Berkshire Athenaeum

The Berkshire Athenaeum is the public library for the city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1872, it is a non-profit organization which, like many New England libraries, started as a private organization. Operating solely as a library for thirty years, the Athenaeum assumed the responsibility for the newly created Berkshire Museum, located a block away on South Street, in 1903.

For several years the Athenaeum was both a public library and museum until the latter organization spun off to form its own distinct operation in 1932. The current library is located in the center of Pittsfield, two doors away from the original Athenaeum building it replaced in 1975. The Athenaeum is governed by a fifteen member Board of Library Trustees.