Athenaeum patrons celebrate at holiday party

The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library’s member holiday party was held Dec. 13 at the library to thank patrons for their yearlong support. Girard Gourmet provided most of the food, including elaborate cookie sculptures. Library members and Athenaeum staff brought other items to the party. Sammy Tritt performed tradition holiday music on the piano in the Sharon and Joel Labovitz entry hall, and the Sue Palmer trio performed in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Room.

The library will mark its 116th year in 2010. It began in 1894, when a small group of pioneers formed the La Jolla Reading Club. Four years later a Reading Room was constructed at the corner of Girard Avenue and Wall Street.

The Athenaeum houses an ever-expanding collection of books, periodicals, reference material, compact discs, videocassettes, DVDs, sheet music, and librettos, as well as one of the most significant collections of artists’ books in Southern California.

It also presents art exhibitions, concerts (classical, jazz and new music), lectures, studio art classes through its School of the Arts, tours and special events.