Biblioteca Palafoxiana founded 1646 Puebla, Mexico the first public library in colonial Mexico, and is sometimes considered the first in the Americas. On 6 September 1646, Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, bishop of Puebla donated 5,000 of his own items to the Colegio de San Juan—which was founded by him—on the condition that they be made available to the general public. He wrote that "it is very useful and convenient that there should be in this city and kingdom a public library, where all sorts of people will be able to study as they wish".The library was finished in 1773, consisting of a 43-meter-long vaulted hall on the Colegio's second floor DSC08067