March 30, 2015

Which house?


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.


March 27, 2015

Premier League Footballers


These soccer players aren't just amazing athletes and super hotties... 
They read books.


Which makes them even more attractive.

March 26, 2015

12 empowering children's books


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!


March 25, 2015

A weapon of mass instruction


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.

March 23, 2015

The Reverend



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.



March 20, 2015

March Madness


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


Go nuts.

Need another reason to love India?



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.

March 19, 2015

Mark your calendars! Get out your fancy pants!


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 giclĂ©e (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!

March 18, 2015

Jones Library’s new Children’s Room Assistant!


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 latest rock star!
Congratulations, Jess!

March 17, 2015

Happy St. Pat's day!

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!

March 16, 2015

There's never a bad time to read a book




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!

March 12, 2015

Did I already read that??

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 LAST NAME IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, or the last four digits of your Library card number.  If you need help, please call us at 413.259.3092, and we will set a PIN for you.

March 5, 2015

21 Quotes On Womanhood By Female Authors That Totally Nailed It



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.

March 4, 2015

Next time...



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

March 3, 2015

Why we can't live without books...


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.