Friends of the Jones Library System News

"Erotic poetry" and "Middle Ages" aren't often used in the same sentence. Read further to learn about a clever text that's really a wry commentary on how a person cannot be separated from his or her sex.

You have to go to Sweden .

On the upcoming three day weekend,  the town libraries will be closed on Monday.  So zip over on Saturday to get your reading  (and listening and watching) fix in! 

An herbarium, in case you (like we) didn't know, is when you press plants and flowers in a book to preserve their beauty. Want to take a look at Emily Dickinson's herbarium that she completed by the time she was 14 ?

Would you actually study in here or  would you spend most of your time keeping an eye out for  Nearly Headless Nick?

NPR recognizes that no one survives on news alone. Sometimes we all need a break. Levity. HUMOR! And those good folks have compiled a list of books to make us smile, quietly giggle, or howl until tears of mirth stream down our face. If your favorite funny book isn't here, help a Friend out and let us know.  We all could use a little laugh now and then.

Unlike Fight Club, where the first rule is not to talk about Fight Club, the first rule of Silent Book Club is, well, not to talk. "Members meet up at a bar, a library, a bookstore or any venue that will host them. Once the bell rings, silent reading time commences. After an hour, the bell rings again." Learn more about this lovely phenomenon from this NPR article . Want to start one? Here's a little primer .

Sure longtime Jane Austen fans picture Mr. Darcy like this:   but did you know he was more like this? Here are 7 facts about Thomas Lefroy , the real-life Mr. Darcy, that maybe you didn't know.

Read more to find out.

You know who else loved these wee copies of his plays? The Man in Black .

Ireland has had a long history of literary genius. Now they have a museum to commemorate it all . Next month the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) opens its doors to the public . P.S. Bradley has direct flights to Dublin, Friends. Shall we?

Five ideas to help you find like-minded book brethren.  And although it doesn't even mention the L-word,  you can try all of these tricks out at the library , too!

Learn more about her in Emily Dickinson's Electric Love Letters to Susan Gilbert .

Remember The Golden Girls?   Of COURSE you do! They were an important part of a well-rounded 1980's life worth living. Well, the good folks at the NYPL have compiled a list for your reading pleasure based on what The Golden Girls would've read, if they'd shared their book recommendations with the rest of us. The way good Friends do. Happy reading, Friends!

 Perhaps you, too, are a Numbers Nerd?  You geek out on your steps taken each night before you snuggle into bed? You count all the states you've visited during those boring staff meetings? You pay close attention to your car mileage using a smartphone app? Surely this can't just be us, Friends. Here are some WICKED COOL numbers for you to chew on:

Turn in your adult reading log by August 23, Friends.  You've got three weeks.  Mark your calendars.

  (Click on image to enlarge.)