#NonprofitNovember is highlighting Creative Collective’s nonprofit Business Members in a series of featured interviews. These short features will grant some insight into how these nonprofits have grown and developed through the years and how they plan to use what they’ve learned to further their respective missions in 2022.
This Holiday season, follow the hashtag #NonprofitNovember to learn more about the nonprofit organizations in the communities, and discover how to support their ongoing efforts in a meaningful way.
Interviewees: Carolyn McGuire (she/her/hers) and Jean Marie Procious (she/her/hers) of Salem Athenaeum
What’s something you are proud of / something you achieved this year as an organization?
Adapting to the constantly changing environment to provide library services and still being able to hold events that bring people together to learn and share their experiences.
Tell us a time that you saw your vision in action?
On Salem Lit Fest weekend in September, hundreds of people of all ages attended from here and around the world to share their love of literature as readers and writers.
Also, the summer salons we held in our garden this year: multiple presenters shared their work and perspectives, and the audience shared their own experiences once they heard the stories. Everyone appreciated a chance to listen and to be heard.
What’s something you would like your followers to know about your organization that they may not already know? Or, what is something that is unique about your organization?
The Athenaeum building, grounds, research library and programs are open to the public. To take books out, membership is required, but anyone is welcome to join. Our collection is a general interest library, with a strong selection of current bestsellers as well as classics and hard-to-find titles.
Our founders in 1760 realized the essential value of a library to a community, to educate and inform the citizenry and to democratize knowledge. The Athenaeum contains on it shelves an intellectual and cultural history of Salem (and the country) from the colonial era to the present. Cool, huh?
We love visitors, and in the ever-expanding world of remote work, we are a spot to do quiet work when you need a change of scenery.
Who is your organization for?
We are for everyone who loves to learn—on your own with a book or with groups and expert presenters. Currently our building is not ADA accessible, but we are working on it and we have some accommodations. Contact us for details.
Where can people find out more about your organization and support its ongoing efforts?
Stop in: Tuesday–Friday, 1:00–6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
We are also on:
Instagram: /salemathenaeum
Twitter: /salem_athenaeum
Facebook: /thesalemathenaeum
Creative Collective’s 2021 #StayLocal Campaign
Initiative encourages community to shop small and support local small businesses this November and December
The approaching Holiday season is putting people in the shopping, eating, and drinking mood as small businesses across the North Shore are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. Following up the successful 2020 #StayLocal campaign, Creative Collective is launching #StayLocal2021, encouraging individuals to shop and support small this upcoming holiday season. Learn more.
