A world of information is literally at our fingertips, thanks to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum's extensive online resources. Although visiting the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is always a lovely experience -- chatting with the knowledgeable librarians, enjoying the magnificent John Davis Hatch III-designed building -- sometimes you want the information right at your own desk. And the Athenaeum has a multitude of resources for you to use without leaving the comfort of your own computer!
Lisa von Kann, Library Director, explains that these resources are not simply what people can find on the Internet. “The Athenaeum supports the Vermont Online Library (VOL) , an online compendium of databases provided to Vermont libraries by the Vermont Department of Libraries. We consider them added value to your library card.” To access many of the online resources, just key in your St. Johnsbury Athenaeum library card barcode, and you’re on your way!
Von Kann describes some of the most popular online resources offered at the Athenaeum. Through the Vermont Online Library, many general reference databases are available. The full text of magazine and newspaper articles, many going back 25 years, are available through this resource. “Often people are looking for an article they missed a year ago,” says von Kann. “The Vermont Online Library is an easy way to find the article and be able to read the whole thing.”
An online database is the new way to search the encyclopedia.
he Athenaeum offers access to the complete Encyclopedia Britannica, which is updated daily. Young children can use the “Kids InfoBits” resource to easily find information about their subjects of interest, with simple, graphical links to help children navigate the material. “This is part of our ‘Homework Help’ information that school-aged kids and their parents find very useful,” says von Kann.
For people looking for health and wellness information, the Athenaeum offers a number of resources. The Health and Wellness Resource Center online database provides articles from hundreds of medical journals, newsletters, and pamphlets. In addition, the Athenaeum staff has compiled a list of the best websites to look for information on health and wellness issues.
Folks interested in genealogy will enjoy Heritage Quest Online, a database of books, journals, and historical records that can be invaluable when searching for your family history. Need information about business? The Athenaeum’s business resources include databases for researching U.S. and international companies, as well as awebsite with information for people who are starting a new business in Vermont.
Wilson Biographies is a database of biographies of thousands of people you may want to learn more about. A search for “Fairbanks” yielded some interesting information about Erastus Fairbanks, governor of Vermont and a member of the famed family whose Fairbanks Scales company sustained and built the St. Johnsbury  area throughout the nineteenth century.
Book lovers have their own special section of online resources that has been compiled by the staff of the Athenaeum. “This is a great listing for anyone who loves books,” says von Kann. It includes sites of book reviews, libraries’ recommendations of great books, lists of award-winning books, and online communities to learn and talk about books.
“These online resources give the library the ability to help people with their information needs 24/7,” says von Kann. “When we’re not open, you can still find what you need. Simply go to the Athenaeum website at www.stjathenaeum.org and click on the ‘Resources’ link.” Usage of the new resources has been steadily increasing since the Athenaeum began offering them. “We expect to add more online resources as we learn of others that are useful to our members,” says von Kann. “It’s the future of libraries everywhere, and the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum wants to be part of that.”

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