Overview

The Niehoff Lectures

This series was first imagined by Buck and Patti Niehoff as a way to bring the best writers to The Mercantile Library and our city. From the beginning they have graciously underwritten the event. The Library will forever be indebted to the Niehoffs for their munificence. The Niehoff Lecture continues to be the Library’s only annual fundraiser.

Signature Events

Signature Events are the cornerstone of our calendar, each with a recurring theme: The Annual Meeting, Words & Music, 1835 Lecture, Hearth & Home, Memoir, Harriet Beecher Stowe Freedom Writer Award, Science & Nature, 2035 Lecture, Albert Pyle Urban, and Modern Novel.

Talks & Lectures

Since 1835, The Mercantile Library has continuously sought out dynamic lecturers and speakers, experts on a wide array of subjects

Discussion Groups

We are the book club where everyone reads the book. Fiction. History. Bestsellers. Workshops. Poetry. Shakespeare.

Watch & Listen

We are librarians, so we love multimedia. We've got a podcast: The 12th Story, AND many of our past talks & lectures can be found online either on our Crowdcast channel or Vimeo.

Performing Arts

Concerts, recitals, cabarets, electrifying performances you won't see anywhere else in Cincinnati. All at the Mercantile Library.

Yoga

Twice-weekly classes for all levels in the most beautiful yoga studio in Cincinnati? Namaste!

Poet Laureate

The Mercantile Library has been the informal home of Cincinnati's Poet Laureate since the program began in 2016. And in 2022, we made it official.