The Prahran Mechanics’ Institute was created from the subscriptions and donations of the local community, and throughout its 150 year history the generosity of members has played an important role in the survival of the PMI and its library.

Financial Donations

Did you know that Prahran Mechanics’ Institute is a Deductible Gift Recipient? Financial gifts to the library over $2.00 are tax deductible.

Financial donors over $10 receive a formal letter of acknowledgement, and the names of financial donors appear in our annual report and in our newsletter.

As the Prahran Mechanics' Institute receives no regular public funding, the subscriptions and donations of members continue to be important to the operation the library service.

You can make a donation to the PMI

Book Donations

Clearing space on your bookshelves? Why not donate your unwanted books to the PMI?

Donated books which are added to the historical collection are adorned with a book plate showing the name of the donor and the year of the donation. Names of donors of books added to the library collection appear in our newsletter and our annual report.

Donated items which are not added to the historical collection for various reasons are offered for sale within the library to raise funds for the historical collection.

We are more than happy to accept Victorian and interstate history books from libraries weeding their collections.

Cultural Gifts Program

The Prahran Mechanics’ Institute is a participating institution in the Cultural Gifts Program under the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

This means that if you are interested in donating rare historical books to our library collection you may be entitled to income tax deductions for your gifts.

For more details go to the Cultural Gifts Program web page.

Please contact Tim on 9510 3393 if you are interested in donating to the PMI under the Cultural Gifts Program.

Wish List

As the PMI is a small library with a limited book budget, there are naturally many items which we would like to purchase for the collection which are out of our reach. We keep a list of some of these items at the front counter of the library for people who may wish to sponsor an item.

Each sponsored item purchased for the collection is adorned with a special book plate noting the name of the sponsor and the date of the acquisition.

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