at the Athenaeum - Holiday 2006 Edition

Seasons Greetings

Athenaeum Hours

Mon. & Wed: 10AM to 8PM
Tues., Thurs., & Fri.: 10AM - 5:30PM
Sat.: 9:30AM - 4PM
Free wireless Internet access now available.

We will close at noon on Sat. 12/23 & be closed all day on Mon. 12/25.

We will close at noon on Sat. 12/30 and will be closed on Mon. 1/1 .

First Wednesdays

Join us for this monthly series of talks on a wide range of topics. All programs start at 7:00PM. This series is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council and hosted by the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.

January 3 - Witnesses at the Gate with Marjorie Ryerson

February 7 - Annuit Coeptis: How the Romans Invented Themselves with Dr. Edward M. Bradley

March 7 - Why Jung? with Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath

April 4 — Stark Decency: German Pows In A New England Village presented by Dr. Allen Koop.

May 2 — War vs. Truth: Freedom’s Dilemma. with journalist Barrie Dunsmore.

Download the First Wednesdays complete brochure.

Ongoing Events

Story Time in the Children's Library every Monday at 11AM. All ages are welcome.

"Six O'Clock Prompt" Writers Support Group - Veteran & new writers invited. 802-633-2617 or 802-592-3138 for more information.

Scrabble Club meets the 1st Saturday of each month from 12-4PM.

Coming This Spring

March 31 - 2007 Athenaeum Award Ceremony honoring poet & part-time Vermont resident Rachel Hadas for her body of work and efforts in promoting poetry.

April 20 - Pianist/author Janice Weber will be at the Athenaeum for a reading and book signing. This will also be a chance to play detective at the Athenaeum.

April 21 - Piano recital by Janice Weber at the Alexander Twilight theater at Lyndon State College. This event is co-sponsored by Lyndon State College.

Join us for the annual Spring Gala featuring "altered" and handmade books. Check our Web site for more information in the spring.

SecondHand Prose

Now open on Main Street, selling used books year-round; operated by the Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. Hours are Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 10AM-2PM and Wed. 2:30-6:30PM.

The Trustees and Staff at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum join Executive Director Irwin Gelber in wishing you, our friends and neighbors, the very best for the holiday season. At this time of the year, along with the greetings we receive from friends, acquaintances and relatives, our mail contains numerous requests for support from worthwhile organizations and institutions. As you can tell from the contents of this envelope, the Athenaeum is no exception. I would like you to know a few of the many ways in which your generous contribution keeps the Library and Gallery strong and vibrant.

Your gift helps to support our everyday activities and the general maintenance of our historic landmark facility. It goes towards everything from educational outreach and community programs to keeping the grounds beautiful; and it provides the books and other materials needed to continue to offer the fascinating programs that enrich the lives of our community’s children and adults. Large or small, your gift will continue to give throughout the new year.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Long Overdue: State Funding for Libraries

As president of the Vermont Library Association I am working with other librarians on an initiative called Long Overdue: State Funding for Public Libraries. The idea of state funding for public libraries is not new. Vermont is one of only six states that do not currently give direct funding to their public libraries. Every year Vermonters expect increased services and programs from their public libraries.

Libraries are being called upon to provide more Internet access, more public programs, more after school day care, more literacy support, and more materials in more diverse formats. The burden on local taxes and on fundraising efforts is continually rising with no relief in sight.

The Vermont Library Association feels it is time for the state to pitch in and help support libraries, as essential for Vermont communities as roads and schools. Libraries are truly the last open civic spaces available to all of our citizens: places for the open and free exchange of ideas – the foundation of a democratic society. The Vermont Library Association believes state funding is long overdue and the time has come to make it a reality.

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I don’t mean the new Evanovich, Frazier, or Grisham. I mean the book itself. Some books open like the jaws of pet at pill time-resisting all the way. Why is this? Well, a number of factors work together-the size of the book, the binding style and, most importantly, the paper. Thin paper bends more easily than thick paper. Dictionaries and large-print books are often printed on thin paper. The most important paper factor is grain direction.

Because paper is made on fast moving machines most of the fibers become aligned in one direction. This alignment is known as grain direction. When you tear an article from a newspaper one tear is straight and one is ragged. The straight tear runs in the same direction as most of the fibers. You are tearing only the few fibers that lie perpendicularly. The ragged tear runs across most of the fibers so it’s hard to tear in a straight line.

Paper bends more easily with the grain than against the grain. Therefore books should be printed so that the grain runs parallel to the spine. Pages turn more easily and the book opens with less resistance. Phone books open flat because they are printed on thin paper with proper grain direction.

Unfortunately, you can’t buy a book based on the paper grain direction. Some have it going the “right” way, some don’t. The ones that don’t are harder to hold open. Here at the Athenaeum some of these resistant pets end up in the bindery.

To be continued in the next issue

Gift Ideas for All Seasons

Shop at Gifts from the Gallery at the Athenaeum for note cards & postcards; tote bags; framed & unframed reproductions of Raspberry Girl, Hiding in the Old Oak, The Domes of Yosemite, & Girl Reading; the Handbook of the Art Collections; and signed adult and children's books.

at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is published quarterly via email. You can send comments & feedback, email newsletter@stjathenaeum.org

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
1171 Mail Street
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum - Holiday 2006 Edition
Seasons Greetings	Athenaeum Hours Mon. & Wed: 10AM to 8PM Tues., Thurs., & Fri.: 10AM - 5:30PM Sat.: 9:30AM - 4PM Free wireless Internet access now available. We will close at noon on Sat. 12/23 & be closed all day on Mon. 12/25. We will close at noon on Sat. 12/30 and will be closed on Mon. 1/1 . First Wednesdays Join us for this monthly series of talks on a wide range of topics. All programs start at 7:00PM. This series is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council and hosted by the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. January 3 - Witnesses at the Gate with Marjorie Ryerson February 7 - Annuit Coeptis: How the Romans Invented Themselves with Dr. Edward M. Bradley March 7 - Why Jung? with Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath April 4 — Stark Decency: German Pows In A New England Village presented by Dr. Allen Koop. May 2 — War vs. Truth: Freedom’s Dilemma. with journalist Barrie Dunsmore. Download the First Wednesdays complete brochure. Ongoing Events Story Time in the Children's Library every Monday at 11AM. All ages are welcome. "Six O'Clock Prompt" Writers Support Group - Veteran & new writers invited. 802-633-2617 or 802-592-3138 for more information. Scrabble Club meets the 1st Saturday of each month from 12-4PM. Coming This Spring March 31 - 2007 Athenaeum Award Ceremony honoring poet & part-time Vermont resident Rachel Hadas for her body of work and efforts in promoting poetry. April 20 - Pianist/author Janice Weber will be at the Athenaeum for a reading and book signing. This will also be a chance to play detective at the Athenaeum. April 21 - Piano recital by Janice Weber at the Alexander Twilight theater at Lyndon State College. This event is co-sponsored by Lyndon State College. Join us for the annual Spring Gala featuring "altered" and handmade books. Check our Web site for more information in the spring. SecondHand Prose Now open on Main Street, selling used books year-round; operated by the Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. Hours are Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 10AM-2PM and Wed. 2:30-6:30PM.
The Trustees and Staff at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum join Executive Director Irwin Gelber in wishing you, our friends and neighbors, the very best for the holiday season. At this time of the year, along with the greetings we receive from friends, acquaintances and relatives, our mail contains numerous requests for support from worthwhile organizations and institutions. As you can tell from the contents of this envelope, the Athenaeum is no exception. I would like you to know a few of the many ways in which your generous contribution keeps the Library and Gallery strong and vibrant. Your gift helps to support our everyday activities and the general maintenance of our historic landmark facility. It goes towards everything from educational outreach and community programs to keeping the grounds beautiful; and it provides the books and other materials needed to continue to offer the fascinating programs that enrich the lives of our community’s children and adults. Large or small, your gift will continue to give throughout the new year. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Long Overdue: State Funding for Libraries
As president of the Vermont Library Association I am working with other librarians on an initiative called Long Overdue: State Funding for Public Libraries. The idea of state funding for public libraries is not new. Vermont is one of only six states that do not currently give direct funding to their public libraries. Every year Vermonters expect increased services and programs from their public libraries. Libraries are being called upon to provide more Internet access, more public programs, more after school day care, more literacy support, and more materials in more diverse formats. The burden on local taxes and on fundraising efforts is continually rising with no relief in sight. The Vermont Library Association feels it is time for the state to pitch in and help support libraries, as essential for Vermont communities as roads and schools. Libraries are truly the last open civic spaces available to all of our citizens: places for the open and free exchange of ideas – the foundation of a democratic society. The Vermont Library Association believes state funding is long overdue and the time has come to make it a reality.
Read Any Good Books Lately?
I don’t mean the new Evanovich, Frazier, or Grisham. I mean the book itself. Some books open like the jaws of pet at pill time-resisting all the way. Why is this? Well, a number of factors work together-the size of the book, the binding style and, most importantly, the paper. Thin paper bends more easily than thick paper. Dictionaries and large-print books are often printed on thin paper. The most important paper factor is grain direction. Because paper is made on fast moving machines most of the fibers become aligned in one direction. This alignment is known as grain direction. When you tear an article from a newspaper one tear is straight and one is ragged. The straight tear runs in the same direction as most of the fibers. You are tearing only the few fibers that lie perpendicularly. The ragged tear runs across most of the fibers so it’s hard to tear in a straight line. Paper bends more easily with the grain than against the grain. Therefore books should be printed so that the grain runs parallel to the spine. Pages turn more easily and the book opens with less resistance. Phone books open flat because they are printed on thin paper with proper grain direction. Unfortunately, you can’t buy a book based on the paper grain direction. Some have it going the “right” way, some don’t. The ones that don’t are harder to hold open. Here at the Athenaeum some of these resistant pets end up in the bindery. To be continued in the next issue
Gift Ideas for All Seasons
Shop at Gifts from the Gallery at the Athenaeum for note cards & postcards; tote bags; framed & unframed reproductions of Raspberry Girl, Hiding in the Old Oak, The Domes of Yosemite, & Girl Reading; the Handbook of the Art Collections; and signed adult and children's books.
at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is published quarterly via email. You can send comments & feedback, email newsletter@stjathenaeum.org St. Johnsbury Athenaeum 1171 Mail Street St. Johnsbury, VT 05819