Friends of the Jones Library System News

The Jones, North Amherst, and Munson libraries are selling copies of Tiny Libraries of Western Massachusetts 2019 calendar (the final product is really quite lovely). They are $16 per calendar (cash only), with $4 per calendar being donated back to the Amherst libraries. Holidays are right around the corner...  Just sayin'.

"As long as women are denied the priesthood, we will try to make our own rituals at our own kitchen altars and we will sew our own magical capes at our own sewing machines." Just in time for Halloween: 11 wickedly wise witch quotes.

Want to know who they are? Check out this NPR article .  Then? Stay tuned for the winner to be announced November 14th.

Come tap your toes and clap your hands along with  Wicked Pitch from UMass! (Click on image to enlarge.)

This is definitely an idea whose time has come.

Tis free for all but thou must pre-register. Shall we goeth? (Click on image to enlarge.)

Since we know certain Jones Library Children's Room librarians have a soft spot for all things Hebridean, we thought this might be of post of note. The BBC's Inside the Bookshops and Libraries of Scotland: A Photographic Survey.

If you were a Jane Austen character, who would you be?

Although the founder of the Little Free Library movement, Todd Bol, just passed away , his work lives on. There are Little Free Libraries all over the country (did you know we have at least four in Amherst?). The Friends are currently smitten with the Pizza Hut Little Free Libraries , which combine two serious loves.

Because we know you know your words , you literary maven, you.

The Friends of the Jones Library is saddened to announce the death of George Goodwin , a longtime Friend who had retired from the board several years ago. Many current board members were recruited to the Friends by George. He had a terrific sense of humor that made meetings with him fun events. We've missed his presence at our meetings for several years and we will miss his presence in the world forever. A service will be held on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst. George's obituary can  be found here .

Or 8 words for other people's children . (Because our own are little angels.)

Think you know your literary ladies? Try this.

Here are 11 annoyances that make all book nerds swear under their breath.

Mark these important dates! And, of course, don't forget our annual meeting for members on Nov. 5, 5:30 in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library! Learn what fun and exciting programs are coming soon to a library near you!

Next week is Halloween. To get you in the mood, here's a little Irish Times article about a Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin. This weekend there's Stokerland, a free pop-up Victorian fun park, in St. Patrick's Park. And by "fun," the Irish mean terrifying, unsmiling little zombie kids.

"Reading nonfiction develops reading comprehension, builds background knowledge, improves vocabulary, and develops analytical skills." The million dollar question? How do you get kids to read it?

The Gazette is looking to hear from YOU -- what about the Valley are you thankful for? Email your answer(s) to Danielle Lipiec  (dlipiec @ umass.edu) and you may see yourself quoted in an upcoming article on "100 Reasons to be Thankful." Here's a little more information: We're hoping to highlight local experiences or ideas that will resonate with a lot of readers. We will be giving credit to the businesses owners or staffers for each selected quote. You're welcome to take it in whatever direction you like, but here some ideas to get you started: "The fairy lights that make Pulaski Park look so quaint at dusk" --Name, name of business "The hot chocolate -- made with Dutch cocoa and butter -- at the Haymarket" - Name, name of business "The Welcome, Pride, Black Lives Matter, and Climate Emergency flags outside the Unitarian Society church" --Name, name of business "Pedal assist on the uphill stretch...

Check out the 25 greatest opening lines of Elmore Leonard , Crime Master. Warning: the temptation to keep reading Leonard's books will be strong, and you should follow that temptation where it leads. The Amherst public libraries have your back though. They have oodles of his books.

We like how #2 says to put books where you need them most (we're looking at you, bathroom). But we really love how #7 says, "The presence of books in the home has as much of an impact on children's future educational attainment as factors like parental occupation and education levels." Want to read more? And on that note? The Friends Annual Book Sale is Friday, November 16, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Members Only Browse & Buy. Not yet a member? Problem solved.  Then on Saturday, November 17, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, we're open to the general public. Come create a home library.

"This is my thank-you note to every librarian who's ever helped a kid like me, nobody from nowhere, find her doorway through a library shelf into citizenship of the world. If one of them ever begs you to bend the rules, I'm going to say: Let her do it."

...to be able to easily walk or bike to  ALL branches of the town libraries?

Or just want to help the community? (click on image to enlarge) Come join us!

Don't forget to take the Munson Memorial Library   and/or North Amherst Library branch surveys! Less than 10 minutes or your money back. 

with this little article about the  Jane Austen Pineapple Appreciation Society . You're welcome.

"It wasn't until I began my job as a librarian four years ago  that I truly realized how much books connect and create community."  Read more...

An old bus stop becomes a book shelter .

Books with maps are always better. Here's an article from the Guardian all about the mystery and magic of literary maps . Come get lost in it...

We know you're library users, otherwise you wouldn't be checking out the Friends blog. And since you're a library user, we're asking for your help. Could you please take a few minutes (it took us less than 10) to fill out the Munson Memorial Library branch survey  and or the North Amherst Library branch survey ? Only use one of those two libraries? Only fill out one! Use both branches? Fill out both surveys! You, your partner, and your kids all use 'em? We want to hear from ALL of you! The more information we can gather, the better we can serve you. The survey's easy and fast and you'll feel proud that you did your civic duty. Then, you can reward yourself with this .