Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11:00. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Join us to make your own sock puppet! We'll provide all the supplies-from socks, to felt, to googly eyes and fake fur! Great for ages 5+.

Join us this Tuesday for a poetry discussion of the work of Fanny Howe. 

• Biography (Poetry Foundation)
• Wikipedia
• Poetry Reading by Fanny Howe, 11.21.13 (YouTube)
• The Definitions (Poetry Foundation)
• Interview with Fanny Howe by Fiona Alison Duncan (The White Review)
• The Wedding Dress: Meditations On Word and Life (The Jacket)

Zoom meeting link

Meeting ID: 896 9249 9767
Passcode: 254365

This weekly poetry discussion group is open to everyone including regulars and drop-ins. All voices are honored: first-time poetry readers and life-long devotees. 

Each week, the group convenes to discuss the work of a particular poet, usually contemporary, and sometimes one reading in the area.  No prior reading or preparation required. Email hfaerstein AT aol.com to join the weekly mailing list.

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

On Wednesdays, the Writing Room meets virtually. In-person meetings have resumed for Saturday sessions.

On these mornings we will meet via videoconference at our regular time: 9:30-12:30, using the exact same structure as we would if we were gathered around the table in the Watson Room at Forbes. The only difference will be that we will be connecting by videoconference, rather than face-to-face.

Here's all you need to join the Writing Room via Videoconference:

• Join us in the Virtual Writing Room on Zoom.  
• I will come online 15 minutes before our starting time (at 9:15) to answer any questions you might have. 
• You will have the option to have your camera off or on, so you can join however you feel most comfortable.
• The sessions will NOT be recorded, and you have the option to be visible or not, so your privacy will be preserved just as it would if we were meeting at the library.

How the Writing Room Works: each session opens at 9:30 sharp with brief hellos, followed by the pleasure of getting work done in the company of others. At 11:45 we check in about how the work went and make announcements. At (roughly) 12, anyone who wishes to read for the group does briefly, without critique or spoken response. We're done by 12:30.

Writers are welcome to come for all or part of the session. No need to register in advance. 

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Please see Annemarie from the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center for Career Center registration, job search assistance, UI and other available services. Meet on the Mezzanine between 10am and 1pm.

Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

Do you want your resume to get noticed and make it past Applicant Tracking Systems? (Never heard of ATS? We'll cover that, too!) Learn about three types of resumes and which one is the best choice for you. We'll also talk about strengthening your application with accomplishment statements and how to make your resume look professional and up-to-date.

Register by calling the Greenfield office at 800-457-2603 or 413-774-4361, or sign in to JobQuest, by Wednesday morning. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

An opportunity for jobseekers in Franklin and Hampshire county, as well as the North Quabbin region, to meet, share experiences, and grow their professional network.

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 1-3pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. 

Get guidance and feedback from MassHire staff on your resume and cover letter.

Hello! I'm Sunny and I'm Forbes Library's reading buddy dog! You can book a 15-minute appointment to read to me on Wednesdays between 3:30-4:30. I'm a good listener and like to look at the pictures, too. Reading to me is a great way for you to practice reading! We'll meet inside the Children's Department. 

To register, please call 413-587-1010 or sign up at the Forbes Library Children's Desk. This program is great for children ages 4-10. Happy reading! 

Far Out Film Discussion functions like a book club - watch the film on your own and gather at the library on the first and third Wednesdays to discuss.  

Join us on Wednesday, July 16th at 6:30 in the Community Room in the basement where we will discuss the 2008 film by Synecdoche New York by Charlie Kaufman.

This film is available to stream on Kanopy using your Forbes Library card or your Boston Public Library E-Card. We will also have some DVD copies available at the library a week before the meeting. 

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Join us for books, songs, and puppets and participate in an open-ended art activity designed to encourage creativity! Great for ages 3-5. 

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Join us down in the Forbes Library Community Room on Thursday nights for some lite socializing, low-stakes sharing, and informal critique - as well as some time writing, of course! We warmly welcome writers of all genres and levels of experience.

We will start every meeting with a friendly check in, followed by a 15-20 minute writing prompt. After an optional share out, you are welcome to hang out and work on whatever you’ve got - flesh out the prompt, work on your novel, maybe get crafty with some visual poetry or collage.

This is an inclusive, expansive creative space. If you have a cool idea, bring it and share - we welcome collaborators with open arms! We also understand that one's capacity and enthusiasm for participation fluctuates - come when you can, and stay as long as you like. Absolutely no sweat if you can't make it - we look forward to seeing you next time you're here. We are also working toward online accessibility - contact noholitsociety@gmail.com for info on accessing our prompts online!


 Let’s get together, get some good work done, and enjoy each other's company!

Optional pre-registration is through Eventbrite, where you’ll find info on our open mics and other events as well. Updates are also on Instagram @noholitsociety 

About us:

Northampton Literary Society is a vibrant and supportive community of readers, writers, and artists of all kinds. We are always seeking and offering opportunities for creative expansion and collaboration. Let's make meaningful connections and grow our writing community!

Sign up for our mailing list to get our monthly newsletter featuring local literary news, events, and featured writing from our members each month!

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Join us for Toddler Storytime every Friday morning! We will sing songs, read stories, and have fun. This event is best suited for 1.5-3-year-olds and their caregivers. 

This month's book is James by Percival Everett. You can request a copy of the book from the library catalog. 

About the book: 

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.

This is a hyrbid meeting -- so you can either join us on Zoom or in the Watson Room this month!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81924408925?pwd=ZyG4eUqHNBlNTC2ZLKFijNKaFTVysh.1

Meeting ID: 819 2440 8925
Passcode: 272243

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This month we will discuss Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys.

 You can request this title from our catalog. 

About the book:

Fifteen-year-old Lina is a Lithuanian girl living an ordinary life -- until Soviet officers invade her home and tear her family apart. Separated from her father and forced onto a crowded train, Lina, her mother, and her young brother make their way to a Siberian work camp, where they are forced to fight for their lives. Lina finds solace in her art, documenting these events by drawing. Risking everything, she imbeds clues in her drawings of their location and secretly passes them along, hoping her drawings will make their way to her father's prison camp. But will strength, love, and hope be enough for Lina and her family to survive? A moving and haunting novel perfect for readers of The Book Thief.

We strive to learn more about the world outside our own bubbles. We read both nonfiction and fiction on timely topics and in our discussions try to challenge our own assumptions without judging one another.

Join us on Zoom! 

We will be hosting a hybrid meeting, so you can also attend in person in the Watson Room at Forbes. 

Join Zoom Meeting
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/93620070920?pwd=c0tKQnorNDNqRGxFajRvWWlRNnJyQT09


Meeting ID: 936 2007 0920
Passcode: 340325
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,93620070920#,,,,*340325# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,93620070920#,,,,*340325# US (New York)

Dial by your location
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        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 936 2007 0920
Passcode: 340325
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcnCepHoM3

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Ukulele Strum Group is a community ukulele club, part of the larger Pioneer Valley Ukulele Community (Meetup). We meet weekly at Forbes Library in Northampton to sing and play together just for the fun and joy of it, but also to improve our skills. We are ukulele enthusiasts of all levels of playing experience, including beginners. And we always welcome new members to play, sing, or just watch and listen.

Find out more about our group on our Meet-Up page.

Are your bookshelves overflowing with books you've already read (or books you don't have time to read)? Want to discover some new and exciting stories?

Join us for a casual book swap! Bring in your used books and swap them for something new-to-you. You might discover your new favorite story! 

When you arrive, please place your books on the tables designated for each genre. No need to bring something to take something. All are welcome to browse the selections, and we encourage chatting with others to share what kind of books we love the most. 

Keep in mind:

• All genres and subjects welcome
• Please only bring in books that are in good condition
• Feel free to include a note in your books about why you liked them!

Any leftover books will be donated to the library for the Friends Book Sale or Neighborhood Free Book Boxes. 

Registration is appreciated but not required. 

Join the folks from Wicked Fun Games for Escape from the Wizard's Tower--an escape room for kids ages 8-12! Follow the journal entries, gather ingredients, & cast spells! Registration is required and limited to 10 people. Please click the "Begin Registration" button above to sign up. We will have a separate escape room at 4:00 today for teens. 

This group is for writers and illustrators at any level of experience who are passionate about creating stories for kids and teens. We meet every Saturday from 3-4:30 pm in the Watson Room at the Forbes Library.

We alternate our meeting formats to keep things engaging: on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, we hold critiques and group discussions. On the remaining Saturdays, we host writing sprints, guest speakers, or other creative activities depending on the schedule.

Our focus is on building a supportive critique group where we can share work, offer constructive feedback, and grow as creators. While we lean toward picture book projects, writers and illustrators working on middle-grade and YA are welcome to join as well. Our group welcomes SCBWI members and hopes to connect with others in the SCBWI community, though you don’t need to be a member to join us. New members are especially welcome as we grow this creative community. Bring your work-in-progress, your ideas, or just your enthusiasm!

For more information, please contact Emily: Ellisbrune (AT) ellisbrune.com

Join the folks from Wicked Fun Games for Escape from the Wizard's Tower--an escape room for teens ages 13-18! Follow the journal entries, gather ingredients, & cast spells! Registration is required and limited to 10 people. Please click the "Begin Registration" button above to sign up. We will have a separate escape room at 2:00 today for kids. 

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Come learn the fundamentals of juggling in a relaxed, supportive environment! This beginner-friendly workshop covers basic patterns, hand-eye coordination techniques, and fun skill-building exercises. The space also welcomes more advanced jugglers, offering opportunities to explore new tricks, share techniques, and connect with others.

Everyone is encouraged to be both a teacher and a student—this is a space to build community through play, learning, and collaboration. Led by juggling instructor Joseph Goldin.

These workshops will happen on Mondays in July, 6-7pm. Meet on the West Lawn.

Registration is appreciated but not required. Juggling balls will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have them.

Please contact facilitator Hilary Caws-Elwitt for updated meeting info.

This month's selection is The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch. 

About the book: 

Winner of the prestigious Booker Prize—a tale of the strange obsessions that haunt a playwright as he composes his memoirs.
Charles Arrowby, leading light of England's theatrical set, retires from glittering London to an isolated home by the sea. He plans to write a memoir about his great love affair with Clement Makin, his mentor, both professionally and personally, and amuse himself with Lizzie, an actress he has strung along for many years. None of his plans work out, and his memoir evolves into a riveting chronicle of the strange events and unexpected visitors-some real, some spectral-that disrupt his world and shake his oversized ego to its very core. 

The Great Books discussion is structured so that the evening’s selected reading is discussed in a think tank environment with the intention of gaining insight from other readers that one would not have by reading alone. The seminar facilitator asks questions of the participants about the reading selection and helps the discussion stay focused. Our main goal is to have fun and take many interpretations from the group in order to enjoy a greater understanding of a selected reading.

Discussions are open to everyone and free of charge.  For a list of past and future discussion books and to contact the group visit, http://mail.salticid.com/mailman/listinfo/forbes_great_books_salticid.com.

About the facilitator:

Hilary Caws-Elwitt has her BA in English & American Literature from Harvard, MLS from University of Arizona, and ran Susquehanna County Reads for its first 4 years. But mostly she loves reading and discussing the books!

Join us for our fourth public forum and discussion on the future of the war in Ukraine. Two speakers will share their differing views, followed by Q&A:

• John Feffer of Amherst is an author and Director of the Foreign Policy in Focus program at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC.
• John Berkowitz of Northampton is a retired (though still active) activist for peace, nuclear disarmament, racial justice, and environmental protection. He's a member of Massachusetts Peace Action's Ukraine Peace Campaign.

This event will also be livestreamed on the Forbes YouTube channel. Click here to view. 

For details about the speakers or content included in the event, contact: 413-387-8439, johnpberk@proton.me

This event is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Peace Action Education Fund.

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

Join us for stories, songs, and puppets! We'll do a 20-minute storytime together, then we'll put out toys for free play and social time until 11:00. For babies under 18 months and their caregivers.

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Join us this Tuesday for a poetry discussion. 

Zoom meeting link

Meeting ID: 896 9249 9767
Passcode: 254365

This weekly poetry discussion group is open to everyone including regulars and drop-ins. All voices are honored: first-time poetry readers and life-long devotees. 

Each week, the group convenes to discuss the work of a particular poet, usually contemporary, and sometimes one reading in the area.  No prior reading or preparation required. Email hfaerstein AT aol.com to join the weekly mailing list.

Exhibit Dates: July 2 - July 30, 2025
 

Judith Abraham: multimedia installation; Reception: July 12, 2-4pm

Ellie May Mandell: Sculpture

We'll Get There Eventually: A Print Exchange; Reception: July 22, 6-8pm

On Wednesdays, the Writing Room meets virtually. In-person meetings have resumed for Saturday sessions.

On these mornings we will meet via videoconference at our regular time: 9:30-12:30, using the exact same structure as we would if we were gathered around the table in the Watson Room at Forbes. The only difference will be that we will be connecting by videoconference, rather than face-to-face.

Here's all you need to join the Writing Room via Videoconference:

• Join us in the Virtual Writing Room on Zoom.  
• I will come online 15 minutes before our starting time (at 9:15) to answer any questions you might have. 
• You will have the option to have your camera off or on, so you can join however you feel most comfortable.
• The sessions will NOT be recorded, and you have the option to be visible or not, so your privacy will be preserved just as it would if we were meeting at the library.

How the Writing Room Works: each session opens at 9:30 sharp with brief hellos, followed by the pleasure of getting work done in the company of others. At 11:45 we check in about how the work went and make announcements. At (roughly) 12, anyone who wishes to read for the group does briefly, without critique or spoken response. We're done by 12:30.

Writers are welcome to come for all or part of the session. No need to register in advance. 

Do you need help using your computer, tablet, or smartphone? Did you run into a sticky software problem? Do you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology?

Come to a drop-in tech help session! Bring your device, or use one of the library's computers, to have your questions answered by a knowledgeable volunteer.

Please see Annemarie from the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center for Career Center registration, job search assistance, UI and other available services. Meet on the Mezzanine between 10am and 1pm.

Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 1-3pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. 

One of the purposes of a cover letter is to set you apart from other job seekers. Learn how to grab an employer’s attention and target their needs, and how to get your cover letter past the Applicant Tracking System (never heard of ATS? We'll cover that, too). We will break down the components of a cover letter and how to tackle each section. Cover letter examples and a detailed handout will be provided for future reference.

Register by calling the Greenfield office at 800-457-2603 or 413-774-4361, or sign in to JobQuest, by Wednesday morning. Walk-ins are also welcome.