February 28, 2013

Children's Music Series with David Grover


As part of the 36th annual Children’s Music Series, the Jones Library presents David Grover on Saturday, March 2, at 10:30 AM in the Woodbury Room.

David Grover is a folk musician who has earned multiple Parents Choice Awards and a Grammy nomination.  His greatest gift is his ability to connect with people of all ages.

This program, for ages 4 to 10 and their families, is supported by the Friends of the Jones Library System and the Amherst Cultural Council.

February 26, 2013

** It's Basket Time! **



Swing by the Jones to view one of six -- count 'em SIX -- fabulous, grand baskets!  By a raffle ticket (or 57) and maybe YOU will be a lucky basket winner!

More juicy basket details coming soon...

February 25, 2013

* Amherst Cinema’s 2nd Annual Movie Trivia Bee *



WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 3 pm
WHERE: Academy of Music in Northampton
WHO: The Jones Library Head of Information Services Matthew Berube & Trustees Tamson Ely and Chris Hoffmann
TEAM NAME: Romancing the Jones

If you would like to attend this event (and cheer on our team!), you are encouraged to purchase tickets online (the event sold out last year).

This event will be hosted by Bill Dwight and John Hodgman.

On the Same Page


The Jones Library is holding its first "On the Same Page" community reading program, featuring the novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz.

As part of this program, on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7pm in the Library's Woodbury Room, Lynne Weintraub, Coordinator of the Jones Library's ESL program, will lead a panel of Amherst immigrants as they share some reflections of their experiences as immigrants in our local community.

The public is welcome at all "On the Same Page" events - it is not necessary to have read the book to attend.

February 17, 2013

To the Lighthouse


Join the book club that reads the books you've never found the time to read on your own!


Join us on Saturday, February 16, 23, and March 2, from 2:30-4:30pm to discuss Virginia Woolf's novel "To the Lighthouse."  Copies of the novel can be checked out at the Reference Desk until March 2.

February 16, 2013

TumbleBook Library


The Jones Library Children’s Department has begun a subscription to TumbleBook Library, an electronic picture book collection which combines sound, music, animation and narration.  Titles are also available in Spanish and most stories come with puzzles and games.

In order to access the library's TumbleBooks collection, you must enter through the library's website at www.JonesLibrary.org.  The TumbleBooks icon is located in the upper right hand of the screen.

February 15, 2013

American Girl Tea Party


You and your doll are invited to join us in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library on Wednesday, February 20, from 3 to 4:30 pm for tea and a craft project.

For children ages 5-10.  Totally free.  Totally fun.

Please RSVP in the Kids' Room.

MarKamusic concert tomorrow!

As part of the 36th annual Children’s Music Series, the Jones Library presents MarKamusic on TOMORROW, February 16, at 10:30 AM in the Woodbury Room.

MarKamusic (http://www.markamusic.com/) is a high-energy band performing traditional, folkloric and pop music of South and Latin American origin, fused with Latin jazz and western textures. This event is for ages 4 to 10 and their families. No reservations required -- just come!

This program is supported by the Friends of the Jones Library System and the Amherst Cultural Council.


February 14, 2013

Sweets for the sweet!



It's Valentine's Day and you know you {heart} the Jones Library!

To show you how much the Jones loves YOU, everyone who visits the Jones Library TODAY, Thursday, February 14, can enter to win a basket full of Valentine's Day treats.

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 13, 2013

On the Same Page


The Jones Library is holding its first "On the Same Page" community reading program, featuring the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz.  The entire Amherst community is invited to read the book and participate in the related programs.


"On the Same Page - Amherst" is designed to bring the local community together, reading the same book and encouraging discussion and communication about the book and the themes it contains.  Intended to be an annual event, "On the Same Page – Amherst" will explore a different book each year to include a variety of themes, topics, genres, and writing styles. 

A variety of programs will be offered to enrich the reading experience of this award winning novel and to encourage dialog about the themes the novel presents, which include race, the immigrant experience, and social class.  Programs will include a screening of Latinos Beyond Reel, a documentary that examines how Latinos are portrayed in the media; “Reflections on the Immigrant Experience in Amherst," a panel of immigrants sharing their experiences moderated by Lynne Weintraub, coordinator of The Jones Library English as a Second Language Program; book discussions led by Barry O’Connell, professor of English at Amherst College; and a program exploring the meaning of race by Alan Goodman, professor of biological anthropology at Hampshire College.  Please check The Jones Library website atwww.joneslibrary.org for specific information about dates and times for these programs. 



Copies of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao can be signed out from The Jones Library and branches, requested and checked out from the C/W MARS library catalog, or purchased at Amherst Books or Food for Thought Books in Amherst.

"On the Same Page – Amherst" will culminate in an author appearance to be held on Monday, March 11, at 7 pm at the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium.  Junot Díaz will speak about the book and the various themes he explores in his writing.   Free tickets will be available at the Jones Library after February 20.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao was winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, and the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize, as well as being the fiction winner of the 2008 Massachusetts Book Award.  It tells the story of Oscar, a likeable but overweight New Jersey ghetto nerd, who aspires to be a great fantasy writer and to fall in love.  But these dreams may never come true, due to the fukú, the supposed curse that has followed several generations of his family in the Dominican Republic.  While exploring mature and controversial themes, the writing style and language of this book brings the reader to the urban streets of this immigrant neighborhood and uses a mixture of English and Spanish to capture the true flavor of the environment.

Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of the critically acclaimed DrownThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao; and This Is How You Lose Her, a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist. He is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, PEN/Malamud Award, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship, and PEN/O. Henry Award.  A graduate of Rutgers College, Díaz is currently the fiction editor at Boston Review and the Rudge and Nancy Allen Professor of Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For further information about "On the Same Page - Amherst," please contact Janet Ryan at413/259-3223.

February 11, 2013

BOOKS AND MORE, TO YOUR DOOR!


The Jones Library’s Homebound Delivery Service is Seeking New Volunteers

One of the library’s goals for 2013 is to expand its program of delivering library materials to Amherst’s homebound population.  We have always been committed to making it possible for all our residents to have access to our wonderful collection of books, movies and CD’s, and we are anxious to make sure that all who are unable to travel to the library because of physical limitations will be well served.

Our homebound program depends on dedicated volunteers to deliver and pick up library materials.  As we seek out more participants for our program, our need for committed volunteers increases. I am wondering if any of our Friends may be interested in and able to volunteer for our Homebound program.  A Jones Library Homebound Volunteer can enjoy rewarding friendships with very grateful library patrons.  Getting a delivery of library books has become the highlight of many of our homebound patrons’ month. 

For more information about becoming a Homebound Volunteer, please contact Amy Anaya at anayaa@joneslibrary.org or 413-259-3132

February 7, 2013

Library closings



Due to the coming storm, all town libraries will close tomorrow, Friday (February 8th), at noon.

Food for fines

Don't forget that through the end of next week (well, til Friday, the 15th), all town libraries are accepting nonperishable food items in exchange for overdue book fines.

All donations benefit the Amherst Survival Center (and your guilty conscience about those library books on your nightstand).