The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen was founded in 1820 to improve educational and cultural opportunities for the people of New York.  A number of facilities are available to the public at their building in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

The Library’s collections contain books and periodicals in all subjects, especially the “useful arts,” or the skills and methods of urban craftsmanship. The collections number more than 120,000 volumes, and are suited to both scholarly research and recreational reading. Recent acquisitions focus on the built environment and the occupations and activities behind-the-scenes of New York.

The Small Press Center displays, supports, and celebrates books published by small, independent presses. It is a place for independent publishers to promote their books and for writers to become acquainted with self-publishing. In addition, it provides the public with an opportunity to learn about the independent publishing movement while examining books on display from small presses.

The Mechanics Institute has provided tuition-free technical training for more than 150 years. Currently, the Institute offers instruction to qualified students employed in the building trades in subjects as diverse as Architectural & Construction Drafting, Electrical Technology, HVAC Systems Design, and Plumbing Technology & Design.

The Lectures Series on Labor, Landmarks, and Literature is held on twelve Tuesday evenings in January, February, March, April, and November. Recent lectures have included “The New Environmentalism” by James Wines, President of SITE, a design organization based in Lower Manhattan, “Building and Rebuilding The Olmsted and Vaux Parks” by Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, Parks and Recreation and “The New York Times–Past, Present, Future” by Arthur Gelb, former Managing Editor.