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The Mechanics’ Institute in SF is a “historic membership library”, for one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanics%27_Institute,_San_Francisco https://en.wiki

• vector_spaces 2y ago
  Came here to mention this -- private libraries are a thing in the US, but tend to not be heavily promoted, and there aren't many of them.
  • donbox 2y ago
    British council libraries have membership fees, at least in India https://www.britishcouncil.in/library/prices-and-plans https://www.britishcouncil.in/library/prices-and-plans
• Animats 2y ago
  Yes. I had a membership for years. The place looks 19th century, which it is. There are multiple levels of stacks over two floors, carved dark wood, comfy chairs, and librarians who scold anyone who talks. Members can go there, plug in a laptop, and type. Quietly. It's never crowded. It's a well-curated, library. It's most useful if you want historical information about 19th and early 20th century technology. They have a complete bound set of Popular Mechanics, from the days when it was a serious technical publication. The multi-volume engineering study for the Panama Canal, with drawings, is there. Current offerings are well chosen and updated regularly.