Friends of the Jones Library System News

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Have you ever read a book that described a food you wished you could actually taste? You're not alone, dear Friend. Atlas Obscura has an article on fake snacks we'd all most like to try . So go grab a butterbeer and some Scooby snacks and read away.

And in honor of it, The Guardian has an article on the best banned books to read. Because, hey, increasing the public's desire to actually read the book the point of banning them, isn't it? Most of the books in the article are either children's books or YA so they're pretty much accessible to us all. Let's have it, Friends. Want to learn more about banned books?  Visit the American Library Association here .

T.T. Mann, Ace Detective. Get it here, first.

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If you are detail-oriented, computer savvy, and enjoy seeing what other people are reading these days, this job is for you! No previous library experience required. Job Summary: The Jones Library in Amherst is hiring a Library Technician for its Technical Services Department to perform a variety of clerical tasks related to the cataloging and physical processing of all Library materials. Duties Include: The successful candidate will be trained to perform data entry, verify shipments of materials, maintain the Library’s Online Public Access Catalog, cover books, re-package audio-visual items, and repair damaged books. The Jones Library is dedicated to building a culturally diverse staff which reflects and represents the Amherst community. Desired Qualifications: A high school diploma or GED equivalent and two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in a library or office, or any equivalent combination of related education and exp...

Go get your culture on.

This New York Times article reminds us that Palaces for the People help us form social connections that can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. The Friends are all about helping build palaces for the people, book by book. 

The Friends hadn't heard the phrase "retronym" before reading this article . Apparently the oldest print usage for the word was from New York Times columnist William Saffire's "On Language" article in 1980. Now we're noticing retronyms everywhere.

This NY Times article asks important questions to contemplate as you go about creating a book group: "What kind of books will you read? How will books be chosen? Where will you meet? How will you make sure everyone who wants to talk gets a chance to?" And, arguably the most important question, what snacks will be served?

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This article from the New York Times helps explain why libraries are so important to our society. The Friends support the Amherst public libraries.  Please donate to us so that we can continue to do exactly that.

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Two great champions of reading for pleasure, Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell, remind us that it really is an important thing to do -- and that libraries create literate citizens .

Swagger right up to the counter at Antonio's Pizza and do your patriotic duty. Then toddle over to the Jones Library and pick up Pete's a Pizza  (although you'll have to hold the pepperoni today).

First printed in 1915, The Original Suffrage Cook Book is being reprinted to mark the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, a bill allowing some women and all men the right to vote for the first time in Great Britain and Ireland. While this book isn't in the CW/MARS system, The Well Read Cook sure is! You can whip up a tasty treat to snack on when you're queuing up to vote on Tuesday!