bradford mechanics institute library

 Established 1832

Background
The Bradford Mechanics' Institute Library was established in 1832 and for over 70 years played a leading role in adult education in Bradford, providing books, classes and later, a series of very popular public lectures. Appearances in the nineteenth century included Frederick Douglass, Fanny Hertz, T H Huxley, Josephine Butler, the Fisk Singers and Sam Hague’s Minstrels and, in the twentieth century, Rosemary Rapaport accompanied by Fanny Waterman!

In the early twentieth century the Institute developed a social side with the formation of clubs for chess and rambling, and a reading circle. The long-established public lectures continued but the 50th Anniversary brochure (1921) bemoaned that ‘the competition from the cinema is increasingly severe and the love of pleasure hardly makes for serious thinking while people like to get their knowledge in snippets.”

Today we are primarily a well-stocked subscription library with a range of very active Interest Groups.  Our meeting rooms provide a home for long-established groups such as Bradford Ramblers (founded in the 1920s), the Railway Circle (1940s) and Family History Society (1980s).

Collection
The Library has over 14,000 books in the fiction section. These are constantly replenished with the most recent titles and our staff are keen to respond to the specific requests of readers.

Non-fiction sections cover the usual full range of topics: biography, history, philosophy, hobbies, travel, etc . Sections which support our Interest Groups are particularly well stocked, for example, local history, poetry and WW1.  Our J B Priestley collection reminds us of close links with Bradford’s famous author and playwright.

Building
In spite of public protests and last-minute schemes to revamp the original Victorian building, it was demolished and, by 1976, the Bradford Mechanics Institute Library had re-located to Narey’s Buildings on Kirkgate. This building has undergone extensive refurbishment and now provides spacious meeting rooms with fully-equipped kitchen and exhibition space.

Contact information
The Administrator
76 Kirkgate, Bradford BD1 1SZ
tel:01274 722 857/bmi-library@talktalk.net

Tuesday to Friday 9.30-16.00,Saturdays 9.30-12.00 noon

Annual Membership Subscription rates: Individual £29.50; Joint £40; Trial 6 months half normal price

Website
www.bradfordmechanicsinstitute.org

Status
Registered charity no 509231