Membership Libraries: A Study of the Lanier Library Association

The Lanier Library Association in Tryon, North Carolina is one of the few remaining active membership libraries in the United States. At a time when many public libraries are facing drastic cuts in funding, and sometimes even facing closure, it has become important to examine how such an institution as the Lanier Library can exist, and what we can learn from this resilient organization that can be applied to public libraries today. Through an examination of the history of the Lanier Library, from its beginnings in 1889 to the present day, this study seeks to identify some of the factors that allow the library to remain viable. Also considered are issues associated with implementing the Lanier Library's user-pays model in a public library setting