Friends of the Jones Library System News

It's almost like something out of a science fiction movie. In Mexico City, there's a massive, architect- designed library built in 2007. "Situated among lush gardens and covering an area of over 38,000 square meters, the temple of knowledge is generally referred to as a 'megalibrary' both for its size and the undeniable sense of import conveyed by the structure itself. Transparent walls, stories of intentionally slightly mismatched floors, and intricate networks of balconies and paths between replicating stacks let visitors literally get lost in the worlds contained within the books themselves."

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It's not always books that get turned into movies. Sometimes it's a poem.  Here are 11 poem-inspired movies for you to check out this weekend.

You can't really go wrong with a book that has a cat named "Donut." Here's a review of John Scalzi's latest book Head On  but be careful. The review tells you a lot. If you'd prefer to discover all the wonderful things about Donut on your own, click here .

Author Kevin Young's 2012 essay collection was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. His new book of poetry, Brown , is colored by memories from his family, his childhood, US history, and black culture. Read an NPR review of his work here or cut to the chase and get his book from the library .

That's right, Friends.  We're talking Story Time From Space .  (Not to be confused with Pigs In Space ).

The pet is mightier than the sword .

Louisa May Alcott's mom, Abigail, was her first cheerleader, the woman who encouraged Louisa's writing . It was Abigail May Alcott who, in 1845, wrote in her daughter's journal to "Hope, and keep busy," which the March sisters adopt as their motto in Little Women .

You think it's just run-of-the-mill reference questions? Oh ho ho, dear Friends. Apparently we patrons ask some random stuff. Read on . And if you don't believe us, why not toddle over to the Jones Reference Desk and ask them  the weirdest questions patrons have ever posed. The Friends bet there are some doozies. Hey, it's Amherst  after all.

Every Tuesday starting June 26th , throughout the summer,  please come to the Jones for a  free hot lunch for all children.  Only $3.50 for the grownups in their lives. (Click to enlarge.) All are welcome.

Artist Isobelle Ouzman fashions detailed mini-masterpieces out of books.  Take a peak at her creations .

We love, love, love the fact that someone took the time to create all these fake book covers based on real albums . Some of them are completely amazing. Hats off,  Online Pen Company .

This library chair is only for the kids.

Author Mohsin Hamid has annotated the first page of his novel Exit West .  Read along and learn what he was thinking when he chose the words he wrote.

Regina Anderson dined with W.E.B. Du Bois, hung out with Langston Hughes, and let Zora Neale Hurston crash on her couch. When she applied to be a librarian, she was told, "To us you're not American. You're not white." Anderson got a job at the 135th Street branch of the NYPL and the rest is history. "As Anderson's life story shows, if you're trying to write a history book, it's best not to forget the librarian." Want to learn more about this cool librarian? Click here .

Americans are a lonely lot. Maybe you feel the pain of loneliness sometimes, too? If so, come to the libraries!! The Friends sponsor so many programs, you're bound to find one you like. Click here to see a list of the programs we sponsor (scroll down) and if there's one that you might want to join, give the library a call to find out more! You're not alone. The library and the Friends are always there for you.

Best time of year ever. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Holy moly are people amazingly creative! Check out this labor of love . Someone built the library from Beauty and the Beast out of LEGOS!

Stash books around the house.

This is so fun!  Check out this Instagram account where everyone dresses like the cover of a book .

There's a new app that will tell you which of Stephen King's more than 50 books you're most likely to enjoy. The app, entitled Stephen King Library, starts with an eerie splash of music and then a voice "that sounds suspiciously like 'Twilight Zone' narrator Rod Serling asks seven questions." Then the app spits out the names of a few Stephen King books it thinks you'll like.  And by "like,"  we mean  "be completely freaked out by and start sleeping with all the lights on." Check out the  Friends on Facebook  to read the article.

Libraries have always had cookbooks. Some of them newer, some older. Take a look at some of the oldest cookbooks in collections around the world. The National Library of Australia has a cookbook with recipes for "kangaroo brains fried in emu fat." If you're looking for something a tad less exotic, the Friends highly recommend this one .

So how do  those readers do it? Want to know the real secrets of audiobook narrators? For example, did you know the average audiobook takes a month to record? We didn't either.  Learn more here ...

In case your summer isn't steamy enough,  here's an NPR article listing three  summer romance books to check out. Two of the three are available in the CW/MARS system and the one that's not? Well, there are loads of other books by that author, so maybe you'll find something. Happy reading!

Want to create a one-of-a-kind craft for that special guy in your life? Swing by the Jones on Thursday and make away, you creative genius, you! Maybe you're Not So Crafty? That's okay, too. Pick up a copy of The Well Read Cook for only $10 (a mere Hamilton) at the Circulation Desk.  The library and the Friends, working together to ensure happy dads this Sunday.

Read this tell-all article to find out the juicy details of  what storytime is really  like.  Better yet? Live it. Come to the Jones at 10:30 on Thursdays.

Sure it's a time suck. But it's a fun  time suck. Click on seven little images and BAM! you'll find out if you'd fit in best with the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, the Potters, the Grangers, the Dudleys... Who knows? Hopefully not the Malfoys.

Did you know where TASERS come from?  Read more to find out.

Seriously. Better than animated stories, better than audiobooks.  Storytime makes kids' brains light up.  Proof . Also? Storytime at the Jones today at 10:30. Come on down.

And for one of 'em? We don't even have to hop in the car, Friends.  Here's the article .

We promise.

Even if it's not quite  finished yet, it's never too early to get your elevator pitch right for that great American novel. Here to help is an article which will automatically generate a pitch for said soon to be New York Times best seller. But don't take our word for it.  Check it out . Go get 'em, tiger.

kind of like the slanket of the literary world?

Everyone thinks pandas are soooo cute. Well. Okay, fine. They're adorable. BUT! They're bears. BEARS! With claws and teeth! Beware the panda, Friends. Also? Sloths. Those guys can survive on only 160 calories a day. That's fewer calories than in ONE CUP of beans. Which, by the way, sloths could totally eat by the gallon because they're one of the few animals that doesn't fart. At all. Need to know more? Listen to this NPR interview with zoologist and author Lucy Cooke (any relation to Jones Children's Librarian Extraordinaire CLARE COOKE??? Obs you'll need to stop by the library to find out). Then check out her book: The Truth About Animals: Stoned Sloths, Lovelorn Hippos, and Other Tales From the Wild Side of Wild Life . Happy reading.

If you get nervous around that Certain Someone, the Friends have just the thing you need! Check out this article about Victorian cards that explained how to use a BOOK to flirt.

Friends, over the years we've come to rely on you. Your generous funding supports all the amazing programming at our libraries. But today? Today we really feel as though you've let us down. We're only finding out now, on a Friday afternoon, that today is National Doughnut Day . And now we're off to the library for this book and then Atkins for some cider donuts. Then? Reading and eating, Friends. Reading and eating. Help us remember this for next year, m'kay?

Not only do they write the books we love, but they have adorable pets we can check out on Twitter. Here are 13 reasons why you should waste a little time on Twitter.