Friends of the Jones Library System News

Saturday, Oct. 13, 1:00 pm, Jones Library, Amherst: “The Mighty Jim Crow has Struck Out! The Story of How a Small New England Town Embraced the African-American Ball Player,” a talk by Dan Genovese .    The author of two books about 19th century baseball in Western Massachusetts,   The Old Ball Ground: The Chronological History of Westfield Baseball, Vol. 1   and  The Old Ball Ground: Volume 2: Town Teams & Bush Leaguers,   Genovese is captain and co-founder of the   Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Base Ball Club .    He is also the author of   Rough House,   a look at professional basketball in the early 20th century.  Genovese was born in Westfield and has played all levels of baseball in Westfield from Little League to college to   Vintage Base Ball .  He is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) . The event is co-sponsored by Jones Library and UMass Amherst.

The Friends of The Jones Library System organize a program titled "Beds For Books."  Program hosts open their homes to the families of students at the Colleges during Family Weekends in October and Commencement in May. All of the money collected goes to the book fund of the Amherst Town Libraries. The Friends are in desperate need of more hosts!  They especially need accommodations for parents on the following Family Weekends: *  October 12-14 *  October 26-28 Even if you can only host for one night, the Friends would love to have you! In order to register, or for more information, please call call the "Beds for Books" line at   413-259-3184   or click here http://www.joneslibrary.org/ friends/beds.html    and complete the "Host Registration Form" at the bottom of the page.

Please join the party!   OnTuesday Oct. 9th, from 5-7, we will be celebrating Natalie and Richard Woodbury's wonderful donation to the Friends of the Jones Library.  Come see the newly renovated Woodbury Room in the lower level of the Jones Library.  Enjoy light refreshments.  See old friends.  We hope to see you there. (Please click on the invitation to enlarge.)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Please join us on Thursday, September 13, 2012; 7-8:30pm; in the  Amherst Room of The Jones Library as Lisa Lieberman, author and  historian, leads us in a discussion of the book "A Tale of Love and  Darkness" written by Amos Oz. This is the first in a series of scholar-led book discussions which  will be held at The Jones Library.  To see the list of upcoming  discussion books as well as book reviews, please go to  http://guides.library.umass. edu/peopleofthebook Hope to see you there!

The Jones Library Classics book club will meet to discuss Henry James "Portrait of a Lady" on Wednesday October 17th, 24th, and 31st from 2:00 to 4:00 in the Jones Library Trustees Room. Anyone can participate. Sign up and get a copy of the book at the Jones Library Reference   Desk. Please finish the novel by our first meeting. Questions? Contact Seth Rothberg at   rothbergs@joneslibrary.org   or call the Reference Desk at   413-259-3096 .

"Best of the Books" Book Sale on Sept. 13 Find super bargains on high quality books at the Friends "Best of the Books" Book Sale on Thursday, September 13 starting at 4 p.m. in the Atrium of the Jones Library. Hundreds of fiction and non-fiction books for all ages will be available, cu lled from donations received throughout the year. These books are in like new condition and priced at a maximum of $2.00. Children's books will be available at even lower prices.  Come early and shop before the BID Block Party!  This is a one day only event.  All book sale purchases support the collections and programs sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library System at the Amherst Public Libraries.

A presentation for parents interested in learning more about language  development in their children is being  offered at The Jones Library on  Saturday, September 8. A team from the Department of Communication Disorders at the  University of Massachusetts - Amherst will discuss typical language  development from birth to 4 years of age, how to encourage language  and literacy, and how to spot areas of concern.  A question and answer  period will follow the presentation.  Join us in the Amherst Room at  The Jones Library at 2:30 pm. The presenters are from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.   Gwyneth Rost, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the  Department of Communication Disorders and a certified speech-language  pathologist, with an area of concentration in child language  development.  Erin Andrews is a graduate student in that department,  studying to become a speech pathologist. This ...

Want to be part of a Lego Club?  If you're between 6-10 years old, come to the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library on Saturday Nov. 10, Dec. 8, and Jan. 12 and build to your heart's content! Got unused Legos?  PLEASE donate them to the Jones.  They are desperately needed and will be very happily used.

Jones Library Renovations Cause Closings The Jones Library will be  closed all day Monday, Sept. 10 th , to facilitate the flooring installation in the Woodbury Room. The  public restrooms in the lower level will be closed  on Wednesday, September 5 th , and on Thursday, September 6.  This will facilitate new flooring installation adjacent to the Woodbury Room. The Jones Library staff is thrilled to see the progress of the renovations thanks to the forward thinking of the Friends of the Jones Library System.  You can see that progress by going to:  www.joneslibrary.org .