Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

The Athenaeum

Intimate, Classy Arts

Description

The founding of the Athenaeum goes back to 1894 with the La Jolla Reading Club. In 1899, the library become fully incorporated and became the region's first membership library. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is a La Jolla library devoted exclusively to music and arts. Somewhat of a rarity. the Athenaeum Library is one of only 16 non-profit membership libraries in the entire country. This makes the library a key regional resource for the subject matter at hand. The collection is unsurpassed in its resources for art and music including a significant collection of artists' books. Adding to the enrichment of the culture of art and music, the Athenaeum also presents a year round schedule of exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and classes that sample a broad spectrum of disciplines such as jazz and chamber music. The Spanish Renaissance-style architecture of the library was envisioned by famous San Diego architect William Templeton Johnson, and was opened in 1921. The architecture itself speaks to the heritage of San Diego and its Spanish Colonial history.