Final answer:
Benjamin Franklin is credited with founding the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731, which is considered the first public library in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first public library in the U.S. is generally attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who was instrumental in founding the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. This library was started as a subscription library where members contributed fees to fund the collection, but it paved the way for the concept of public libraries—free to the public and funded by the community.