December 29, 2017

Ski & Skate sale!


You know how when you read Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild you really wanted to learn to skate? And whenever you read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats you were always jealous of the little boy's red coat? Now's your chance to live out your literary dreams, Friends! Come to Crocker Farm Elementary School on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 5-6.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

And maybe, just maybe, among all the mittens and skis and boots and hats, you'll find a Hockey Sweater.

December 27, 2017

December 26, 2017

The Oldest Treasures From 12 Great Libraries


Hey Jones, what's yours?


Atlas Obscura asked some of their favorite libraries what the oldest item in their collection was. 

December 23, 2017

The Very Best Things About Reading Aloud with Kids



In their own words, here are a few things about the wonderfulness of reading to children that parents said. Perhaps during school break you can sit down, snuggle up, and read aloud, too.


December 22, 2017

Watson through the ages


While Sherlock Holmes is obviously the big name, this article takes a fun look at his television sidekick. Different Watsons in Pop Culture reminds us that Watson doesn't have to be white, male, or even human to still be Watson.



December 21, 2017

The Belle of Amherst in a new light


"I pretended to be Emily Dickinson on an online dating site and I found out that every guy wants to get with a famous dead poet."



December 20, 2017

*** Library Holiday Closing ***


The Jones Library and branches will close at
12 noon on Friday, December 22 and re-open at
9 am on Tuesday, December 26
in observance of the Christmas holidays.
Happy holidays to all!

How Much of a Grammar Snob Are You?



Are you the one silently judging the grammar of your co-worker in staff meetings? Does a little bit of you die inside when you hear someone use "myself" when they could just say "me?" Or maybe you're the opposite and beginning a sentence with a conjunction is just fine. (See what we did there?) Discover the true grammar you with this fun quiz.

Then maybe visit the library to check this out.

December 19, 2017

Need a holiday gift for a teacher?



The Friends can help.
We've got tote bags, tea, and this new community cookbook!
Swing by the Jones Library and check out our gifts,
all for $15 or less.

Caitlin Moran


author of Moranthology, writes that, "A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination."

In this season of thankfulness, the Friends would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Amherst public libraries.


December 18, 2017

The Last Black Unicorn



NPR has an interview with the author of The Last Black Unicorn (not to be confused with Martellus Bennett). If you have seven minutes to listen to the segment, you might enjoy it. Or you could just kick it old school and read it.

December 12, 2017

Public transportation and public libraries


Friends, the bus routes in Amherst may be changing. The MA Department of Transportation wants to hear from you. Please take this survey and let the DOT know what you think about their proposed changes.

Here is a message from the Town Planning Director about the proposed changes:

Hello everyone,

The Town of Amherst has been following the progress of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project for improvements to the Route 9 corridor between Northampton and Amherst.  As part of this project MassDOT is exploring changes to the bus route of the B43 bus, which serves Northampton, Hadley and Amherst, including Smith College, UMass and Amherst College and businesses along Route 9, including the malls in Hadley.  The proposed changes are intended to improve traffic congestion and decrease travel time for bus riders between Northampton and UMass. 

However, the proposed changes would have a significant impact on Downtown Amherst, Amherst College, and businesses and institutions along University Drive.  See attached map for proposed route changes.  The red dots indicate the elimination of bus stops.

Consultants for MassDOT (Toole Design Group of Boston) are circulating a preference survey for riders of public transit and other travelers along the Route 9 corridor, to seek input on the preferences of people who travel along Route 9 between Northampton, Hadley and Amherst.  It is important that they hear from as many people as possible, especially people who currently ride the B43 bus.  

Please forward this link to those whom you think would be interested, including your employees, staff, students, administrators, board and committee members and residents. 

The current deadline for submission of responses is December 22nd, but we have requested an extension of this deadline.

Thank you for your help and participation in this important project.

Christine Brestrup

In case it helps, here's the actual survey link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4015199/Route9. Please share this with friends, neighbors, colleagues...

December 8, 2017

Holiday movies to put you in a holiday mood...


And maybe we'll even have some snow by then!

(Click on image to enlarge.)