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From the Executive Director's Desk The Athenaeum Digs Out Some of its Treasures was the banner headline in The Times-Argus, and so began 2007, “The Year of The Book” – our homage to that collection of works that so largely and loosely defines our Athenaeum. “The Art of The Book” featured a hand-colored Atlas published in Amsterdam in 1640, along with 17 other books that were visual feasts in themselves. Then there was the “Other Collection”, a group of paintings never before exhibited; a series of eight lectures provided by outstanding scholars; musical performances – a choir conducted by Vermont’s Gwyneth Walker, a piano recital by Janice Weber, and a rollicking evening spent with brass and percussion musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band. And let us not forget readings by the poets Martin Espada and Rachel Hadas, our Athenaeum Award winner; and finally, the creative and generous artists whose colorful and imaginative “Altered Books” provided so much joy at the Annual Gala. Most of these presentations were offered free of charge and all were in keeping with the spirit of the founder’s “Athenaeum” – a place for the life of the mind. Perhaps the middle of June is an odd time for such reflection, but a year has gone by since I had the good fortune to assume the helm of this institution. I must admit there were times, only a few, when I felt like a sardine trying to guide a whale into port. But thanks to the steady support of the Board of Trustees, and the very professional and patient staff here at the Athenaeum, we accomplished most of what we set out to do. Our patrons as well, have been wonderfully encouraging and generous during these past twelve months. My thanks go to all of you. And, it’s been nice getting to know you. Irwin Gelber July - August: Readings in the Gallery with well-known poets reading from their works. See story below for details. June-August: Get a Clue @ Your Library The theme of this year’s Summer Reading Program in the Children’s Library is “mystery”. Crime stories won’t be the only mysteries at the library this year, we’ll be having fun with puzzles, codes, and other mysterious activities. Registration starts June 6th, and the program continues until the end of July. During the summer we’ll be having a series of special programs – hope to see many of our young patrons there. July 2 - 11 AM Riddles Storytime July 6 - 1 PM Mystery Lunch July 9 - 11 AM Digging for Dinosaurs Storytime July 11 - 2 PM Egyptian Day July 16 - 11 AM Mystery of Bigfoot Storytime July 18 - 7 PM Dark, Dark Night PJ Storytime July 20 - 2 PM Disguise Day July 23 - 11 AM Scooby Doo Mystery Storytime July 25 - 2 PM Tom Joyce Magic Show July 30 - 6:30 PM Final Program September 22: Art on the Lawn As a way of saying thank you to the arts community , we are inviting all artists who would like to exhibit and sell their work to join us on September 22nd. Space is free but limited. Email bdandersen@stjathenaeum.org for more information. Ongoing Events The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum proudly celebrates its 14th annual Readings in the Gallery summer series with a four-part program featuring seven award-winning poets. Readings take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings during July and August in the Athenaeum’s beautiful art gallery or second floor hall and are followed by a reception and book signing. Readings are free and handicapped accessible, but seating in the gallery is limited. July 18-F.D. Reeve and Ellen Dudley Ellen Dudley, author of Slow Burn, is the winner of a Vermont Arts Council Fellowship and is the founding editor of The Marlboro Review. Her poems have appeared in Agni Review, The Massachusetts Review, The Poetry Miscellany, Provincetown Arts, TriQuarterly, and other periodicals. Her most recent book of poems is The Geographic Cure (Four Way Books, 2007) July 25-David Budbill and Jody Gladding Jody Gladding is a professor, poet and translator, and has published two books of poetry, Stone Crop (1993) and The Moon Rose (2006.) She received the Yale Younger Poets Award and the Whiting Writers Award in poetry. This summer Gladding will be the 2007 Poet-in-Residence at the Frost Place in Franconia, NH. August 1-Michael Collier and Ellen Bryant Voigt Ellen Bryant Voigt is the author of several collections of poetry, most recently Messenger: New and Selected Poems 1976-2006 (W.W. Norton & Co., 2007), Shadow of Heaven (2002), which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and Kyrie (1995) a finalist for the National Book Critic’s Circle Award. Voigt served as the Vermont State Poet from 1999 to 2003, when she was elected Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets. August 15 - Jane Hirshfield With apologies to Harpers Magazine, here is our version of the index. 76,118 - Fiction works borrowed since automation in 2001. 21,360 - Mysteries borrowed since automation in 2001. 12,068 - Large print books borrowed since automation in 2001. 8,572 - Visitors to the Gallery in 2006. 6,126 - Works of fiction borrowed since January 2007. 3,572 - St. Johnsbury residents are library cardholders. 2,015 - Audiobooks that have been borrowed this year. 1,779 - DVDs borrowed this year. 889 - Titles added since January 2007. 887 - Out-of-state visitors to the Gallery between August and December 2006. 601 - Titles by Vermont authors. 600 - St. Johnsbury Academy students are cardholders. 353 - Danville residents are cardholders. 344 - Titles with “cats” as the subject. 527 - Titles with the “civil war” as the subject. 204 - Lyndonville residents are cardholders. 140 - International visitors to the Gallery between August and December 2006. 105 - Peacham residents are cardholders. 53 - Titles with “Shakespeare” as the subject. 21 - Titles about aardvarks. Life is Short Writing Contest Winners Our month-long contest is over and the winners have been chosen. Here are the winning entries. [Happiness is] by Robin Burke Life is Short by John McClaughry Blue Plate Special by Rose Marie Crossley with gravy running all over poking my fork for the kernel of corn I know I just know is buried in there somewhere the meatloaf is moist but missing just that one essential spice I can’t I simply can’t identify my chef’s brain is on holiday someplace the south of France an olive grove in Tuscany maybe the Arctic circle I wonder what calamari tastes like must be brave and try it sometime the meatloaf isn’t working. The next time you are in the Athenaeum, check out our “word of the day” posted at the main desk. We’ve been displaying the favorite words (and definitions) of staff and patrons twice a week since the beginning of the year. Staff members and patrons are invited to suggest words. If you have a favorite or unusual word you’d like to share, email me at apetersen@stjathenaeum.org with your suggestions. Here are the best of the best from this year’s word list. Pluto or plutoed (verb) – To demote or devalue someone or something, as happened to the planet Pluto, which in 2006 lost its status as a planet. This word was the winner of the 2006 “Word of the Year” by the American Dialect Society. Hornswoggle (verb) – To bamboozle; deceive. Bindlestiff (noun) – A hobo, especially one who carries a bedroll. Smarmy (adj.) – Revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness; of low sleazy taste or quality. Tosspot (noun) – A habitual drunkard. Vexillology (noun) – The study of flags; from the Latin for flag or banner. Interrobang (noun) – A rarely used punctuation mark in the form of a question mark superimposed on an exclamation point, used to end a simultaneous question and exclamation. Salmagundi (noun) – A salad of chopped meat, anchovies, eggs, and onions, often arranged in rows on lettuce and served with vinegar and oil; a mixture or assortment; a potpourri. Virga (noun) – Wisps of precipitation streaming from a cloud but evaporating before reaching the ground. SecondHand Prose Now open at 1222 Main Street, selling used books year-round; operated by the Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. Hours are Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 10 AM-2 PM and Wednesday 2:30 -6:30 PM. Mon. & Wed: 10AM to 8PM at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is published quarterly via email.Send your comments & feedback via email to newsletter@stjathenaeum.org. Our mailing address is: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1171 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 |
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