The library, mainly focused on 19th-century literature, was designed by Thomas Harrison, architect of Liverpool's Lyceum and built by one of the founders, David Bellhouse.

[4] In November 2023, it was announced that the library had been awarded a £453,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform the building and preserve its book collection.

[2] The library has a rectangular plan and is constructed in sandstone ashlar on a corner site at 57 Mosley Street.

[1] The Portico Library, in conjunction with its cultural partners and funders, hosts a series of literary prizes throughout the year to celebrate writers and poets from Northern England and beyond.

The library launched the Sadie Massey Award to celebrate the North West's young writers in 2015.

Other notable members include John Dalton, Reverend William Gaskell, Sir Robert Peel and more recently Eric Cantona.