Proprietors Of The Salem Athenaeum

Programs: 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 collection of over 50,000 discreet items; and 2-3 exhibitions per year. Special projects include on-line cataloging of the collection and an adopt-a-book program that provided for the conservation of 15 volumes in 2016. Programs include author readings, lectures, literary courses, concerts, writing workshops, dramatic performances, and discussion groups.

the salem athenaeum is a vibrant cultural resource for the north shore of massachusetts that serves over 2000 people annually. Offerings include a library of circulating and research collections, educational classes, lectures, writing groups and workshops, language and book discussion groups, exhibitions and concerts. In fy2016, the salem athenaeum presented an exhibition on celia thaxter and the famous artists and writers who attended her salon on appledore island, nh and whose works now are held in athenaeum collections. In the fall, another exhibition with related events, including an all-ages marionette show, explored the culture and customs of local and national elections in the united states. The corresponding lecture series theme was democracy in america and featured journalists and scholars speaking on issues relevant to the 2016 election and its aftermath. The salem athenaeum continues to collaborate with other local non-profits, such as the cambridge society for early music, who presented three concerts in the library and with historic salem, inc. To offer the annual salem history lecture. In june, the athenaeum garden was transformed into an outdoor theatre for the world-premiere of peter sampieris one-act play loosely adapted from italo calvinos whimsical 1957 novella, the painter in the trees. Writing courses and workshops offered throughout the year included: fictional character brunch, an exercise in method writing with best-selling author brunonia barry; the (screen)plays the thing! 6-week workshop with shari frost; how to write and publish your novel in fifteen months with jim defilippi; and quick scripts, a 72-hour playwriting festival which was a collaboration of playwrights, directors and actors culminating in a public staged reading of the playwrights works before a live audience.