Finally got a membership here in my 3rd year of working downtown and it's the best $65 I've spent in 2025. There's so many cool events for both members and non-members. I've found books both popular and obscure. And it's free to come in, look around, and soak in the Hogwarts-esque energy. Which is even better after the recent extensive renovations. read more

The Mercantile Library - Libraries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati's Hidden Gem. As the Mercantile library is on the 11th and 12th floor of the Mercantile building, take their dedicated elevator and enjoy its new and renovated beautiful place to chill, work, study and enjoy. There are so many reading groups and activities. And many great authors visit. You do not have to be a member to visit the library, there are too many benefits to list them all. Sign up for a tour! A household membership works out to be about 30 cents a day. A student membership is only $30 per year! Now the Mercantile library is renting their cool space for your special events including wedding! Visit and see for yourself. Great for residents, students and visitors! Highly recommended! read more

Whenever there's an event/discussion/book-signing, etc., happening there, GO! One of Cincinnati's best-kept secrets! read more

The Mercantile Library - Libraries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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What a wonderful place! After following their on-line events (due to Covid), I was finally able to go in person and see it with my own eyes. And, well, now I'm a member! It's as gorgeous in person as I had hoped and I can easily see myself going on rainy afternoons to browse, read, or work...they have WIFI and allow people to bring in food. And, of course, I'll continue to partake in the zoom lectures until live music and readings can resume. The most magical part? Listening to the sounds of the city waft in through the open windows, like the bell from the trolley, and imagining what it was like to live in Cincinnati when the Mercacntile Library got its start. Also, fun fact: The library has a 10,000 year lease and they pay $1 a year for the space thanks to Alfonso Taft, President W.H. Taft's father. read more

Love this space! The library is so old, from 1835 to be exact! I love how awesome it is. They have an amazing event space as well. I'm currently here for a rehearsal with YPCC! I will have to Come back and check out the books. Membership is completely open to the public! Bring food and your work for a great co-working space! read more

The Mercantile Library - Libraries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This is one of the oldest libraries in the country, and it has amazing aesthetics and a wide selection of books. If you want to channel your "dark academia" fall vibes, this is the place for you! The librarians are knowledgeable and helpful, and there's always neat events to go to, especially if you choose to get a membership. I have gone to a few events, and I will keep going back as long as I'm in Cincinnati! read more

Wow, this place is stunning. Everything about it makes me wish I could work here remotely just to take it all in every day. There is plenty of seating out in the open and tucked into corners. You have to get a membership to check out a book, but, if you go to just experience the history and ambience, that won't cost you anything. read more

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The Mercantile Library was established in 1835 by a group of young merchants and clerks. Which is why it is called the Mercantile Library. It opened before there was any public library at all and houses books that date back to the 18th century. One interesting fact is that the library has a 10,000 year lease in it's current location in the Mercantile Library Building. Crazy, I know! You need a membership to attend this library and check-out books, but it will only run you $45 dollars a year. The library doesn't get any support from the government or taxes, it runs on subscriptions, gifts, and income from it's endowment. The building houses an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures. There is this great statue of a woman in Grecian robes bending over with a finger to her lips saying, "Shhh" and a bust of Abraham Lincoln. The events that are held at the Library are something that non-subscribers can attend. The cost around $25 for non members and $20 for members. Some events are free for members as well. Coming up is a lecture on Harriet Beecher Stowe that looks fascinating. The Mercantile will also mail you books you want to read if you are a subscriber and you can mail them back! My mother has been a member of this library for years and has enjoyed every minute of it. She often spends her lunch break at the library and browses books or has lunch. read more

The Mercantile Library - Libraries Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Mercantile Library is a book-lover's oasis. As a lifelong reader, I'm so happy that I discovered this wonderful place on a recent trip to Cincinnati. This is how libraries should be. I was impressed with the large collection, including many titles which were first editions or very old. If you love books, you will not be disappointed. Just keep in mind that The Mercantile Library is a membership library, so only members can check the books out. If you're a visitor, please be respectful of the facility, turn your phone off, and don't handle the books too much. read more

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My first time here for a diversity meeting for YP's and I absolutely loved it! The place is like a cool museum where you can actually touch things and pick them up without some random security guard interrupting the experience. Tons of aging books, oil paintings from the 1800's and sculptural busts. Its in the middle of downtown and I was glad there were no kids there. This seems more exclusive and more sophisticated. Lots of wood and wrought iron. Lots of natural light and visual stimuli. I'm not sure if you need to be a member but I'd like to spend more time here and explore some of the photos and artwork that are so naturally placed around the library. I met with a small group and there were no other folks in the library but I really cant provide any other useful details. This place is amazing and one of the more interesting places I have visited in the city. Not so humbly submitted, King Michael C. read more

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On a recommendation, I went over to the Mercantile Library a couple of weeks ago. Located on the 11th floor of the Mercantile Building at 414 Walnut Street, this place is literally a fortress of solitude. I fell in love with it immediately and signed up for a annual membership ($55 for individuals; $90 family). Walking in, the feeling you get is first 'class' and then 'scholarly'. They cram a great deal of very beautiful, ornate decoration into a relatively small space. I spent a few hours here last Saturday reading and the word of the day was 'silence'. With the librarian, a few other patrons, and myself in the library, you could literally have heard a pin drop. You would never, ever guess that you were a stone's throw from Fountain Square. In fact, you would probably never guess that you were in the city. The library is not stuffy, however. They encourage eating your lunch there and on Saturday, I did. I also did a bit of exploring and poked around a bit. The Mercantile library also has a full-service collection which is quite large for the square footage it takes up. Let's just say they use their space quite efficiently. They have multi level stacks where you can find pretty much any good book that you're looking for. Overall, this place is awesome. I can see myself spending a great deal of time here in the future. The atmosphere is amazing for reading and it can be a nice reprieve from what is happening eleven floors below. I would recommend everyone to go at least give it a look, even if you aren't interested in a membership. It is one of the truly unique places in Cincinnati and I am so happy I was led that direction. read more

You could walk by the Mercantile Library for years and never know it was there. It's in the Mercantile building (oddly enough) all the way up on the top two floors. Stepping into the library is kind of like walking into Hogwarts. I don't mean the paintings on the wall will start shouting at you - it just has this quiet charm about it. It's an urban oasis. You can become a paying member of the library and start checking out books - they have a nice selection of current fiction and nonfiction, and plenty of books on tape/disc. I really don't go to the Mercantile to check out books though. If I have some time to kill downtown during business hours, it's the first place I want to go and flop into a big leather chair. They have daily newspapers and a nice crop of current magazines out in the reading room. There are several big wooden tables, and patrons are encouraged to bring their lunch with them. What kind of library actually encourages you to bring food in? If you haven't been to the Mercantile, you have to check it out. It's a Cincinnati gem. read more

Another hidden gem in the 'nati, The Mercantile Library. I recently attended an event on a Friday night at the library and was mesmerized by the space. As previous reviews mentioned, its a membership only library with a variety of lectures throughout the year as well as a place to escape and discover in downtown Cincinnati and I've had co-workers and friends tell me its well worth the $55 individual membership. They have a cool ironwork spiral staircase up to a board room and the library can be rented out for special events. The head librarian told me they have book clubs for their members depending on members interest and the newest books are located right inside the front door. They also have the latest magazines of local, national an international interest laid out one by one in the middle of the library just to the left of the new books. I'm looking forward to signing up for a membership, returning for a future lecture and further exploring this hidden gem in Cincinnati. read more

Solitude in the middle of the city is hard to come by, but the Mercantile Library gets pretty close. Tucked away on the top two floors of the Mercantile building, the library's location and $55/year member fee keeps it from ever feeling crowded(unless there is an event). I hesitated to write a review because it's the kind of place I want to keep to myself. I'd argue it's one of the most beautiful spaces in the city. You can always stop by to have a look around, don't let the membership fee scare you away from stopping by. There is an elevator in the lobby that is direct to the library. read more

This is a library you can bring you lunch to, and eat it in the best space in downtown Cincinnati. Don't understand why yelp rates it as "expensive". Anyone can go there for free, and enjoy being surrounded by art and old books. read more

I went here for a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra concert recently and was TOTALLY blown away by how the space was here! I have heard it was lovely and they weren't lying - this is definitely the "old school" kind of library we don't see these days. Lots of comfy chairs, beautiful lighting from the giant windows and tons of old books (without the musty smell!) Though it is a members only place that you can't just drop in to, they have folks who come thru and do book talks here periodically that you can get in to, you just have to pay a "non members" rate for them. The only downer I have on this place is the fact that their hours are TERRIBLE. If you are freelancing/retired, then its super awesome but for those of us who aren't, its a tough sell to pay the (reasonable) membership fee. If they had better weekend hours or even a few night hours during the week, I'd definitely consider going here on the regular! Also, maybe if they'd consider doing a happy hour thing once a month, that would be super cool too! read more

It's the best $55 I spent this year, for sure! Great atmosphere, free wifi, good books, good views, and you can bring in your coffee or lunch while you work! read more