Friends of the Jones Library System News

Ever wondered which house the Sorting Hat would've put YOU into? Take the Guardian's Sorting Hat Quiz and you'll know for sure. For the record? Apparently the Friends belong to Hufflepuff. And we think that's pretty cool.

These soccer players aren't just amazing athletes and super hotties...  They read books. Which makes them even more attractive.

all listed right here . Although the article states these should be added to any girl's bookshelf, the Friends would like to amend that to any kid's bookshelf. The Friends personally know real live boys who've enjoyed many of these books. Happy reading!

In Buenos Aires, there's a super cool traveling library .  And the Friends think perhaps more of these new-fangled tanks and fewer of those old-school tanks could maybe, just maybe, make the world a better place.

A book based on six murders, two defendants, and "the Atticus Finch of Alexander City, Alabama?" The only thing better would be if Harper Lee wrote it herself. Oh wait. She did .

Not so into March Madness? The Friends would like to offer up a literary 50 kinds of crazy . Read 'em all. Go nuts.

Food, Bollywood, cricket, and now a book lovers guide  to Kolkata?! The Friends predict there will be a mass rush of tourists to India after we post this baby.

The Jones Library is proud to announce that the Second Annual Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement will honor author Julius Lester and Pat & Peter Schneider of Amherst Writers and Artists for their literary contributions. The gala celebration event, the "Sammys", will take place on April 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at the Yiddish Book Center. Premium tickets are $100 and include an autographed giclée (the image above) by author/illustrator Diane deGroat, as well as a tax deductible donation to the Jones Library.  General admission tickets are $50. For more information or to order your tickets, click this link !

The Jones Library has hired Jessica Lamson to serve as the Library’s new Children’s Room Assistant! Jess has been working part-time in the Jones’ Children’s Room for the past 16 years. She calls herself a “book enabler,” as she loves bring people and books together. She has also worked at the Emily Williston Memorial Library in Easthampton and the Pelham Library. Jess begins her new position on Tuesday, April 7. Swing by and check out a book with the Children's Room's lates t rock star! Congratulations, Jess!

On this St. Patrick's Day, the McFriends suggest you curl up with a hot Irish coffee , a slice of Irish soda bread   (with good Irish butter spread thickly on top), and one of these beauties .   Erin go bragh!

One photographer  proves New Yorkers love to read books anywhere. They would read them in a boat! They would read them with a goat... They will read them in the rain. And in the dark. And on the train. And in a car. And in a tree. Books are so good so good you see!

(Click on the photo to venture in...)

Have you always wanted a simple way to keep track of what you’ve borrowed from the Jones or North Amherst or Munson libraries?  Do you wish you had a list of what books you’ve already read or what DVD’s you’ve already seen? Your wish has been granted! (No magic wand necessary.) Here’s how to keep track of your Check-Out History: ·         Setting it up o   Go to JONESLIBRARY.ORG and click on ACCOUNT LOGIN o   Enter your Library card number (or your user name, if you have one) and your PIN* o   Click on ACCOUNT PREFERENCES o   Click on SEARCH AND HISTORY PREFERENCES o   Check in the box next to KEEP HISTORY OF CHECKED OUT ITEMS o   From now on, whatever you check out will appear in your Check-Out History. ·         Viewing Your Check-Out History (from your account Login) o   Click on ITEMS CHECKED OUT o   Click on CHECK OUT HISTORY *If you don’t know what your PIN is, try entering your...

Books. Ah, books. They can change the way we feel about our very selves. The best  books, though, move us not just for the stories they tell -- but for the words they use. Here some HuffPost editors share a passage or quote by a female author that spoke to them as women. Maybe they'll speak to you, also, women and men alike.

...you find yourself sitting around at book group, uncertain which title to choose next, ask yourself, " What Would Lisa Read? "

The Guardian recently posted a wee article about children's book authors and illustrators who can't live without books. Want to read it ? The Friends are especially smitten with Chris Riddell's illustrative reasons.