Active members of the Mechanics’ Institute have reciprocal privileges at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (La Jolla), Anthenaeum of Philadelphia, Center for Fiction (Brooklyn), Charleston Library Society, Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, Institute Library (New Haven), Lanier Library of North Carolina, Mechanics' Hall (Portland, ME), The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, New York Society Library, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Providence Anthenaeum, Redwood Library and Athenaeum, The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and Salem Athenaeum. This includes use of their reading rooms and permission to browse the stacks.
Members may make a maximum of five visits to each library per year. Specific privileges at each library vary, so members should check the institution's website for details. Members should present their Mechanics' Institute membership card when visiting, but note that the libraries will call us to verify the membership is active.
Eligible members of the institutions listed below are welcome to visit the Mechanics' Institute to use our reading rooms and access to the open stacks.
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
|
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 |
Mechanics' Hall (formerly 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 at the University of Missouri – St. Louis |
|
1855 |
The Mechanics' Institute Library of San Francisco |
|
1871 |
St. Johnsbury Athenauem |
|
1890 |
Lanier Library of North Carolina |
|
1897 |
|
|
1899 |
The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla |
|
2016 |
Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum |