TIL when the town of Exeter, Massachusetts renamed itself to honor Benjamin Franklin in 1778, they asked Franklin to donate a bell to the town church. Franklin responded with a donation of books instead, which formed the founding collection of America's first public library.

https://www.franklinma.gov/about-us/pages/library-history

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/15ksfqi/til_when_the_town_of_exeter_massachusetts_renamed/