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About Us
A membership agreement for new subscribers to the New York Society Library in 1789.
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.
Reciprocal Privileges
Members of the New York Society Library have membership privileges at the Boston Athenaeum, Charleston Library Society, Mechanics' Institute Library, and Redwood Library and Athenaeum. This includes use of their reading rooms, permission to browse the stacks, and the ability check out books. Members visiting the Boston Athenaeum should inquire at our reference desk first for an ID card. The other libraries may call us to verify membership.
The Membership Libraries
| 1731: | The Library Company of Philadelphia 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Facebook Twitter Blog |
| 1747: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum 50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 |
| 1748: | The Charleston Library Society 164 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401 Facebook Blog Pinterest |
| 1753: | The Providence Athenaeum 251 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903 Facebook Twitter Blog Tumblr |
| 1754: | The New York Society Library 53 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 Facebook Twitter YouTube |
| 1807: | The Boston Athenaeum 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 |
| 1810: | The Salem Athenaeum 337 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970 Facebook Twitter |
| 1814: | The Athenaeum of Philadelphia 219 South Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
| 1817: | The Portsmouth Athenaeum 9 Market Square, Portsmouth, NH 03801 |
| 1820: | The General Society Library of New York City 20 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 |
| 1820: | The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association 519 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 |
| 1820: | The Center for Fiction (Founded as the Mercantile Library) 17 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 Facebook Twitter Blog YouTube |
| 1826: | The Institute Library of New Haven 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510 Facebook Blog |
| 1835: | The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati 414 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Facebook Twitter Blog |
| 1846: | The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63121 |
| 1855: | The Mechanics' Institute Library of San Francisco 57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 Facebook Twitter |
| 1890: | Lanier Library of North Carolina 72 Chestnut Street, Tryon, NC 28782 |
| 1899: | The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 |
The New York
Society Library
53 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10075
212.288.6900
reference@nysoclib.org
Hours of Operation
Monday / Wednesday / Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday / Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The library will be closed
May 25-27 for Memorial Day.
Weekends June 15 - September 2
All areas except Circulation close 15 minutes prior to building closing time.