The New Hampshire State Library is the oldest state library, originating in the U.S. In January 1717, New Hampshire’s 27th General Assembly met in Portsmouth, passing several orders and resolves. On the 25th of that month, it declared that: “Law books be distributed among ye severall towns of this Province in proportion according to their last Prov : tax, except two books wch shall be for ye Govr & Councill & house of representatives.” Those books were the beginning of the New Hampshire State Library.
