Proprietors Of The Salem Athenaeum

THE MISSION OF THE SALEM ATHENAEUM IS TO PRESERVE AND EXCITE THE LITERARY AND CULTURAL PASSIONS OF THE NORTH SHORE.

LIBRARY OPERATIONS INCLUDE: REFERENCE AND RESEARCH SERVICES TO MEMBERS, STUDENTS, SCHOLARS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC; CIRCULATION OF BOOKS AND MATERIALS TO MEMBERS AND THEIR CHILDREN; MANAGEMENT OF THE CURRENT AND HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF 50,000 DISCRETE ITEMS; AND 2-3 EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR. SPECIAL PROJECTS INCLUDE ON-LINE CATALOGING OF THE COLLECTION AND AN ADOPT-A-BOOK PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVIDED FOR THE CONSERVATION OF OVER 100 VOLUMES SINCE 2012. PROGRAMS INCLUDE AUTHOR READINGS, LECTURES, LITERARY COURSES, CONCERTS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES, AND DISCUSSION AND WRITING GROUPS.

THE SALEM ATHENAEUM IS A CULTURAL RESOURCE FOR THE NORTH SHORE OF MASSACHUSETTS SERVING OVER 2,500 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY WITH OUR LIBRARY AND PROGRAMS, 900 VISITORS TO OUR EXHIBITIONS, AND OVER 2,000 VIEWS OF OUR RECORDED CONTENT ONLINE. OFFERINGS INCLUDE A LIBRARY OF CIRCULATING AND RESEARCH COLLECTIONS, LECTURES AND READINGS, WRITING GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS, LANGUAGE AND BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS, CONCERTS AND THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE ANNUAL SALEM LITERARY FESTIVAL. HYBRID PROGRAMMING FLOURISHED AS THE ATHENUM EXPANDED ITS ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND CULTURAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO IN-PERSON, VIRTUAL, AND POST-EVENT VIDEO AUDIENCES. OFF-SITE GATHERINGS IN THE FORM OF THE SALEM LITERARY FESTIVAL, PUBLIC READINGS, AND MEMBER MEETUPS ALSO EXTENDED THE LIBRARY'S REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY. LECTURE TOPICS IN 2022-2023 INCLUDED THE FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF A MODERN ISLAND PHYSICIAN'S CAREER, THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECT OF REBUILDING MAINE'S FIRST SHIP, THE OPENING NIGHT OF BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY, A HISTORY OF TIMEKEEPING IN EARLY NEW ENGLAND, FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED'S LEGACY ON THE NORTH SHORE, AND THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LEGACY OF JAY FAMILY OF NEW YORK. WITH THE HELP OF A MASSACHUSETTS HUMANITIES GRANT, THE ATHENAEUM HOSTED A READING FREDERICK DOUGLASS TOGETHER EVENT AT THE TABERNACLE CHURCH IN SALEM, INVITING OVER 20 COMMUNITY LEADERS TO READ. THE ATHENAEUM'S DEDICATION TO INSPIRING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL WRITERS CONTINUED WITH WRITING WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS FEATURING NEW WORKS BY PUBLISHED LOCAL AUTHORS AND POETS. NEW THIS YEAR WAS A SUMMER WRITING SEMINAR FOR TEENS AND TWEENS. THE MEMBER MEETUP PROGRAM BLOSSOMED AND INCLUDED FIVE EXCURSIONS THIS YEAR: THREE WALKING TOURS, A CONCERT, AND A CALLIGRAPHY STUDIO TOUR. THE ATHENAEUM PRESENTED SEVERAL EVENTS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING ONE WITH HAMILTON HALL THAT GATHERED 150 PEOPLE TO HEAR ART HISTORY EXPERT WILLIAM CROSS SPEAK ON WINSLOW HOMER: THE HIDDEN LIFE OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE PAINTER.