In 1854, the Library collection was established to support the technical and vocational classes that were taught at the Institute. The collection grew through the nineteenth century with scientific and technical materials and some fiction until, in 1906, the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s collection was merged with the mostly social science and humanities collection of San Francisco’s Mercantile Library Association. From then on, the collection of the Mechanics’ Institute could be described as a general interest collection with special emphasis on finance and investments, the social sciences, applied sciences, art and architecture, railroads, business management, fiction and literature, history, biography, music and, of course, chess. Although member interests change over time, careful attention is paid to honor the history of the Institute by retaining many of these unique and important special collections.

The generous budget for Library materials allows for the purchase of some 3,000 circulating and reference items annually in addition to non-book materials and electronic reference databases. A separate collection budget supports a wide representation of magazines and newspapers in print, along with newspaper and magazine databases. The focus of collection development is based on member interests, and their professional, cultural, educational and recreational needs.

The print reference collection amounts to approximately ten percent of the collection, with strength in the social sciences, finance and industry, biography, local history, art history, and health sciences. Reference databases and databases containing the full text of hundreds of periodical and newspaper articles are accessible from computers in the Library or by remote access.

Special Collections

Library Catalog