Our Mission: 

To preserve and excite
the literary and cultural passions
of the North Shore

Incorporated in 1810, the Salem Athenaeum is an independent membership library and cultural center hosting lectures, concerts, plays, discussion groups, author and poetry readings, storytelling, workshops for readers and writers, and literary social events.  

Library holdings include a contemporary circulating collection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature as well as historical research collections in literature for adults and children, natural sciences, political and social sciences, theology and travel.  

Beginning in 2017, the Salem Athenaeum became the presenter of the Salem Literary Festival.

Upcoming Events

• Sep. 17:

  Re-appraisal Reading Circle
  7:00 p.m.

• Sep. 21:

  Salem Lit Fest Kickoff
  6:30 p.m.

• Sep. 22:

  Salem Lit Fest
  11:00 a.m.

• Sep. 29:

  Concert: Matt Haimovitz
  7:30 p.m.

• Oct. 4:

  Fall Course starts: Short Story Writing
  7:00 p.m.

View Entire Calendar