Book, Richard Myers, Berwick Mechanics Institute Free Library, 1999

Physical description

viii, 198 p.; 29 cm

Publication type

non-fiction

Summary

What were Mechanics Institutes?
Every country town seems to have one and they are often impressive 19th century buildings. Free Library is usually emblazoned across the facade, but nowadays there is probably a gallery, museum, or public hall in there. But where are the books? – and more intriguing, where are the mechanics? The answers are here. This book tells the story of one Mechanics Institute that is still operating as a library 136-odd years after being established. Along the way we learn much about how many of the other 1,300 Institutes established in Victoria operated.

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