Friends of the Jones Library System News

Film Screening & Discussion: Fruitvale Station     Join us on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 7 pm in the Woodbury Room for a screening of Fruitvale Station .  This is the next event in a film & discussion series which began in 2014 and continues to look at issues of race.  A facilitated discussion will be held after the screening. Fruitvale Station  was released in 2013, and was a 2013 Sundance Film Festival Winner, among other awards and prizes.  This film tells the story of the murder of African American Oscar Grant in 2009 by Oakland transit police.  This is a gripping film that highlights Grant’s humanity and explores some of the issues of recent police killings of unarmed black men.   Please note that this film is rated R. Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at  413/259-3223 .  This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and The Com...

Despite what many Friends may think,  there are more kinds of poems out there than just limericks.  (click on image to enlarge)

Come to the Jones on Thursday, October 1, and learn new stuff to  amaze your friends and confound your enemies. (click on image to enlarge)

The Jones Library's Children’s Department presents a storywalk as part of the town’s annual Poetry Festival on October 1 through 4 featuring the book "Please, Louise," by Toni and Slade Morrison. Follow the pages of the book displayed in a succession of store windows starting at the Toy Box at the north end of North Pleasant St. and ending at the Jones Library Children’s Room. Storywalk  guides can be picked up at the library or at any of the participating stores.  At the end of the walk participants sign in at the Children’s Room to register for a raffle prize.

The Burnett Gallery October exhibit, entitled “Where the Wild Things Went,” features the abstract color prints of Florence photographer Larry Rankin and the paper collages and paintings of Deerfield artist Judith Keefer Tingley. ** Opening reception this Thursday, 5-8, Jones Library **

Join us on  TONIGHT, September 29,  for an event celebrating of our freedom to read – and view – great works of literature at a special double feature movie screening. The movies being screened are based on books that have been challenged or banned in the United States over the years.  The screenings begin at  4:30 pm  with  The Wizard of Oz , based on  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz  by L. Frank Baum and  The Color Purple , based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, will screen at  6:30 pm .   Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consid...

Mark your calendars! A meet-and-greet! Please join us on Thursday, October 29 from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the Goodwin Room of the Jones Library in order to meet our new Head of Youth Services, Mia Cabana. The who's who of the literary world will all be in attendance. Woot!

Here are 13 people who are Definitely Reading Books . Definitely.

Dick and Jane are part of our historical fabric . But regardless of whether you love them or hate them, the Friends think #8 is really sweet.

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First Amendment Film Festival Join us on  Tuesday, September 29, 2015  for an event celebrating of our freedom to read – and view – great works of literature at a special double feature movie screening. The movies being screened are based on books that have been challenged or banned in the United States over the years.  The screenings begin at  4:30 pm  with a family classic and a second film will be screened at  6:30 pm .  More information about the movies to be screened can be found on the Jones Library website at  www.joneslibrary.org . Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even...

Are you one of those half-full types? Does everything always come up roses for you? To quote Eric Idle, do you always look on the bright side of life? Well, the Friends are here to keep it real for you. Here's a cheery little list of 53 books that will definitely make you cry . And #47? If you didn't at least get a little verklempt,  the Friends bow to your incredible stoicism.

The Jones Library invites are trivia buffs to a new monthly event.  Trivia Night, hosted by Mark “Harpo” Power, will be held on the first Thursday of the month, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.  The next trivia night will be held on Thursday, October 1, in the Woodbury Room.  All trivia buffs are invited to participate and support the Jones Library! Bring friends and family as a team, or form teams on the spot, with a maximum of five per team. There will be two rounds of 15 questions each, and there will be prizes for the top three teams.  Doors open at 6 pm, and the event starts promptly at 6:30 pm.  There is a suggested donation of $5-$10 per person to participate.  All proceeds benefit the Jones Library.  Refreshments will be served. Open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

Children's books are wonderful for so many reasons.  Their messages. Their illustrations. Their humor. Their love.  Here are 19 more of them . 

The Jones Library presents Folktales From Eastern Europe: THE DRAGON OF KRAKOW and SOMETHING FROM NOTHING. Presented by the Act!vated Story Theatre Sunday September 27 at 2 pm in the lovely Woodbury Room. For ages 4 to 10 and their families.

Because the library isn't open at 6:12 in the morning when small people come into your room, wide awake, with nothing to do...

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The Jones Library has hired a new Head of Youth Services Librarian (or HOYSL, as the FOTJLS like to say). Introducing the wonderful, the funny, the inimitable: Mia Cabana! Stop by the Jones on Monday, October 19th, to say hello.

Since not all of the Friends happen to read Italian, French, Japanese, Romanian, Spanish, Farsi, German, Norwegian, Mandarin, AND Russian... Here are a few women writers to check out in English . But we're totally down with Ig-pay Atin-lay.

Race is hard to talk about. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Here are a few books to help us begin that conversation . The Friends are particularly partial to Lies My Teacher Told Me -- which is available right here at the Jones (or as an e-reader, if you're all 21st century like that).

Meet other preschoolers and the adults who love them.  Come and sing and play!

The Perfect Son   by Barbara Claypole White Coming soon to a CW MARS library near you... When Ella Fitzwilliam suffers a heart attack, her husband Felix who is obsessed with perfection and routine, has to step in and help with 17 year old Harry who suffers from Tourette's. To prevent the family from being ripped apart, they must each bend with the inevitability of chance and reinforce the ties that bind. A heartwarming story about family and love. -- Kathy, member, Friends of the Jones Library System

For all those out there who love Little Free Libraries AND Dr. Who, this one's for you .

You'll want to check this out: (click on image to enlarge.)

Free kids art class, 4 Saturdays this fall!  Call the Children's Room at the Jones at 259.3090  (in case you don't quite have it memorized yet)  and get ready to get artsy! (click on image to enlarge)

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If you have a 3rd-5th grader and free Thursday afternoons,  you'll want to check this out!

Just in case you didn't, by chance, get through  all  your assigned reading in high school, here's a handy-dandy list for you .  Now's your chance to ace 11th grade English!