Learning Beyond School: Member-Supported Libraries & Pursuit of Knowledge

Founded in 1815 and home to the eighth-oldest member-supported library in the United States, the Hall was designed as a place where working people could gather, learn, share ideas, and pursue knowledge. Mechanics’ Hall belongs to a broader tradition of institutions created to expand access to literature and learning, including other libraries, athenaeums, and mechanics institutes. Join us for an illustrated talk and discussion with leaders from Mechanics’ Hall, the Providence Athenaeum, and the Boston Athenaeum to explore the history, evolution, and continuing relevance of these remarkable spaces.

Tuesday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. (doors 5:30 p.m.). $7 for MH Members, $10 for General Admission. No one turned away for lack of funds at the door.

ABOUT THE FEATURED SPEAKERS
Matt Burriesci is the Executive Director of the Providence Athenaeum. During his tenure at the Athenaeum, membership has more than doubled, the Athenaeum has grown into one of the largest cultural institutions in the state of Rhode Island, and the organization has operated nine consecutive budget surpluses. He is the author of Nonprofit, which won the AWP Award for the Novel, and Dead White Guys: A Father, His Daughter, and the Great Books of the Western World, which has been translated into several languages. Between 1999 and 2011, he served in various capacities at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), including Executive Director. He also served as the Executive Director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. He has written for many national outlets, including Slate, Guernica, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.

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Annie Leahy is the inaugural Executive Director of Mechanics' Hall. Mechanics' Hall is committed to the innovative vision of its founders, the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association: to make knowledge, ideas, and arts accessible. Mechanics' engages the community through cultural events, educational programs, and affordable instruction. They are stewards of a landmark building that houses the 8th oldest membership library in the country and a grand ballroom and continue to guide the historic preservation of the Hall as a place to gather, celebrate, and learn. Leahy has over 20 years of experience working at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She has held senior positions in New York City at ABC News and the Tribeca Film Institute. As a founding staff member of the Tribeca Film Festival, she worked to bring cultural activity back to downtown Manhattan after 9/11 and to program global perspectives on the Middle East through cinema, combating xenophobia through cultural programming. She moved to Portland, Maine in 2009, as the Executive Producer and Director of Programming for PopTech in Camden, Maine. Leahy served on the board of SPACE Gallery from 2009 - 2021, most recently as Board Chair. She is an advisory board member for the Portland Bach Experience.

Leah Rosovsky has led the Boston Athenaeum as its Stanford Calderwood Director since 2020, stewarding one of America's oldest and most distinctive cultural institutions through a period of significant growth and renewal. Under her leadership, the Athenaeum has deepened its commitment to being a living part of Boston's intellectual and civic life and an active gathering place for ideas, scholarship, and community. Rosovsky came to the Athenaeum following a distinguished career in higher education, including nearly a decade as Harvard University's Vice President for Strategies and Programs. In that role, she led numerous successful initiatives that built consensus and addressed complex issues. She spent seven years as Executive Administrative Dean of Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences, where she developed a reputation for translating ambitious institutional vision into positive outcomes. Rosovsky has led the Board of Boston’s Temple Israel and is the current Chair of the Advisory Board of Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan. She also serves on the Board of the Nichols House Museum. She received her A.B. from Harvard College in 1978 and her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1984.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Temples of Knowledge is a three-part in-person series tracing a consistent thread: how buildings providing education and fostering knowledge have been designed and reimagined, past and present. From school buildings converted to new uses, a department store turned art college, to institutions that have long supported informal and adult education, Portland has a wealth of educational buildings. These programs will highlight their architectural and social significance, the role they play in our communities, and their reinvention to meet today's needs.

These programs are presented in partnership with and , with generous sponsorship by Developers Collaborative, a community-based development firm. The series will be complemented by virtual talks and site visits offered by Greater Portland Landmarks, providing additional ways to explore the architecture of learning.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

The Greater Portland Metro’s Congress & Casco Street Stop is directly in front of our building, served by routes 1, 7, 8, and 9B.

Street Parking: Available on Congress, Casco, Cumberland, Free Street, and nearby streets. Pay by meter or the Passport Parking App. Free after 6 PM, on Sundays, and between Parris and Alder Street. Some blocks may vary — look for posted signs.

Garages: The Arts District Garage (41 Brown St) has 250+ spaces, is open 24/7, and accepts credit card only, with entrances on Brown, Cumberland, and Casco. The Elm Street Garage (21 Elm St) is conveniently near the Portland Library. The Spring Street Garage is three blocks away at 45 Spring St.

ACCESSIBILITY

To enter our building, patrons will need to navigate a single step or use a modular ramp. Please note that the wheelchair ramp has a steep incline.

A wheelchair-accessible elevator is available. The elevator is 60" deep, 48" wide, with a 32" door opening. There are four wheelchair-accessible bathrooms on the third-floor level, adjacent to the Ballroom.

If you have a wheelchair or need accessibility accommodations/questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 207-773-8396.