Portland Athenaeum The Portland Athenaeum (1826–1876) was a
subscription library incorporated in Portland by a collection of local residents. As gratefully noted in a local newspaper in 1826: {{Blockquote Early supporters included
Stephen Longfellow (father of
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), and William Willis. By 1856, the Athenaeum had "160 proprietors and ... a library, in the hall second story of the Canal Bank building [on Middle Street], of 8,500 volumes." James Merrill served as librarian, . In 1861, the Athenaeum erected a brick building on a lot previously purchased in Plum street. By 1864, the library contained 10,647 bound books, and additional pamphlets.
Portland Institute and Public Library Immediately following the fire in 1866, critic and writer
John Neal proposed merging the Athenaeum with the libraries of the Mercantile Association,
Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, and
YMCA. The Portland Institute and Public Library formed in January 1867, with its library located in
Portland City Hall. Willis served as the first president, and Neal the second. In January 1889, the Portland Institute and Public Library was renamed as Portland Public Library, and became free for readers to access. into a new construction which replaced the three-story Clapp Block. A major renovation of the main building by Scott Simons Architects was completed in 2010. == References ==