The State Library's Rare Books Collection is a Pennsylvania treasure that originated with books that Ben Franklin and others obtained for the use of the Colonial Assembly in Pennsylvania. Some of these books were used by Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence, as well as by the men who wrote the Constitution. The priceless and irreplaceable collection is kept in a climate-controlled vault in Harrisburg. The State Library has many more historic books and newspapers that need to be preserved, if the money can be found to do it.

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