Friends of the Jones Library System News

The Jones Library Classics Book Club presents Disease, poverty, madness, decline, child abuse, not to mention spontaneous combustion and a cameo appearance by a dinosaur, in London, covered in mud, dark with fog, and strangled by an outdated legal system: these are just some of the elements of Charles Dickens’  Bleak House .   Join the Jones Library’s “Classics Book Club” for a great spring read of one of Dickens most ambitious novels.   Copies of  Bleak House  are available at the Library’s Reference Desk.   Meetings: Saturday, May 10th ​ 2:30-4:00 ​Chapters 1-16 ​Saturday, May 24th    ​ 2:30-4:00 ​Chapters 17-32 ​Saturday, June 7th ​ 2:30-4:00 ​Chapters 33-49 ​Saturday, June 24th ​ 2:30-4:00 ​Finish Questions? Contact Seth at  rothbergs@joneslibrary.org ,  413-259-3092 , or follow the book club blog at  http://classicsbookclub. wordpre...

All you hipsters out there want to really  know how to throw a party?   Click here .

A Celebration of Song:  Too Human in Concert Tuesday, April 29, 7 p.m. Woodbury Room of the Jones Library Too Human regulars Roger Bruno and Ellen Schwartz will be joined by Dave Zox on upright bass as the band explores a celebration of song with jazzy, bluesy originals and jazz standards.  Performed with vocals, guitar, percussion and upright bass with innovation and humor, the songs and arrangements are fresh and touch the spirit of audiences, whatever their age.  There will be CDs available for purchase at the event. This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

  Sunday, April 27 2:30-4:00 p.m. Woodbury Room of the Jones Library Can the tabla really talk? Well, not really. But it can communicate. In Anna Sobel's presentation, you will learn about the different sounds this pair of distinctive drums from North India is capable of making, and how the sounds express meaning and even tell stories. You'll also hear a variety of compositions. Join Anna to explore the amazing world of drumming in North Indian Classical Music. This program is free and open to people of all ages! Sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library System.

Ta da! ·         Wednesday, April 23; 2 pm; Woodbury Room:  “Avengers Assemble” – a presentation and comic book drawing activity led by Dana Perkins, writer of the Mighty Thor Saga.  For ages 8 and up. ·         Thursday, April 24; 2 pm; Woodbury Room:  “The Spiderwick Chronicles” – a film screening. For ages 7 and up.

Did you catch Weekend Edition on NPR this Saturday?  They had a great segment on America's libraries. Check it out  here .

Completely cool bookmobile.  Those Italians have such style.   Read more about Antonio La Cava here .

You don't have to!   Come to the Sammys and enjoy arancini balls, Florentine stuffed mushrooms, wild mushroom empanadas, bruschetta, and potato pancakes.  We'll have fresh fruit, cheeses, and crudites.  Plus wine, beer, Samuel's Manhattans, coffee, tea... AND? Dessert. Don't make dinner.  Dine with us.

After a long day at work, who wouldn't want to relax with good friends and a glass of wine?  Would you like to enjoy conversations with fellow Amherstonians and a glass of Stella Pinot Grigio or Baron d'Arignac, specially chosen for you by Amherst Wines & Spirits ?  Come join us Thursday night at the Sammys !

Ever tasted a Samuel's Manhattan?  Want to? Click here and you can.

In case you missed it, two weeks ago New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian came to Amherst.  Here are some highlights from the evening: Delicious Armenian-themed food, sparkling drinks, and lively conversation at the Friends reception with Chris Bohjalian before his talk. Local author Cammie McGovern's hilarious introduction of Chris. Chris's moving and fascinating talk of The Sandcastle Girls   and the Armenian genocide. In case you missed this wonderful evening, don't be too blue.  It was part of the 2014 On the Same Page series put on by the Jones Library.  The good news?  There'll be another On the Same Page next year.   Stay tuned....

A bigger, cozier, safer and more fun children's space?  An enclosed space with glass doors for visual monitoring for teens?  A rooftop sauna for patrons who pay their late book fines?  Find out which of these exciting ideas the Jones Library is considering in their grant application to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners feasibility study.  (Hint: we made one of those ideas up.)   Read more here.

And have fun doing it! Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement Thursday, April 10, 2014 6-9pm Yiddish Book Center This festive evening featuring an awards presentation, food, drink an entertainment will  raise money for the Library’s children’s materials fund.   The circulation of the children's collection is incredibly broad – it is relied upon by a great number of families in Amherst and beyond.  The Jones wants to have the very best collection for our young people to align with our mission to promote a life-long love of reading. Funds raised by the Sammys will have a tremendous impact on our children and youth. Tickets are available for purchase at Library Branches (i.e., Jones, North, South) and online at:  http://joneslibrary.org/ tickets/index.html Hope to see you there!