In Australia, before the federation of the colonies into a nation, almost
every major city and many country towns had library-and-museum combinations
known as Mechanics Institutes (occasionally Schools of Art).The first
Mechanics Institute in the colonies were Hobart's in 1827. These Institutes
developed from British precedent taught classes, organised subscription
libraries for members and ran small (and large) museums of natural history,
technology, local history. Although the institutions are gone, in some
cases their collections and libraries survive in country historical
societies, libraries and other institutions. Lots of references on this
topic if you want to follow up.Also see the Canada for a similar
experience...

Michael Bogle
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Queens Square
Sydney Australia 2000





>The Pember Library and Museum of Natural History have been operating
>in the same building in Granville, NY since 1909.  The building was
>designed to be a cultural center in this small town in upstate
>eastern New York.
>
>While some joint programming has been going on, for the most part the
>two organizations act independently of one another, while at the same
>time are governed by the same Board of Trustees.  Some problems occur
>in financial matters; trying to keep straight museum, library and
>institution money in one budget can be tricky.  Other problems arise
>when the two organizations have different operating hours; you must
>pass through the library to get to the museum so someone must be
>posted at the entrance or museum programs scheduled when the library is open.
>
>The most important thing is to have directors of each organization
>who can work together, respect each other's space and operations and
>understand that
>cooperation leads to building two strong institutions under one roof.
>
>If you would like to "chat" some more, please contact us off line.
>Thanks.
>
>Pember Museum of Natural History
>33 West Main St.  Granville NY  12832
>(518) 642-1515
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