This afternoon, Peliom and I took a field trip to the Mechanics’ Institute Library, a private library that has been around since 1854. It’s in a great old building at 57 Post Street, and they’ve been in that location since 1906! The Institute’s mission was to provide a technical library at a time when such resources were scarce in San Francisco. In contrast to the California Academy of Sciences, which was founded the previous year, the Mechanics’ Institute was formed as a corporation, with shareholders as well as dues-paying subscribers.
A trip to the Library feels like a trip to old San Francisco. We arrived in the afternoon and found a perfectly quiet library with mostly older patrons. A few people were asleep in the comfy leather chairs, which seemed like a nice escape from the hustle of the financial district just outside the giant windows. Since we weren’t members, we got day passes ($10) and went upstairs to the periodical reading room, which is pictured here.
Despite being such an old-school institution, the Library is surprisingly modern. Their 150K volume collection is kept up-to-date by adding 3000 items annually, and they subscribe to 600 periodicals (which you can check out!). The computers were all in use, and the Library offers access to several reference databases for patrons. They also have wifi. We spent a good part of our visit camped out in the reference room, using the wifi and chatting over IM (the library is so quiet that no one even whispers). Here is Peliom hiding behind a Fart Party bag among many late 19th-century volumes.
In addition to books, the Library has a large video selection (located in the Ladies Parlor), a small CD collection, and lots of tech books (Head Rush Ajax was checked out). The Mechanics’ Institute also hosts the oldest Chess Club in the US within the Library. There were probably 50-75 patrons using the library while we were there, mostly in the two large reading areas but a few at the tables scattered in the maze-like stacks. There are 5000 members total, and membership is $95 annually ($35 for students). (OK peliom, it’s your turn! Make this post better!)
(peliom): Wow, everything looks beautiful, thanks for taking the pictures! I’m afraid all I have to offer is this Slide Show.
The Mechanics’ is fantastic place and fabulous resources. All those catwalks and low ceiling bookshelves! If you’re a Web 2.0 warrior without a fixed location, or just need a break, the $95 yearly membership fee is a steal. That’s cheaper than dot-Mac!!
A Note: the WiFi unfortunately uses WEP encryption. They will happily give you the password at the info desk (assuming you have a day pass or a membership) but make sure to just ask for the “wireless network instructions for Mac” otherwise they might get confused. The key is printed at the bottom of the one page printout.
(rajbot again): Peliom touched on one of the two reasons why I won’t be getting a membership to the Mechanics’ Institute. The first reason involves the concept of library access. There are a few different kinds of private libraries, and this library isn’t one that cares about Universal Access to Human Knowledge. The Mechanics’ Institute goes out of their way to limit access. When we first arrived we couldn’t even get inside since they have a swipecard reader on the front door and we weren’t members, just visitors wanting to purchase a daypass. We got in by waiting for someone to exit and then sneaking inside like criminals. This library has very little outreach; definitely not the kind of library that would fund a bookmobile. They go so far as to lock down their wireless internet access.. even the shopping mall across the street has free, open wifi. Private libraries definitely have their place, but this one feels like it tries too hard to be exclusive. Member dues only make up 11% of their revenue, so their stuffy attitude seems odd and rubs me the wrong way.
The second reason I won’t be joining the Mechanics’ Institute is it’s lack of technical depth. I was excited by the fact that there was a technical library in SF, but if you want to keep up with the state-of-the art, you need access to the relevant journals in your field. In my case, this means access to IEEE Xplore, which this library doesn’t provide. Their new titles are mostly non-technical, with a very small number of novice computer books and a couple general-interest science volumes. I loved walking through their stacks and saw a huge number of non-technical books that I would love to have the time to read. But for my casual reading, the internet and Amazon better serve my needs. It was a fun visit, and I’m sure I’ll visit many more times on a daypass, especially when I’m in the financial district and want to play a game of chess followed by a leisurely nap in a big chair :)
(peliom): BWAHAHAHAHAH!!! “relevant journals in your field?” … who is going to order the only journal rajbot will ever need?
Not me … uh uh, no way …
You know how they have 
Announcing 
