Friends of the Jones Library System News

A spring art program brought to you by the Friends of the Jones Library System! What: Drawing and Painting Class When: Saturdays in May, from 10 a.m. - noon, 5/3 , 5/10, 5/17, 5/24 Where: Craft Room, Jones Library Eve Lynn Werling Goodhind, instructor Age group: 9-13 year olds who have a serious interest in art, and who can attend all four sessions Class limit: 15 participants Sign up at the Children's Desk at the Jones Library Free to all!  Children can let their inner Frida Kahlo and Claude Monet out!

You may know the Red Cross, but do you know the Blue Shield?  The Ukranian Library Association thinks you should...

Honoring the Remarkable Norton Juster and the Terrific Nat Herold & Mark Wootton of Amherst Books Thursday, April 10, 2014 6-9pm Yiddish Book Center Tickets may be purchased at:   http://joneslibrary.org/ tickets/index.html

Let your inner scientist geek out on this baby: Sammy the Owl .

Jones Library presents Irish author John Boyne, on tour in the US to promote his new novel Stay Where You Are and Then Leave , on Sunday, April 6, 3 p.m. in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library. In addition to an author talk and book signing (all of his books will be available for purchase), there will be a film screening of Boyne's award-winning The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13) at 4:30.

Going to hear Chris Bohjalian speak on  Tuesday at the Middle School at 7:30? Join us beforehand for a special author's reception  at 6:15 in the Middle School library! (click on image to enlarge.)

After nearly 100 years of service, the venerated Jones Library is ringing in a new era with the  first   annual Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement . The inaugural “Sammys” will honor  Norton Juster  and  Amherst Books  for their long time contributions and will benefit the library’s children’s collections. A festive evening featuring an awards presentation, food, drink, and entertainment will be held on  April 10, 2014 , at  6:00 p.m . at The Yiddish Book Center. Come join us!   More information is available here .

Publishers put labels on books , categorizing boys books and girls books.  Should they?  What do you say?

In honor of St. Patrick's Day are you whipping up a loaf of Irish soda bread? A warm bowl of beef and Guinness stew?  Planning on capping off the meal with an Irish coffee?  We want those recipes! Submit your recipes online here or send an email to  cookbook@friendsofthejones.org  with the following information: your name, recipe title, ingredients, directions, and any notes. PLEASE NOTE: Your recipes can come from any source! Your favorite cookbook, a newspaper clipping, your great-grandfather... It does not have to be a recipe that you created. We welcome all recipes but may not be able to include every submission in the final publication. The Friends of the Jones Library raises funds to support library programs and purchase books and materials. All proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will benefit the libraries of Amherst. Any questions? Email us at  cookbook@friendsofthejones.org . Remember: your recipes can come from ANY SOURCE. They do no...

Here's a little reading food for thought: which country reads the most?   This country more than double the US in hours spent reading.  Want to know what it is?   Click here . Quick!  Go grab a book!  We have some catching up to do!

Local author Burleigh Muten will celebrate the launch of her new children’s book MISS EMILY on Saturday March 22, 2014 at 2 pm at the Jones Library. This program will include a slide-show, reading, book signing (Amherst Books will have copies for purchase at the event) and a special guest appearance by “Miss Emily.” Refreshments, including Emily’s favorite gingerbread, will be served. MISS EMILY is a clever story, illustrated by Matt Phelan, about the day the circus came to Amherst and how four young friends join Emily Dickinson to wait at the train station for the midnight arrival of the circus train. The book is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

On Saturday March 15, at 10:30 a.m.,  come to the Jones Library's Woodbury Room to hear  Karen K and the Jitterbugs play retro-rock  for people ages 4-10 and their families. This program is supported by the Friends of the Jones Library System and the Amherst Cultural Council.

The Jones Library Lego Club is meeting tomorrow in the Woodbury Room at the Jones.  Come on down at 3 p.m. and start snapping bricks together. The theme is ENGINEERING and the challenge is to build something geared toward solving a problem or fulfilling a dream.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" is the story of Janie Crawford's first three marriages. She marries unwillingly and badly the first time, naively and misguidedly the second time. Her third marriage is happy, but brief.  If that doesn't s ound like the stuff a feminist classic is made from, you might be right. But if you come to the Jones Library’s “Classics Book Club” to discuss Zora Neale Hurston's masterpiece, you may change your mind. Join us on Saturday, March 22, 29, and April 5 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm at the Jones Library.

Psst! Want to meet New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian? The man who wrote "The Sandcastle Girls?" The one who everyone in Amherst is reading these days? Tuesday March 25 come to a special Friends of the Jones Library rece ption in the library of the Amherst Regional Middle School from 6:15 - 7:00 (then wander downstairs to the auditorium for the official presentation at 7:30). Not only will Chris Bohjalian be there at our reception but also? We'll have snacks.  Snacks!