Mechanic's Institute

Aberdeen's first public Lending Library opened in the building of the Mechanic's Institute, Market Street on 12 March 1886.

Designed in 1845 by Archibald Simpson (with William Ramage), the Institute was initially a place of entertainment but subsequently became a public library on the adoption of the Public Libraries Act (1884).

Unfortunately, the building soon proved to be inadequate and in 1889 an Appeal Fund for a new Central Library was launched. This building later became the Bon-Accord Hotel.