The Old Library (grid reference ST587727) is a historic building on the north side of King Street, Bristol, England.

Over time its private membership would include Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey and Humphry Davy.

[4] Southey joined in 1793 and his very first borrowing, William Enfield's History of Philosophy, contained utopian material which gave him ideas for a "Southeyopolis", recorded in his correspondence of that year.

[7] In 1795 his borrowings of Classical history books corresponded to topics he was covering in a series of public lectures in Bristol.

[10] Notable 19th-century city librarians include, James Fawckner Nicholls (1868-83) and John Taylor (1883-93), who were co-authors of Bristol Past and Present (1881-2).

Decaying features such as a fine Bristol coat of arms on the pediment, figures of putti depicted reading books above the first floor windows, and much of the mouldings and other details, were removed in the 20th century instead of being restored.

[10] The Old Library's reading room had contained antique furniture and fittings, including an ornate oak overmantel carved by Grinling Gibbons.

In 1613 the library's founding collection was the donation of Tobias Matthew, the Archbishop of York, who was born in Bristol.