Get Involved

The Nantucket Atheneum is a private non-profit organization that provides public library service to the island’s year-round and seasonal residents. We are housed in a historic 1847 building and the Weezie Library for Children. The Atheneum collects, organizes and disseminates books, literature and other materials in a variety of formats to help users of all ages meet their recreational, personal, professional and intellectual needs. In keeping with its heritage, the Atheneum also serves as a cultural center for the Nantucket community by sponsoring educational programming and maintaining special collections related to the history and culture of the island.

There are many ways to become involved with the island's public library:

Volunteers: We are always looking for volunteers and there are many types of jobs available, ranging from helping the librarians organize and maintain books, to helping at events and lectures to tutoring English to a non native speaker through the library's Literacy Volunteers of the Atheneum. More information .

Attend One of Our Benefit Events: Each year the library must raise a large percentage of the money for its budget by sponsoring events, the proceeds of which benefit the library.

In late July we present the Nantucket Atheneum Dance Festival, a spectacular weekend of world class dance performance, free youth master ballet classes and a lecture/demonstration from the festival's artistic director.

In November, on Thanksgiving morning, we sponsor the Cold Turkey Plunge, in which several hundred good-natured and brave souls jump in the harbor's chilly water to help raise money for the library.

Check our calendar of events for detailed information on all our events and programs.

Membership: Become a member of the 1847 Society, our annual membership program. Memberships help support the library and keep you on the inside track of Atheneum happenings. For more information please contact Bess Clarke, 508-228-1110 ext 107.