The Mechanics' Institute and Chess Room
57 Post Street
Tel: 415-393-0105
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On Post Street across from the Galleria |
Squished between the polished, stony high-rises in the Financial District of San Francisco is the Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room. Can you believe it? Chess Room! Right there, across from Versace's raunchy store window is a musty time-warped oasis. The Mechanics Institute was established back in 1854 and was known as the epicenter of adult technical information in Northern California. Much of the building is rented out for office space but the library and chess room still remain and, no doubt, smell much the same as when the Institute was founded. |
I'll be blunt with you: I'm a fan of the library. Though, in truth, I don't think the library has many active members that aren't also members of AARP. Walk into the library at around 2:04pm on any given weekday and you're met with a room filled with snoozing older gentlemen who have settled into their ritual post-lunch nap in the well-worn, low-slung leather chairs. I like that. It's peaceful. It's a far cry from the jittery high-tech world.
The library has a brilliant selection of periodicals. In fact, the library subscribes to over 600 publications including International newspapers, numerous vertical pubs (having said the library was a far cry from the high-tech world, they have an outstanding selection of tech pubs), glossy fashion mags and the such like. You can even take out the magazines on loan! The reference section of the library is complete, and there's Internet access for those who don't have the option of surfing from home nor the office. There are over 200,000 books and a mammoth selection of videos from which to choose. Move over, Blockbuster.
And what I like best is that this library feels cozy. That may sound a bit off, a bit weird, a bit worthy of eye-brow raising but so be it. The aisles are narrow, the stacks are high and the stairs are in unpredictable corners: this library is a maze. And I like nothing better than settling at a table in an undiscovered section and whipping out my laptop and Ricochet modem and pottering about my work (or, quite often, exploring the books right next to me).
On the fourth floor is the Chess Club to which you are automatically enrolled as a member when you join the library. The Club sponsors tournaments as well as holds classes for novices. You can even just pick-up a game on a drop-by basis.
The standard annual membership is $60. Hours are 9AM-9PM daily with the Chess Room staying open until just before 11PM. Perfect for the insomniacs.
For further membership information call 415.421.1768 or check out their website at http://www.milibrary.org.
Susan MacTavish Best
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