Staff Articles
Books for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In May, we celebrate those Americans who originated in or trace their family history to Asia and the Pacific Islands. Here are some books written by AAPI authors! FICTION When I’m Gone, Look For Me in the East by Quan Barry America is Not the Heart by Elaine...
New Healthy Eating and Wellness Program!
The Westfield Athenaeum is one of 35 libraries to have been awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in July 2021, which is funded through the Institute of Museum and...
The 1950 Census Is Here!
Like many family history buffs, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the 1950 census. Released a few weeks ago, the census provides specific information about populations and districts in the United States, including maps, district descriptions, and demographics that...
Books for National Poetry Month
Did you know? April is National Poetry Month! To celebrate, we have some books of poetry, as well as biographies of poets, on display in the Great Hall. Stop by to see what's available, or ask our librarians to find you something specific. We'd especially like to...
Mystery Unboxing with Soothing Memoir
Welcome to our mystery unboxing feature with Westfield librarians, with a new episode released every month! In this episode, librarian Kat asked her colleagues for recommendations for nonfiction memoirs or essay collections that would, hopefully, be less soothing...
Books for March Madness
Grab a book to go along with your March Madness obsession! The bottom of this list even has some basketball DVDs if you are interested in those as well. All of these are available to browse at our March Madness display in the library. Interested in a specific one?...
Mystery Unboxing with Comforting Lit Fic
Welcome to our mystery unboxing feature with Westfield librarians, with a new episode released every month! In this episode, librarian Theresa asked her colleagues for recommendations for fiction books that are comforting and involve books or librarians. All of...
Black History: Real and Imagined
February is Black History Month, but that doesn't mean you have to celebrate with a nonfiction book! We hope to help everyone find books they'll love. That's why, below, we have an annotated list of both fiction and nonfiction titles with links to the catalog for...
Dragon Tail Recommends: Friends Forever!
What is life without a best friend to get into mischief with? Boring. Celebrate the friends in your life that keep things interesting with this book list of new friends, mischievous friends, and best friends. Geeky f@b five. #1 It's not rocket science By Lucy...
Books for International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and we have a list of books to honor those stories. A handful of these are new or recent releases, with more on the way! You can browse our new nonfiction at any time or check out this display right across...
Research Your Family History at the Library
Whether you’re just thinking about looking into your family history, or have already begun a genealogy journey, the Westfield Athenaeum has resources to help you. It’s incredible how much historical information can be found online these days! But since digitization...
Mystery Unboxing with Cultural Nonfiction
Welcome to our mystery unboxing feature with Westfield librarians, with a new episode released every month! In this episode, librarian Mary asked her colleagues for recommendations for nonfiction about current and cultural issues. All of these are available from...
Food-Related Biographies and Memoirs
Who needs a new, mouthwatering book to read? Well, we've got you covered with a list and display of food-related biographies and memoirs. You can either browse the full display in the Athenaeum or click on a title to head over to the catalog to request it. Go...
Dragon Tail Recommends: Wintry Mix
What better time to snuggle up with a good book than our first full month of winter? Here we have a mix of old and new stories filled with adventure and centered around this cold time of year. So curl up in your warmest blanket and enjoy a good book from our...
New Events for 2022!
The new year is fast approaching, and so more amazing events at the Athenaeum. In fact, along with our successful and continuing recurring events, we're adding even more! While this is not an exhaustive list of everything that we will be adding to our roster, this...
Updated Inventory for Old Burying Ground Donated to Athenaeum
People who are interested in Westfield’s Old Burying Ground, also known as the Mechanic Street Cemetery, now have another wonderful tool at their disposal for genealogical research. Thanks to the efforts of local historian Bruce Cortis, people who visit the...
“How Long ‘til Black Future Month?”
February is Black History Month, but we’re featuring books by Black and African American authors this month because, well, there’s never a wrong time to celebrate exciting and thought-provoking literature! This display includes Africanfuturism, Afrofuturism, and...
Books for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
As Franklin Roosevelt once said, this day shall live in infamy. Whether you are a history buff or just interested in the topic at the moment, we have a list for you! This selection is also available to browse as a display in the Great Hall. Due to our fantastic...
Mystery Unboxing with Fantasy Adventure Books
Welcome to our mystery unboxing feature with Westfield librarians, with a new episode released every month! In this episode, librarian Erica asked her colleagues for recommendations for fantasy adventure titles with a hint of romance. All of these books are...
Dragon Tail Recommends: Magic Time!
It's the magical time of year so what better way to celebrate the season than with a book brimming with magic? Enjoy epic adventures with this list filled with magical swords, evil curses, magical beasts and epic adventures! Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah...
