Friends of the Jones Library System News

to start your weekend off.  Here's a book we just learned about .  Reading IS sexy.

The South Amherst Congregational Church (part of the United Church of Christ) is looking for an Education Director. Ideally this candidate is organized, enjoys working with children, can manage teachers, and is creative. The job is 25 hours a week (flexible hours) for $25K and four weeks paid vacation. Here is the list of responsibilities: Coordinates the Sunday School calendar Recruits, trains, and supports Sunday School teachers and nursery attendants Designs and ensures the proper implementation of Sunday School curriculum Maintains contact with current families and serves as an ambassador for the CE program to potential families Works collaboratively with local churches to provide programming and faith formation for youth group Assists the Pastor in maintaining an active social media presence to extend the reach of our ministry Coordinates and encourages participation in programs that nurture our faith and family lives through education, service, fellowship, and ...

Or at least, you know, reading about it online from the couch.

Once a month this summer, the Friends invite you to enjoy a meal at a local restaurant on the night designated as a Friends "Literary Feast." All of these restaurants have graciously offered to donate a portion of their evening's proceeds to the Friends of the Jones Library. Each dinner will be lightly themed around current popular novels. The specific dates and restaurants are: Wednesday, June 8 Osteria Vespa 28 Amity Street, 230.3194 Wednesday, July 27 Chez Albert 178 North Pleasant Street, 253.3811 Wednesday, August 10 Judie's Restaurant 51 North Pleasant Street, 253.3491 (Click on image to enlarge.) Tell your friends!  Or better yet, go out  with your friends! And the Friends will see you there!

Quidditch. Really played in the air .

It's like a real-live Game of Thrones, people! (Click on image to enlarge.)

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You internet people. You're just so clever.  This is why we like you .

Oooooh. The Friends DEFINITELY think the Jones (and the Munson and the North Amherst branches) need to get library cats . Pretty please?

Not everything is available on demand... C/W MARS has only one of these books. Go on, super sleuth. Read the one.

C'mon, guess. The current  titleholder is a Barnes & Noble in NYC but that's about to change, Friends. Want a hint? It's this  place: Think you know it? Click here . Surprise!

that the Amherst public libraries aren't like this Michigan library .

"Ultimately, if you have a worldview that can be undone by a novel, let me submit that the problem is not with the novel." -- John Green , author of Looking for Alaska , the ALA's most challenged book in the U.S.

Here's a glimpse at the real history behind the creative machinations of George R. R. Martin's series.

Sometimes you might feel like you're never going to achieve that goal. But you should keep this in mind: Robert Pirsig, the author of the best-selling Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , was rejected 121 times before his book was finally accepted . And the editor who finally took on his manuscript, "warned Pirsig that he was publishing it because of its impact on him, not for any financial gain. He told Pirsig that he would likely never earn out his $3,000 advance." Perseverance, dear Friends. Perseverance.

Well, at least it's color-coded. Because this could get tricky... (Click on image to enlarge.)

Here's what we know: This photograph is from the Amherst Record Collection and is undated. Do you know when this photograph was taken? Do you know where? And the photo is also on the website here . Have an idea? Email special collections !

Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Special Collections Reading Room Join us for a discussion of three poems by Robert Francis, facilitated by Wally Swist.

The beasty is called an American Trump. Its skin is bright orange, its figure is plump; Its fur so complex you might get enveloped. Its hands are, sadly, underdeveloped. A Child's First Book of Trump . Coming this July to a library near you. We hope.

Today's the day! It's Valley Gives Day ! Please, oh please, don't forget your Friends . Smooches!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, we love ya, tomorrow, you're only a daaaay awaaaaay! Valley Gives Day is tomorrow folks! Please remember your Friends.

Go on. Guess.  Now, dear Friends, prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor . That's a lot of gold dragon coins there. And if you haven't already seen this , you really need to.

Sci-Hub.org is a searchable database of tens of millions of scholarly articles. And they're free to access, making them a treasure trove for the advancement of human knowledge. The only downside? They're all stolen. However, as the creator and administrator points out : "The research is overwhelmingly taxpayer funded in the first place, and neither writers nor journal editors are paid."

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown If you relish reading non-fiction with larger than life characters, and haven't yet read The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, you should most definitely treat yourself. Written in a style similar to Unbroken and Seabiscuit by Lauren Hillenbrand, it is also meticulously researched, and very compelling reading. It's the story of a hardscrabble member of the "Greatest Generation" and the crew team that he becomes part of. It is full of historical accounts of hardship from the Depression Era, college days at the University of Washington, and pre-World War II Germany. Although some members of my book club thought that the writing style was not the best, we all felt that the story and characters carried the story and kept us all going. There are many photos in the book and the epilogue fills in the later lives of each of the crew members. All in all, a memorable and inspirational story. -- Elaine, member, the ...