Subscription library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Subscription Library (also membership or independent library) is a library that is supported by private funds raised by membership fees or endowments. Unlike a public library, access is often restricted to those who are members, or who can provide evidence that they must consult the library's collections for advanced study or research.
In the United States the earliest such libraries date back to the 18th century, when societies or groups of individuals joined to purchase books for a commonly run library. The Library Company of Philadelphia was the first of these libraries, started in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin.
With the advent of free public libraries in the 19th century most of the subscription libraries were replaced or taken over.
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[edit] Current membership libraries
[edit] United Kingdom
- 1653: Chetham's Library
- < 1680: Innerpeffray Library
- 1704: Thomas Plume's Library
- 1768: Leeds library
- 1788: Linen Hall Library
- 1793: The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1793: Westerkirk Parish Library
- 1797: The Athenaeum (Liverpool)
- 1799: Tavistock Subscription Library
- 1800: Langholm Library
- 1806: Portico Library
- 1810: Plymouth Proprietary Library
- 1812: Plymouth Athenaeum Library
- 1813: Devon and Exeter Institution
- 1816: Nottingham Subscription Library
- 1818: Morrab Library
- 1824: Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
- 1824: Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library
- 1832: Bradford Mechanics' Institute Library
- 1832: Saffron Walden Town Library Society
- 1834: Guildford Institute of the University of Surrey
- 1839: Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution
- 1841: London Library
- 1854: Birmingham and Midland Institute
- 1889: Saint Deiniol's Residential Library
- 1894: Bishopsgate Institute Reference Library
- 1912: Armitt Library
- 1928: Sybil Campbell Library
[edit] United States of America
- 1731: Library Company of Philadelphia
- 1747: Redwood Library and Athenaeum
- 1748: Charleston Library Society
- 1753: Providence Athenaeum
- 1754: New York Society Library
- 1807: Boston Athenaeum
- 1810: Salem Athenaeum
- 1814: Athenaeum of Philadelphia
- 1817: Portsmouth Athenaeum
- 1820: General Society Library of New York City
- 1820: Maine Charitable Mechanic Association Library of Portland
- 1820: Mercantile Library of New York City
- 1826: Institute Library of New Haven
- 1835: Mercantile Library of Cincinnati
- 1836: Providence Athenaeum
- 1846: St. Louis Mercantile Library Association
- 1855: Mechanics' Institute Library of San Francisco
- 1890: Lanier Library of North Carolina
- 1899: Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla
[edit] External links
- "Where Greek Ideals Meet New England Charm" - article about subscription libraries in New England, from The New York Times, March 7, 2008
