are now
> in the Bibliotec Nationale.  The librarian of San Daniel said they'd
> written and explained if returned they wouldn't levy the accrued fine.
>
> One text they'd particularly like returned (even just as a photocopy),
> if anyone from the Bodleian is listening) is the song "Gjoldin gjoldin"
> by Lazzaro Valvansensi, the first written text in Friulana (the local
> language, nearest known language is the Swiss Romance, not Italian).
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Pat
>
> --
> Pat Reynolds
> [log in to unmask]
>    "It might look a bit messy now,
>                     but just you come back in 500 years time"
>    (T. Pratchett)
>