Membership Libraries in the News (NYTimes.com)

kctipton writes “The New York Times has a fun story about membership libraries in the June 11 issue. It reports that there are only 17 in the USA, 3 in the NYC area. The story goes on to describe the atmosphere at a few, the typically low price of membership, and some of the other little perks like multiple discussion groups, a librarian knowing your name and what books you like.”

June 12, 2006 by Uncategorized 6

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6 Responses

  1. pchuck says:
    June 12, 2006 at 7:49 pm

    NYT: What are the 17 membership libraries?
    It would have been nice if the NYT listed the 17 libraries. I believe one of them is the Jenkins Law Library in Philadelphia,which holds itself out as the first law library in the United States.

    Reply
  2. gypsy librarian says:
    June 12, 2006 at 8:13 pm

    Wish we had one nearby
    Hmm, sounds like the type of places I would like. I would definitely fork out the money if I had a place like that nearby. Interesting to see that places like that still survive in our time.

    Reply
  3. Karl says:
    June 12, 2006 at 11:22 pm

    I want a list, too.
    I’m curious if it includes the James J. Hill Reference Library, a members-only business research library in St. Paul, MN. It’s a fascinating place, but not one that would have discussion groups, I’d imagine.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous Patron says:
    June 13, 2006 at 12:49 am

    Social Law Library
    This is a subscription library in Boston
    http://www.socialaw.com/

    Reply
  5. pchuck says:
    June 13, 2006 at 1:55 am

    pchuck
    There is a consortium of membership libraries called (amazingly) the Membership Libraries Group (http://www.redwoodlibrary.org/memlib.htm). They list 18 libraries. Those 18 are:

    Athenaeum of Philadelphia 1814

    Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (La Jolla) 1899

    Boston Athenaeum 1807

    Charleston Library Society 1748

    General Society Library (New York City) 1820

    Institute Library (New Haven) 1826

    Lanier Library (Tryon, North Carolina) 1890

    Library Company of Philadelphia 1731

    Maine Charitable Mechanic Association Library (Portland) 1820

    Mechanics’ Institute Library (San Francisco) 1855

    Mercantile Library (Cincinnati) 1835

    Mercantile Library (New York City) 1820

    New York Society Library 1754

    Portsmouth Athenaeum (New Hampshire) 1817

    Providence Athenaeum 1836

    Redwood Library and Athenaeum (Newport) 1747

    St. Louis Mercantile Library Association 1846

    Salem Athenaeum (Massachusetts) 1812

    If you go to the website of the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (La Jolla), it states that it is one of two membership libraries west of the Mississippi; however, from the list I see that the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association is west of the Mississippi, as well as the Mechanics’ Institute Library in San Francisco.

    I still think the NYT number of 17 is wrong and I’d like to see where they get that number. In addition, I bet there are other membership libraries in the US that aren’t members of this group and aren’t in the NYT article.

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  6. Anonymous Patron says:
    June 13, 2006 at 4:33 am

    I agree
    I know some that don’t own real estate, but have rotate thru households and storage units. And yes there are fees. I’m also betting a lot of little rural libraries are set up that way. Probably run on shoe-strings.

    — Ender, Duke_of_URL

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