The Institute Library, New Haven’s oldest independent literary institution and one of America’s last remaining membership libraries, was founded in 1826 by eight young working men dedicated to “mutual assistance in the attainment of useful knowledge.” Coeducational since 1835, the library flourished for decades as the heart of democratic intellectual life in New Haven, offering lectures, literature, debates, and classes to men and women from a wide range of social and educational backgrounds.
In 2011, the library formally renewed its commitment to the cultural life of New Haven with expanded space and hours, community partnerships, and a wide range of new events and programs. To learn more, please call or visit our website.