The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute has over one hundred and forty years of service to the community of Ballarat  and district. With over six hundred members and an active volunteer network, it is able to provide services that include:-
	a contemporary lending library,
	a comprehensive collection of nineteenth century reference books,
	an accessible collection of archival newspapers
	production of a periodical literary journal
	a quarterly series of public lectures every year
	provision of public function and theatre spaces The extensive BMI main site is at www.library.org.au