Pittsfield: Berkshire Athenaeum

The Berkshire Athenaeum serves as Pittsfield’s Public Library. It began as the private Public Library Association in 1850 and was later renamed when, in 1874, the Berkshire Athenaeum grew to encompass a free library under the guidance and donations of a small group of financiers, industrialists, and politicians with Pittsfield roots. From 1903 to 1932, the Athenaeum also housed the Berkshire Museum which is now a separate entity. The Library is noted for its Herman Melville Room, the world’s largest collection of Melville personal memorabilia, as well as its local history and Berkshire author collections. For more information, visit http://pittsfieldlibrary.org/.