Friends of the Jones Library System News

Message from the Friends to State Senator Stan Rosenberg

2010-03-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

In bad times as in good, in a democracy the public library is a great educator of the public, open and free to all, regardless of wealth or age or any qualification other than human curiosity to learn. To nourish our libraries is to nourish the Commonwealth. In light of that, the Board of the Friends of the Jones Library System in Amherst MA strongly supports the restoration of funding to regional libraries in the state budget that has been cut severely in Governor Patrick's original budget proposal.

Juliblat/Jones Poetry Reading this Sunday

2010-02-16T14:46:00.002-05:00

jubilat and the historic Jones Library

present

A jubilat/Jones Poetry Reading

Featuring:

Jericho Brown
and
CAConrad

3:00 PM
Sunday, February 21st
Trustees Room, Jones Library
43 Amity Street, Amherst

The reading will be followed by a Q & A session with the poets.

At 2 PM, Dara Wier, Ben Kopel, and Zach Savich will host a poetry swap in the Trustees Room. Bring a poem--your own or someone else's--to share and discuss. All events are free and open to the public.

Jericho Brown worked as speechwriter for the Mayor of New Orleans before receiving his PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Houston. He also holds an MFA from the University of New Orleans and a BA from Dillard University. The recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, the Bunting Fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, and two travel fellowships to the Krakow Poetry Seminar in Poland, Brown teaches creative writing as an Assistant Professor of English at the University of San Diego. His first book, Please (New Issues), won the 2009 American Book Award.

CAConrad is the recipient of The Gil Ott Book Award for The Book of Frank (Chax Press, 2009). He is also the author of Advanced Elvis Course (Soft Skull Press, 2009), (Soma)tic Midge (Faux Press, 2008), Deviant Propulsion (Soft Skull Press, 2006), and a forthcoming collaboration with poet Frank Sherlock, The City Real & Imagined: Philadelphia Poems (Factory School Books, 2010).

Sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library, jubilat, the Juniper Initiative of the UMass MFA Program for Poets & Writers, the Amherst Cultural Council, and Factory Hollow Press, the jubilat/Jones Series showcases established and emerging poets in six readings each year.

If you have questions, please contact the jubilat office at (413) 577-1064.

The Valentine Basket Auction is coming very soon!

2010-01-05T13:07:00.003-05:00

The wonderful Valentine Baskets, full of books and chocolate and great gifts for everyone, will be in the Jones Library Atrium from February 3rd to February 11th. Please come and browse the baskets and place a bid on your favorite ones!
All proceeds go to the library book fund, so you can treat yourself (or someone you love) and help the library at the same time!

Shop at Amherst Books this Saturday and help the Jones Library

2009-11-30T14:04:00.003-05:00

Do your holiday book shopping at Amherst Books this Saturday and you'll be helping the library buy books at the same time! Once again, Amherst Books is donating a portion of their sales for the day to the Friends of the Jones Library! They are located at 8 Main Street. Here's their web site for further information. Thank you, thank you Amherst Books!!

The Jones Library was at the town parade!

2009-10-06T11:59:00.005-04:00

Children and adults carried colorful banners celebrating the town libraries at the 250th anniversary parade on September 27th. In spite of the rain, the banners looked great!

Fundraising for the Jones at the Harp on October 4th

2009-09-22T14:18:00.003-04:00

Join the fun at the Harp on October 4th!

Come celebrate our libraries!
Help re-open the Jones on Friday afternoons!

All-You-Can-Eat Barbecue

The Harp
163 Sunderland Rd.,
North Amherst

Sunday, October 4th
12 noon to 5 p.m.
Rain or shine

Live Celtic music
Games for kids

Tickets $20 for adults, $10 for children
On Sale at the Children's Desk at the Jones Library

Tickets are contributions to the Jones Library, Inc. and qualify for a $3000 anonymous matching grant. $11,000 reopens the Jones on Friday afternoons from Oct. 9th to June 2010.

Many thanks to our co-sponsors: Mark "Harpo" Power and Collective Copies.

Museum Passes all over New England!

2009-06-16T13:40:00.003-04:00

Are you aware of all the museum passes that the Friends sponsor for patrons of the Jones?
You can pick up the passes, or reserve a pass for the date that you're planning to visit one of the museums, at the Children's Desk in the Jones Library. Here's the list. Click on any museum to go to the institution's home page to check on hours, exhibits, directions, etc. Start exploring all the wonderful resources in and around Amherst!
Amherst History Museum - Strong House
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Forest Park Zoo
Historic Deerfield
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston
MassMOCA in North Adams
MA State Parks
Mystic Seaport in Mystic CT
Smith College Museum of Art
Springfield Museums
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown
Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford CT

Mother's Day Projects on Saturday

2009-05-11T12:04:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Here is a photo of the Friends' birdfeeder/birdbath project which was organized by Sterling Bush.
All the children chose their own decorative tea cup and saucer and went home with a hand wrapped gift for Mother's Day.

New Pastel Painting Workshop in June

2009-04-24T15:00:00.005-04:00

How to Pastel Paint As Impressionists:
Monet’s Magic Garden
A Pastel Workshop for adults with award-winning pastel painter Gregory Maichack (www.GregoryMaichack.com)

Tuesday
June 9, 2009
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
at the Jones Library
43 Amity Street, Amherst MA

All materials included: pastels ( Nupastels & Rembrandts), Canson
pastel paper, & pastel pencils.
No Experience Needed.
Seating may fill quickly so call (413)- 259–3090

This program is supported in part by the Friends of the Jones Library and by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Every 2nd Grader A Reader Program

2009-03-04T14:05:00.002-05:00

This spring, the Friends are once again sponsoring a program that introduces every 2nd grade student in the Amherst public schools to the Jones Library and encourages them to get a library card. Each 2nd grade class is bussed to the library on a Monday morning, where the students are treated to a tour of the children's rooms, a snack, a story and paperback book of their choice to take home. Volunteers from the Friends serve the snack and show the students how to paste a bookplate in the front of the book they choose. Those who don't already have a library card can sign up for one and can take their cards to Barts for a free ice cream cone! This very popular program is underwritten by funds from the Giles-Santangelo Fund. The Friends would like to thank Tina Harding at Barts and the staff at Barnes and Noble for their support of this program.

250th Anniversary Daffodils

2009-03-04T13:57:00.002-05:00

Keep watching for the daffodils that the Friends donated to celebrate the town's 250th Anniversary! They should be blooming soon all around the library building.

Valentine Baskets

2009-03-04T13:51:00.003-05:00

Once again, the annual Valentine Basket silent auction at the Jones has been a resounding success! We have raised over $5000 for the library, thanks to donations from many local businesses and supporters and the efforts of many volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone, and especially to our wonderful coordinator, Michele Santangelo, who did an outstanding job in her first year managing this event.

New Spring 2009 Beastly Abodes Programs

2009-02-03T15:28:00.003-05:00

Beastly Abodes & Caches for Backyard Wildlife

The Friends of the Jones Library are sponsoring a new series of wildlife programs this spring, some for children, some for all ages.
Help the birds construct their nests and nourish a variety of backyard songbirds and learn about larger animals. Each program will begin with a talk, followed by a workshop in which each person independently builds a feeder or nest helper that they will take home. Instructors will be available to help participants. All sessions will take place in the Large Meeting Room (downstairs) of the Jones Library. Pre-registration is required. There is a fee for materials for some Beastly Abodes & Caches programs due at registration. Scholarships are available; please see the Children’s Librarian. The Turkey and Coyote talks are FREE.

Spring Sessions:

Let’s Talk Turkey MARCH 21st FREE 3:00–5:00 PM All ages are welcome.
(Lecture & Demonstration): Space is limited in the Large Meeting Room downstairs.
Ron Gleason, of the Pioneer Valley National Turkey Federation will speak about turkeys that live in western Massachusetts and different species elsewhere. He along with Doug Little, Regional Biologist, will focus on conservation and habitat, learning about their vast territories, and how they live trap the birds in the wild for transport elsewhere. A demonstration of different turkey calls will be heard. This will be a ½ hour power point presentation. There will be a question and answer period following the lecture.

Nesting Balls (easy): MARCH 28th 3:00 – 5:00 PM $3.00
Limited to 15 Ages 4 and up ** Must Pre-register**
We will help the birds build their nests. Birds use anything soft and naturally bendable to construct a bowl shaped nest for the eggs that are sure to come soon. This will be the home for young chicks for several months while they are growing. We will construct hanging balls with simple items from the around the house. Other ideas will be presented.

Coyote Talk: APRIL 18th FREE 3:00–5:00 PM All ages are welcome.
(Lecture & Demonstration) Space is limited in the Large Meeting Room downstairs.

Laura Hajduk, Wildlife Biologist with MA Div of Fisheries & Wildlife, will talk about the Coyotes that live our area. Her talk will focus on rural to urban movements, conservation and habitat, learning about their vast territories. How to avoid conflicts with this curious animal with the homeowner and how this creature is misunderstood. This will be a power point presentation including photo on coyotes. There will be a question and answer period following the lecture.

Garden Tea Cup Feeder (easy): MAY 9th 3:00–5:00 PM $5.00
( great Mother’s Day gift ) Limited to 20 Ages 4 and up ** Must Pre-register**
Learn how your backyard birds enjoy a splash and a drink of water plus nibble on seeds. A selection of seeds will be presented and which seeds are the best for which birds. We will construct stakes with a cup and a saucer that can be placed in the garden to nourish the birds in the summer months and show a little whimsy among the flowers.