Mechanics' Institute is a historic membership library, cultural event center, and chess club housed at 57 Post Street, San Francisco, California.

Today the Institute serves readers, writers, downtown employees, students, film lovers, chess players, and others in search of learning and a community for the exchange of ideas.

Members of Mechanics' Institute helped develop the university curriculum and have held a seat on the Board of Regents continuously until 1974.

By 1910 a new building, designed by Albert Pissis, was built at 57 Post St. where today it remains a landmark of San Francisco architecture and home to all of Mechanics' Institute's activities and programs.

[11] Its current collection of over 160,000 items, housed in an historic marble and wrought iron two-story library, covers all subjects, with special strengths in literature, arts, history, philosophy, business, finance, and hard-to-find periodicals.

The Mechanics' Institute events department presents over fifty author events a year covering a broad spectrum of authors and themes, including fiction and non-fiction, with topics on American and world history, civic engagement, arts and architecture, biography, science and technology, social trends, economy, and culinary arts.

Special Programs, such as the San Francisco Noir Literary Night, World Poetry Reading, Bloomsday, and a Bastille Day celebration are popular annual events.

[citation needed] Membership at the Mechanics' Institute is open to the public, and includes use of the library, access to digital and other collections and resources, the chess room, and free or discounted admission to special events, lectures, films, book discussion groups, classes, and other social activities.