The Nantucket Atheneum is not only the island’s public library, but also the home of historic research and art collections. For Leslie Malcolm ’05MS, the Atheneum’s newest executive director and head librarian, her journey there began with service.
“A friend called to see if I would be interested in volunteering at the Atheneum,” says Malcolm. “They were in the process of joining the CLAMS network and needed help barcoding their materials. When that project was finished, I was asked to join the board. I had a degree in art history, and they felt my background would be helpful as the Atheneum maintained a large collection of art and artifacts that needed attention.”
“I’ve always loved libraries and welcomed the opportunity. I had never considered working in one before, but my experience with the Atheneum brought that possibility clearly into focus,” she says.
Libraries and Museums: A Harmonious Partnership
Before coming to the Atheneum, Malcolm earned her BA in art history and began a career that took her to the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and Christie’s Auction House. Now, Malcolm appreciates the similarities between the worlds of art museums and libraries.
“Libraries and museums are nonprofits, with education at their core,” Malcolm says. “Both worlds focus on serving their communities and have lifelong learning as a foundational concept. We’re both in the business of preserving, as well.”
Malcolm’s passion for the Atheneum grew as she connected with its staff and brought her own unique perspectives to the Atheneum’s mission.
“It was easy to work here,” she says, “the work is vital and important, the staff are wonderful to work with, and the environment itself is stunningly beautiful. The experience of volunteering and serving on the board changed the course of my life. I could never have imagined then that I would be sitting where I am today.”
Building New Skills in Library Science
After beginning as a volunteer and joining the Atheneum’s board, Malcolm’s drive to continue her work there and learn more about librarianship led her to earn her Master of Library and Information Science (MS) from Simmons School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). While commuting to Boston for classes, Malcolm was also raising a young daughter and continuing her work on the Atheneum’s board.
“Simmons has a reputation for excellence in the field,” she says, “so I was excited that it also happened to be close by. I traveled to Boston once a week from Nantucket and spent a night in the commuter dorms they had set aside. The next day, I would use the library and meet with professors, and then travel back to the island. It was a rigorous schedule.”
Malcolm’s time in the program allowed her to build new skills in areas such as business management, while also exploring the unique ways in which different types of libraries and archival institutions operate.
“Simmons was a huge help with the work I did on the board,” Malcolm recalls. “We were in the midst of creating a strategic plan while I was a student at Simmons. It was great to have such experts in the field available when I had questions about that process. The faculty were eager and interested in helping to mentor and guide their students. Simmons gave me the solid background and expertise I needed.”
Advice for Library Professionals
For students and new library professionals, Malcolm emphasizes the importance of learning from those who have come before you, and leaning on valuable support and advice.
“The library world is full of resources,” she says. “Go to conferences, take advantage of all the professional development the library offers. I went to the ALA [American Library Association] conference in Phoenix last January, and it was fantastic. Anytime you can network with your fellow librarians, that’s a huge, huge win. The ALA and the MBLC [Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners] offer so much in terms of resources — take advantage of that.”
Also, Malcolm advises that students and professionals lean on each other for support and guidance. “Don’t reinvent the wheel,” she says. “There are librarians all over the country addressing similar issues, and there’s no reason for you to have to start from scratch. Reach out for help. You can only bring your personal circumstances to the role, but as a public librarian, your goal is to reach everyone in the community. Your personal perspective won’t always be enough, and we have many colleagues out there doing great things.”
Providing Library Services to Children
After her years on the board and earning her MLIS, Malcolm went on to direct the Nantucket Atheneum’s Weezie Library for Children for nearly 15 years. She has prided herself on expanding community outreach, especially through the Atheneum’s children’s programs and services.
“When I started,” Malcolm says, “we had about 300 children in the summer reading program. Last summer, we had 1,800. I finally could say without a doubt, ‘I have reached every child.’ We moved the summer reading rollout into the schools and met each class as they arrived in their libraries. I also started visiting island preschools to conduct story times. We focused on meeting children where they were, rather than waiting for them to come in and see us. We expanded our programming significantly over those years, and I’m very proud of that. We worked hard, and it worked.”
She also emphasizes the Atheneum’s ability to deepen relationships within the community and serve as a gathering place.
“I love the role that the library plays as a community hub where people come and gather, not just for programming or meetings, but to visit,” she says. “Sometimes patrons meet on the front steps, inside the front door, at game night or knitting; it’s a place where the community regularly connects.”
Promotion to Nantucket Atheneum Executive Director
In September 2025, Malcolm was named the Nantucket Atheneum’s new executive director and head librarian, after serving as the Atheneum’s interim executive director since May. As she continues her leadership and works to foster the Atheneum’s legacy and role in the community, she still sees callbacks to her love of art in the Atheneum’s unique history and purpose. Common threads of learning, service, and conservation guide the mission of the Atheneum and Malcolm’s role as head librarian.
“I happened to get a job at a library that also happens to have an art collection,” she says. “So, from time to time, we might be getting the ship models restored or the paintings cleaned. I’m not completely gone from the museum world, at all.”
The Atheneum is housed in a historic 1847 Greek Revival building. “It anchors the downtown — you can’t miss it,” Malcolm says. “And while it now functions as the island’s free public library, it was a true private atheneum in the early days, consisting of reading materials, a museum component, and a robust program calendar designed to benefit the community. While we no longer actively collect art, we have kept many of the beautiful pieces to serve as a physical manifestation of our history and to enhance the space for all to enjoy. If you ever find yourself on Nantucket, please stop in. I’d love to show you our beautiful library.”