Friends of the Jones Library System News

"Kinong is one of thousands of Indonesians who have opened their own library in their own communities. Estimates suggest there are thousands of such libraries in Indonesia, started by ordinary people with great initiative to address the lack of books in their area and funded by occasional donations." Read more in this Guardian article .

We've got proof for you right here . Now go to the library, grab a book, and head to Amherst Coffee, The Pub, Share, High Horse, Amherst Brewing Company... You've got choices, Friends.

What happened when a national park ranger put a typewriter at the Grand Canyon for hikers to use? The great American novel? Haiku? Find out here.   And while you're reading the above NPR article, feel free to listen to this soundtrack .

If you're skint , you sure could use a fiver or a tenner . But don't ask for a twentier because then you'd really be a tosser . (Also, nobody says that, you pillock .) Here's a fun list of 28 British slang terms you should know before you pick up your next Nick Hornby or Neil Gaiman or JK Rowling or John Cleese. But not Mary Berry . She wouldn't use those terms. Except maybe cob, bap, or barm .

It's not a compliment. And you should return the favor using one of these seven old-fashioned ways to call someone a nincompoop.

Well THIS looks super cool:   (Click on image to enlarge.)

Want some inspiration?  Check out these photos of 15 under-the-stairs libraries .   Much better than under-the-stairs cupboards for small wizards.

Letters Live , a celebration of literary correspondence, gives people the opportunity to spend a night out, having letters read to them by a bunch of actors and musicians. "You can't help be drawn in, even when the letter is never written for you...Every human experience can be found in letters. They can make you feel something you can't feel yourself, experiences you will never live. Some of us will never lose a child. Some of us will never kill someone. You could sit at home to read them, but, through the alchemy of performance, everyone in that audience becomes the recipient." Read more about it in this Guardian article . Then, go grab a pen and a piece of paper and dash off a little something to a friend.

This Saturday come to the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library to hear graduate students pitch their brilliant ideas in 3 minutes or less. You'll be amazed. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll walk out of there feeling like a rocket scientist yourself.   (Click on image to enlarge.)

talks about American Dialogue , his most recent book,  at the Jones Library on Tuesday, March 26, at 7:00.  Read the NY Times review and then come hear the author himself!    (Click on image to enlarge.) Book signing to follow event.

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"Danny Boy?" "Kiss Me I'm Irish?" "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling?" "The Fields of Athenry?" Who KNOWS what you'll strum this St. Patrick's Day? Maybe NOTHING Irish. You won't know if you don't go...

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A year-long celebration of the Jones Library’s Centennial!  More info here.   (Click on images to enlarge.)