The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati is a membership library located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. The name of the library refers not to the type of items in its collection but to the forty-five merchants and clerks who founded it on April 18, 1835, as the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association.[1][2]
Silencia greets visitors in The Mercantile Library
Once established in 1835, the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association pooled their existing resources (books, materials, money, etc.) together and began curating their membership library. The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati collected books or other relevant works of art and hosted events which involved prominent speakers and authors, quickly coming to be regarded as “a cultural, intellectual, and literary center of its region”.[3]
Throughout the library's history, many of its books have been donated by members. It originally contained approximately seven hundred books which were housed at a location on Main Street near Pearl Street. In 1840 the collection of 1660 books was moved to the second floor of the Cincinnati College building on the present site.[4] The collection now numbers more than 200,000 volumes, including an especially large number pertaining to Cincinnati and Ohio. Most of the items circulate.[1] While there was originally a ban on novels, the ban has since been lifted. Currently the collection is more general.[5][6][7]
After opening its doors nearly 185 years ago, The Mercantile Library has several thousand volumes in their catalog that aim to display and reflect upon decades of changing interests, beliefs, and influences. Despite still operating as a membership library, The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati is open year round to members of the public who wish to explore their institution.
Locationedit
The Mercantile Library Building at 414 Walnut Street that currently houses the library is the fourth structure on the site. The space on the eleventh and twelfth floors was designed for the library in 1903 and the building was completed in 1908. Many of the shelves, desks and chairs currently in the library date back to previous buildings which were destroyed by fire. The institution's perpetually renewable 10,000-year lease was issued by the Cincinnati College, which merged with the University of CincinnatiCollege of Law in 1911,[8] in exchange for the men of the Mercantile Library Association helping the college to rebuild after its structure burned in 1845.[1] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[9]
mercantile, library, cincinnati, membership, library, located, downtown, cincinnati, ohio, name, library, refers, type, items, collection, forty, five, merchants, clerks, founded, april, 1835, young, mercantile, library, association, silencia, greets, visitors. The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati is a membership library located in downtown Cincinnati Ohio The name of the library refers not to the type of items in its collection but to the forty five merchants and clerks who founded it on April 18 1835 as the Young Men s Mercantile Library Association 1 2 Silencia greets visitors in The Mercantile LibraryContents 1 Collection 2 Location 3 Cultural programs 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksCollection editOnce established in 1835 the Young Men s Mercantile Library Association pooled their existing resources books materials money etc together and began curating their membership library The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati collected books or other relevant works of art and hosted events which involved prominent speakers and authors quickly coming to be regarded as a cultural intellectual and literary center of its region 3 Throughout the library s history many of its books have been donated by members It originally contained approximately seven hundred books which were housed at a location on Main Street near Pearl Street In 1840 the collection of 1660 books was moved to the second floor of the Cincinnati College building on the present site 4 The collection now numbers more than 200 000 volumes including an especially large number pertaining to Cincinnati and Ohio Most of the items circulate 1 While there was originally a ban on novels the ban has since been lifted Currently the collection is more general 5 6 7 After opening its doors nearly 185 years ago The Mercantile Library has several thousand volumes in their catalog that aim to display and reflect upon decades of changing interests beliefs and influences Despite still operating as a membership library The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati is open year round to members of the public who wish to explore their institution Location editThe Mercantile Library Building at 414 Walnut Street that currently houses the library is the fourth structure on the site The space on the eleventh and twelfth floors was designed for the library in 1903 and the building was completed in 1908 Many of the shelves desks and chairs currently in the library date back to previous buildings which were destroyed by fire The institution s perpetually renewable 10 000 year lease was issued by the Cincinnati College which merged with the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1911 8 in exchange for the men of the Mercantile Library Association helping the college to rebuild after its structure burned in 1845 1 The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 9 Cultural programs editThe library s tradition of cultural programs was initiated by its founders and has featured prominent writers and thinkers since its first lecture series in the 1840s Speakers in the early days included Ralph Waldo Emerson Wendell Phillips W M Thackeray Edward Everett Herman Melville Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe 4 more recent programs have brought writers and speakers like John Updike Tom Wolfe and Jonathan Winters Many events including courses concerts author readings and book signings are scheduled at noon for the convenience of members and visitors who work and shop downtown 10 Footnotes edit a b c Young Men s Mercantile Library Association Ohio History Central Retrieved 2007 12 06 Mercantile Library About the Library Archived from the original on 2008 07 05 Retrieved 2008 12 05 The Mercantile Library Retrieved November 28 2022 a b Cincinnati p 173 Quartz C 2016 January 29 The secret world of membership libraries Retrieved March 03 2018 from https qz com 592459 the secret world of membership libraries Mercantile Library Collection MERCANTILE LIBRARY BUILDING Cincinnati Ohio Retrieved 2008 12 07 Mercantile Library Facility Archived from the original on 2008 07 05 Retrieved 2008 12 05 Weekly listing National Park Service Mercantile Library Events Archived from the original on 2008 12 16 Retrieved 2008 12 05 References editCincinnati A Guide to the Queen City and Its Neighbors The Wisen Hart Press 1943 External links editMercantile Library web site MERCANTILE LIBRARY BUILDING Cincinnati Ohio Emporis listing39 6 3 6 N 84 30 40 W 39 101000 N 84 51111 W 39 101000 84 51111 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mercantile Library of Cincinnati amp oldid 1184155794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
