At the Merc

June 08, 2026

Summer Reading Challenge: Double-point Books

Our Summer Reading Challenge has begun! Readers have a chance to win two guaranteed seats to the 2026 Memoir Lecture with Roxane Gay! Each book...

May 28, 2026

Summer Reading Challenge with The Mercantile Library

Read books, make friends, earn prizes! Our Summer Reading Challenge is an opportunity to meet your fellow Mercantile members, and have some literary adventures along the...

December 15, 2025

Mercantile Librarians' favorite reads of 2025

Every year, we ask our Librarians to give us their favorite reads of the year. And every year, they grumble. When you read stacks and...

August 21, 2025

What You Need to Know About Niehoff XXXVI

What is the Niehoff Lecture? It is a black tie/cocktail gala (affectionately known to some as Nerd Prom) featuring the best and most important writers...

December 23, 2024

Mercantile Librarians' favorite books of 2024

Every year, we ask our Librarians to give us their favorite reads of the year. And every year, they grumble. When you read stacks and...

August 30, 2024

ANOTHER SUITABLE IRON SPIRAL STAIR CASE

As we get closer to the conclusion of The 12th Story Project, we thought we’d share some details and maybe answer some questions at the...

April 16, 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

On the occasion of our 189th anniversary, in which we look at a past celebration, because we cannot invite you for cake. You may have heard,...

March 14, 2024

A FLOOR OF EXTRA HEAVY IRON

You might already know this, but books are heavy. Thousands of books in one space-- really, really heavy. Our collection contains about 85,000 volumes. And we’re...