About Us

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, located in the heart of La Jolla, in San Diego County, is one of only 16 nonprofit membership libraries in the United States. Founded in 1899, the Athenaeum provides library resources in music and the arts and presents over 200 programs and cultural events annually at four venues in four different zip codes in San Diego. This rare cultural institution offers a depth and accessibility of resources and programs found nowhere else in the region. The library, devoted exclusively to music and art, has an outstanding and ever-expanding collection of books, periodicals, reference material, compact discs, DVDs, sheet music, and librettos, as well as one of the most significant collections of artists' books in Southern California. The Athenaeum also presents an eclectic, year-round schedule of art exhibitions, concerts (classical, jazz, acoustics, and new music), lectures, studio art classes through its School of the Arts, tours, and special events.

The library is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Wednesday, 10 am to 8:30 pm. The library is closed on Sunday and Monday. Members can check out library materials and also receive discouints on all of our events and classes. For information on the benefits of becoming a member, call (858) 454-5872 or visit www.ljathenaeum.org/membership.

In 2016 the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library expanded its offerings to a satellite location in Logan Heights, the Athenaeum Art Center (AAC), which is being developed as a multicultural community center and hub for local artists. The AAC features an art school studio, a print studio, and an events space, with a bilingual manager, for exhibitions, lectures, and concerts. The AAC offers a wide variety of art classes from painting and sculpture to multimedia and printmaking through the School of the Arts.

The Athenaeum Art Center is located at 1955 Julian Avenue in Logan Heights in the Bread & Salt complex, is open to the public Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am–4 pm, and for scheduled programs and classes.