As a member of the Mechanics’ Institute, you have membership privileges at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (La Jolla), Charleston Library Society, Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, Institute Library (New Haven), Maine Charitable Mechanics Association, The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, New York Society Library, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Redwood Library and Athenaeum, and Salem Athenaeum. This includes use of their reading rooms, permission to browse the stacks, and the limited ability to check out books.
Membership Libraries
Membership libraries trace their history in America to the 18th century, when Benjamin Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia. These libraries played a significant role in their communities. While most subscription libraries were replaced or taken over with the advent of free public libraries in the 19th century, several have survived and thrived.
More information about our sister institutions is available in the 2007 book America's Membership Libraries.
The Membership Libraries
|
1731 |
The Library Company of Philadelphia |
|
1747 |
Redwood Library and Athenaeum |
|
1748 |
The Charleston Library Society |
|
1753 |
The Providence Athenaeum |
|
1754 |
The New York Society Library |
|
1807 |
The Boston Athenaeum |
|
1810 |
The Salem Athenaeum |
|
1814 |
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia |
|
1817 |
The Portsmouth Athenaeum |
|
1820 |
The General Society Library of New York City |
|
1820 |
The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association |
|
1820 |
The Center for Fiction (Founded as the Mercantile Library) |
|
1826 |
The Institute Library of New Haven |
|
1835 |
The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati |
|
1846 |
The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association |
|
1855 |
The Mechanics' Institute Library of San Francisco |
|
1890 |
Lanier Library of North Carolina |
|
1899 |
The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla |
|
2016 |
Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum |