March 21, 2020

Food for kids.


The ARPS Nutrition Services Department, the ARPS Family Center, and, beginning Monday, the UMass Baby Berk Food Truck that assisted with our summer food program are doing the critical work of ensuring that students who rely on the schools for breakfast and lunch have access to those meals even though school is closed. Here's information about when and how to get some food to your kids.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Please share this information.

March 20, 2020

March 19, 2020

18 surprising things stolen from libraries


Hint: most of them weren't books. But you probably already knew that.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/618612/things-stolen-libraries
Sticky fingers.

March 18, 2020

Library lions


The New York Public Library lions, Patience and Fortitude, like big books

https://untappedcities.com/2020/02/14/nypl-lions-are-reading-large-lion-sized-books/?fbclid=IwAR1hrEVt4vLSfb9p3Q83bbUWpVWxpgYi43-ffiJQ-A2X2KupQP3S8j-qFfE

March 17, 2020

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Even if St. Patrick's Day parades have been cancelled and you can't go to the pub to have a pint with friends, the Friends still want you to have a good St. Patty's Day. Toward that end, we present you with 13 lucky facts about the day.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/93246/13-lucky-facts-about-st-patricks-day

March 16, 2020

Need something for the kids in your house to do? Here's an idea!


The Odyssey Bookshop's 26th Annual Spring Writing Contest

This year’s prompt:
One day you wake up and realize that you can talk to animals! Maybe you were part of a science experiment or given the gift by a friendly animal you saved. What animals do you talk to? What do they say? What happens next because of this new power you have?
 
Children in Grades 1-5 are eligible and encouraged to enter. An entry form must be attached to each submission. Contact details for the child’s parent or guardian must be provided so we can easily contact the winners.
 
The entries will be judged on the originality of the story, the creativity of the idea, and the quality of writing, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
 
The deadline for entries is 7:00 PM on Friday, April 24th. Winners will be notified by Friday, May 1st in time for the Awards Ceremony at 6:00 PM on Thursday, May 7th, at the Odyssey Bookshop. We will award prizes to the winners, who will be invited to read their stories aloud at the ceremony.
 
Please see the files in the link to download the Writing Contest informational sheet and extra entry forms, both of which you can also find at the Odyssey! If you have any questions, please email web@odysseybks.com or call 413-534-7307 and ask for Kinsey.

How J. Edgar Hoover used the power of libraries for evil


https://lithub.com/how-j-edgar-hoover-used-the-power-of-libraries-for-evil/

Apparently FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover used America's public libraries for "tracking adversaries, hiding evidence, and other no good dirty deeds." 

Surprised?

March 14, 2020

** All Amherst Municipal Buildings Closed to Public Starting Monday, March 16th **


Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all Town of Amherst municipal buildings, including the Town Hall, Senior Center, Jones library and branches will be closed to the public, with a tentative reopening date of April 3, 2020. This does not include the Amherst Police Department building.

The Amherst Regional Public Schools will close for two weeks starting on Monday, March 16th, with a tentative return date of Monday, March 30.

The Amherst Transfer Station will also be making changes to their operations starting on March 13, 2020. More details on this can be found here.

Meetings of public bodies, except governing and adjudicatory bodies, will be canceled. Governing bodies include the Town Council, School Committee, and Board of Library Trustees. Adjudicatory bodies include the Board of Health, Planning Board, Local Historic District Commission, Historical Commission, Conservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. All meetings until April 3rd will be conducted remotely. The Town will have technology to allow for remote participation and public comment. Meetings will be recorded or broadcast live where possible.

There are no confirmed cases of the virus currently in Amherst or in Hampshire County. These steps are the best health mitigation measures the Town can implement to slow the spread of COVID-19 and are in line with responses from our surrounding communities and best practices.
We encourage you to conduct your business online. Please visit our website www.amherstma.gov to submit a service request or to make payments online. You may contact the various staff and departments by phone or by email by visiting the staff directory on our website. Any payments, forms and documents that need to be submitted to the Town, and cannot be transmitted electronically, can be deposited in the Treasurer/Collector’s Dropbox on the Main Street side of Amherst Town Hall.

How to Stay Connected:

· Visit www.amherstma.gov/covid19

· Sign up for Emergency Alerts at www.amherstma.gov/prepare

· Visit our home page at www.amherstma.gov 
 

YA Novels we’d love to see adapted for Netflix


https://www.quirkbooks.com/post/all-boys%E2%80%A6and-other-ya-novels-we%E2%80%99d-love-see-adapted-netflix

"What would happen if Netflix swept up a ton of really excellent YA novels and turned them all into movies? Here are our picks, not that anyone was asking."

March 13, 2020

The "Vibrant Intellectual Ecosystem"


When he died last month, Larry McMurtry left behind a lot of books. 
Take a look at his home library here.

https://lithub.com/inside-the-vibrant-intellectual-ecosystem-of-larry-mcmurtrys-home-library/?fbclid=IwAR03quRNSdREFWZqQK2_0_Daqvl-PGbcbLVQMekyHpEvFj3GJSecyOfPJ7s


March 12, 2020

** LIBRARY EVENTS CANCELLED **

 
Beginning today, all programs scheduled to take place at the Jones Library, the North Amherst Library, or the Munson Memorial Library are CANCELLED until further notice. This includes public and private use of the Woodbury, Amherst, Goodwin, and ESL Tutor Rooms. The 2020 Sammys Award Ceremony is also cancelled. 
 
Be well and keep washing those hands. 

"I thought you’d like to read this."


Do those words strike fear in your heart? Here's a book-giving guide.


Hint: "Good etiquette is to 'choose for the recipient, rather than what you think they should read.'"

March 11, 2020

Indoor activities


In case you're stuck inside in the coming weeks and are looking for something to keep you busy, the Friends suggest you try your hand at this Lego bookshop

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/bookshop-10270

We think it's so cool! Do you think there are tiny Lego books in it??

March 9, 2020

Libraries have a public spirit that most museums lack


https://hyperallergic.com/525985/why-libraries-have-a-public-spirit-that-most-museums-lack/?fbclid=IwAR2yF0OZOM_VZYEETb_-6oi9qDr5Db_kAUT9wZWtNIXsKaZBqDcxJvwYrXE

A stunningly broad swath of society feels welcome within a public library and not a museum. Why? Read more to find out...

March 8, 2020

French language guardians release guidelines on how to swear correctly


Created in the 17th century, L'Academie Française is supposed to regulate the French language, keeping it pure. And, solely in the interests of doing their intellectual duty, L'Academie has some vocabulary guidelines for you on the correct way to swear at people en français.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20191119/french-language-guardians-release-guidelines-on-how-to-swear-properly?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwAR2k61rmxQNcg0BFRDXuclk4CyXHP--VRa89bVOM4gMLi05aGlE1QJwSNLY

Parce que c'est vachement important!