January 31, 2017

Statement by the town of Amherst


Although these JPEGs are small, their message is huge

"The Amherst Police Department shall not inquire about the immigration status of any crime victim, witness, or suspect unless such information is directly relevant to the investigation.

Our preK-12 schools will continue to enroll and serve every child living in our district who chooses to attend our schools without regard to her or his immigration status.

The Town of Amherst is a welcoming community."

And the libraries? Hey, the libraries are there for all of us. Always.





Please click on them to enlarge the font (to the best of our abilities).

January 27, 2017

"Forty Minutes Late?" We don't think so.


Fortunately, like the SF public library, the Amherst public libraries also offer an amnesty program. And it's going on right now! Food for fines, baby.


So bring in a couple of cans of beans with that 100-year-late book and all will be forgiven.

January 25, 2017

The Ultimate Book-Lover Bucket List


Some of these are going to be really hard but we have faith in you, dear Friends. 
Because you are true book-lovers.


January 24, 2017

Climate change and the Connecticut River

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top 5 reasons


why you should care about funding to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners:


January 21, 2017

Powell's Books Sends 10 Books Each to Obama and Trump



Powell's Books, the noted independent Northwest bookseller, sent both our out-going and in-coming presidents 10 books each. Curious to see what they picked?

January 20, 2017

8 Of President Obama's Best Quotes About Reading


"At a time when book banning is back in vogue, 
libraries remind us that truth isn't about who yells the loudest, 
but who has the right information."

-- President Barack Hussein Obama, 
44th President of the United States.


The Friends will always have your back

January 13, 2017

You’re Never Too Old for a Picturebook


Despite our youthful good looks and playful banter, some of the Friends are actually over 30. And we still enjoy a good picture book now and again.

Actually? Again and again.


January 12, 2017

Meryl Streep


Some of the Friends think Meryl Streep is pretty awesome

And one of them? The fabulous Julia Child role she played in Julie & Julia.


Oh Meryl...

January 11, 2017

Poetry vigilantism


An anonymous shopper has been leaving little poems around a Tesco grocery store in Coventry, England. "Bread," by the American poet W.S. Merwin, was discovered in the baked goods aisle while the poem "Deer," by another American poet Kenneth Rexroth, was found in the meat section on top of some venison.

Of course.

The Friends have a couple suggestions for the fruit section and the pasta aisle...

(Click on image to enlarge.)

January 10, 2017

*** Friends Book Recommendation of the Month ***

by Cathleen Schine

I was helping out at the Friends' Book Sale at the Jones Library in November. Another Friend, Edith Byron, saw me perusing the paperbacks, and handed me "The Three Weissmanns of Westport," a novel by Cathleen Schine. Edith said it was well worth its purchase price (one dollar) and was a quick, entertaining, light read. She was right! It was the perfect antidote to the darkening November days; it had the warm and pleasant feeling of a good summer read.

Two sisters and their mother move out to a cousin’s beach house in Westport, CT to take stock of their lives, all of which are in transition. I found myself mostly in sympathy with the characters, especially the mother, displaced from her Upper West Side apartment and comfortable Manhattan existence when her husband leaves her to welcome into their home a young, manipulative woman from work. The serious, responsible sister worries about planning and finances but learns to cut loose and have some fun. The wild, disorganized sister finds love in unexpected ways and makes some good decisions for the first time in her life. Each attempts in her own way to support the mother, who floats around in a haze of grief and disbelief at her losses, but goes out of her way to try to mother her middle-aged daughters. According to the book jacket, the novel is a “playful and delightful homage to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility." I found myself charmed and entertained, so I will pass on Edith’s recommendation to readers of this blog. Take a break from the winter doldrums! Lose yourself in this enjoyable reading experience!


-- Jean, member, Friends of the Jones Library

January 9, 2017

** Food For Fines begins today **



  • Only overdue fines are forgiven. Payment for lost/damaged items isn't part of this program.
  • Overdue charges on items belonging to ANY library that get returned to the Jones or the branches during this time get waived.
  • The Survival Center will be delivering barrels to all branches today.
  • People are welcome to donate non-perishable food to us even if they have nothing overdue.


January 7, 2017

5 Great Places to Donate Your Old Books


But first and foremost? Remember your Friends.

After that? Here are some good ideas.


January 5, 2017

New Year's Resolutions


Are you a new year's resolution kinda Friend? Not all of us are. But if you're thinking of maybe doing one, the Friends have some suggestions for you.


Need some help keeping those resolutions? 
Reach out to us. Friends help Friends.

January 4, 2017

17 Jokes You’ll Only Understand If You’re Well Read


Okay, we'll fess up. This one made us laugh out loud.


Because we're sophomoric like that...

Want more? Click here.