Policies & Services
The library’s original collection consisted of 9,000 finely bound books selected by the noted bibliographer, William F. Poole, author of Poole’s Index, Librarian of Chicago’s famed Newberry Library, and one of the founders of the American Library Association.
To access eBooks and Audio Books, all of our online resources, click here.
Library Cards
All residents of St. Johnsbury are eligible for free library cards. Individuals and families who pay property taxes to the Town of St. Johnsbury may also sign up for library cards at no cost. Persons who live outside the Town of St. Johnsbury and who do not pay town taxes may purchase annual non-resident cards. The annual charge for a non-resident card is $15.00.
Persons wishing to sign up for a library card must present photo ID and proof of current address.
Interlibrary Loans
Due to staff changes, there is a limit of two requests per month per library account, and we cannot request items that are brand new or published within the preceding six months.
Please feel free to submit requests by phone at (802) 745-1390, by email to ill@stjathenaeum.org, or log in to your library account HERE to self-initiate your request through CLOVER.
Requests can also be placed in person at the Athenaeum during business hours.
Reserving a Book
You can request that a book be put on hold for you. When the book is available we will call or email you. You can put a book on hold either in person or by logging into your KOHA account online. For more information about putting a book on hold using KOHA, download our information sheet.
Loan Periods
Adult loan periods
3 weeks: books, magazines, audio books, music, and Kindles.
2 weeks: newest fiction, and DVDs
Children’s loan periods
3 weeks: everything except DVDs, Launchpad and Brickmath which are for 2 weeks only
Renewals
Two week materials cannot be renewed. Other materials can be renewed up to two times. Renew materials by the due date or you will incur fines. Materials can be renewed twice either in person, by phone (as long as no one is waiting for them), or by logging into your KOHA account online. Download the KOHA Quick Reference Sheet here.
Public Access Computers
We have eight public access computers available for patrons use in the library. Computers can be used for either 1/2 hour or 1 hour time slots. Our printing charge is 20¢ per side.
All our public access computers on the second floor have access to Heritage Quest to search US Census records and other resources for genealogy information. See the Reference Librarian for more information.
The Wi-fi signal is on 24 hours a day.
Borrowing a Kindle
The Athenaeum has three Kindles that can be borrowed for three weeks. The Kindles contain a variety of fiction and non-fiction titles.
St. Johnsbury Community Archives
The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum's archive houses materials that document the history of St. Johnsbury. For more information click HERE.
