When most people think of libraries, their local public library comes to mind. Another type of library that exists in the United States, but that is not widely known, is a membership library.  Membership libraries are financed by private funds, generally from membership fees or endowments, and not through public funding. Unlike a public library, access is often restricted to members, but access rights can also be given to non-members, such as students.
Their inception dates back to the times of Ben Franklin, when he founded the Library Company of Philadelphia. They were quite numerous during the 18th and 19th centuries.  After the Civil War, they started to decline.

Most membership libraries are located in older cities, where they frequently are housed in architecturally & historically significant buildings, and hold special collections of rare books, prints, maps, photographs, or manuscripts. Many membership libraries offer unusual services that distinguish them from their public library counterparts. Sometimes journalists also use them when hunting for specific titles or information that is not located at public libraries.

While public libraries remain a vital resource for the community at large, membership libraries serve a self-selected clientele looking for something more than a traditional public library offers.

Current membership libraries are reinventing themselves as cultural centers offering creative collaborative workspaces for their members. For example, the Mercantile Library in New York, now known as The Center for Fiction, was founded in 1820 for the education of clerks, and it is alive and well in an eight-story building on 17 East 47th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues.  In April 1991, hosted by the Mercantile Library and its director, Harold Augenbraum, a support group for membership libraries was formed in New York. The twelve libraries in attendance chose the name Membership Libraries Group. The Center for Fiction has hosted such events as author lectures, writing workspace, grants, and classes to support emerging writers

Some other current membership libraries include:

• Athenaeum Music & Arts Library founded 1899
• The Athenaeum of Philadelphia founded 1814
• The Boston Athenaeum founded 1807
• The Charleston Library Society founded 1748
• The Institute Library founded 1826
• The Lanier Library founded 1890
• The Maine Charitable Mechanics Association Library founded 1815
• The Mechanics’ Institute Library, San Francisco founded 1855
• The Mercantile Library, Cincinnati founded 1835
• The Mercantile Library Center for Fiction founded 1820
• The New York Society Library founded 1754
• The Portsmouth Athenaeum founded 1817
• The Providence Athenaeum founded 1836
• Redwood Library & Athenaeum founded 1747
• The Salem Athenaeum founded 1810
• Timrod Literary and Library Association founded 1897

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