The Library Co, which still exsists, was a subscription library. If I
understand correctly it was open to members only. The fees were used to
acquire books and these were then available to the members.
On Jan 24, 2005, at 11:59 AM, Stephen Del Sordo wrote:

> The library that Ben Franklin established in 1731 is the Library
> Company of
> Philadelphia.  They have a website at www.librarycompany.org/
>
>
> Stephen G. Del Sordo
> Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
> Washington, DC   20004
>