Sad and True. 200 years of shared knowledge Salem Athenaeum’s model faces modern challenges

From: www.boston.com
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“Once I get to know someone andtheir reading interests, I make direct recommendations as soon as theycome in,’’ said Procious, director of the Salem Athenaeum, whichcelebrates its 200th anniversary with a fund-raiser on Saturday. “I’mcultivating the community if I get people excited about what they’rereading.’’

Since 1810,Salem-area residents have paid for subscriptions to the athenaeum - oneof only about 16 membership libraries left in the United States - andhave welcomed nonmembers to read free of charge. A 50,000-volumecollection testifies to the membership’s evolving, idiosyncraticpassions for topics from theology to botany and world travel.

Nowas the athenaeum enters its third century, this historic institutionfaces sobering challenges to its venerable traditions. A $20,000deficit is the athenaeum’s largest ever, representing 15 percent of itsannual budget of about $130,000. Officers strive to recruit newsubscribers, but persuading people to pay $90 per year per householdfor the privilege of checking out books and sustaining a Salem iconisn’t an easy sell in a tough economy. Meanwhile, rare volumes datingto the 16th and 17th centuries are gradually decaying in the absence offunds needed for preservation.

“They’regoing to turn to dust,’’ said Francie King, president of the board oftrustees. “We just can’t afford to do what it takes to preserve them,unless someone were to give us millions.’’
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