Athenaeum Music & Arts Library facts for kids

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is a non-profit membership library located in La Jolla, a community of San Diego, California. It was incorporated as the Library Association of La Jolla in 1899. It has a rich history, closely entwined with the history of the La Jolla community.

The history of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library began in 1884, when a group of pioneer La Jolla women established the La Jolla Reading Club. By 1898, the "Reading Room" was constructed on the corner of Girard Avenue and Wall Street.

Today the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is a thriving cultural institution and one of only 16 membership libraries remaining in the U.S. The library welcomes 100,000 visitors a year and presents 150 programs that include concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and galas. It houses a unique collection of art and music books, CDs, DVDs, and special collections. It is recognized especially for its collection of artists’ books.

The Athenaeum is housed in three historic buildings, which were joined and remodeled in 2006 following an ambitious capital campaign. It is headed by Joan & Irwin Jacobs Executive Director Erika Torri.

The library is open to the public five days a week: Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.