Please see Sophie on the Mezzanine.

Walk-in assistance; first-come, first-served.

Hampshire County residents only.

Please see Mary Ann in the Reference Room Computer Area (see sign) for assistance.

Storytime with Ellie

Join Ellie for storytime on Monday mornings at 10:30. 

Join us to read books, sing songs, play with puppets and toys, and meet other babies and caregivers! The first 20 minutes are storytime, followed by 40 minutes of free play with toys. For children ages 0-18 months. 

Please see Mary Ann on the Mezzanine level.

Please see Sophie on the Mezzanine level to check in.

For afternoon appointments, please call the Greenfield Career Center: 413-774-4361, by Thursday of the preceding week.

Join us for the June meeting of Minecraft Club! Please sign up at the Children's Desk, or by calling 587-1010. Make sure to let us know if you'll need to use a library computer!

Join us for two guided meditation practices focused on the Heart. If time allows we will also discuss developing a daily meditation practice and the impact it has on our everyday life. For more information, visit iamheart.org

 Germinal by Emile Zola

About Great Books Discussion Style

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!

This month we'll be discussing Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. 

The Mystery Book Discussion Group meets monthly at the library for a casual discussion. New members are always welcome. Pick up a copy of this month's discussion book at the library.

Learn about job search assistance, career counseling, and possible training programs.

Those laid off, income eligible, or receiving public assistance, may qualify for additional services through WIOA and other programs.

Participants must register by calling the Greenfield Career Center: 413-774-4361.

Do you need a little help using a computer? Are you having trouble getting started? Did you run into a sticky problem? Do you want to get an email account? Are you looking for a better way to format a document?

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

Weekly gathering to study the Ancient Greek Language with retired professor, Nicolas Gross. Study based on Athenaze Book 1 [2nd edition] (eds.) Maurice Balme  & Gilbert Lawall (ISBN 0-19-514956-4.) For more information contact nicolaspgross at gmail.com

Come enjoy a fun afternoon playing with LEGOs! For ages 5 and up.

Monthly meeting of the Trustees of Forbes Library. Open to the public.

1. Bills and Warrants

2. Public Comment

3. Secretary’s Report of May 16

4. Treasurer’s Report

   1. Monthly Report

   2. FY17 Tax Return

   3. Gifts, Donations and Bequests

5. Guests Peggy MacLeod and Jessica Tanner, Western Mass Pollinator Networks

6. Administrative Report  

7. Friends of Forbes

8. Next Meetings

   1. Trustees: Tuesday, July 31 at 4 PM

   2. FOF Meeting: Wednesday, September 5

   3. CCPLM Advisory Board, Monday, September 10 (Carrier and Wight) at 4 PM

9. Communications

   1. Facebook Comment by Shoshana Marchand

10. Financial Report

None this month

11. Action Items

    1. FY19 Book & Media Budget (Molly Moss)

    2. FY19 Facilities Projects (Lisa Downing)

    3. Special Collections Fee Schedule (Lisa Downing)

    4. Angel of Hadley (Lisa Downing)

    5. Executive Session (Lisa Downing)
       The Trustees are requested to go into executive session to discuss the contract negotiations with FLEA because negotiations in open session would be detrimental to the library’s bargaining position.

12. Informational Items  

    1. HVAC Project Update (Lisa Downing)

    2. Windows Project Update (Lisa Downing)

    3. Air Movement & Quality Concerns Update (Lisa Downing)

    4. New MBLC Study (Lisa Downing)

    5. Paralibrarian of the Year award (Molly Moss)

    6. New Forbes Library Writer in Residence (Molly Moss)

    7. Community Engagement (Molly Moss)

    8. Reports on workshops/meetings/activities  

       1. Coolidge Advisory Committee (Lisa Downing)

       2. Disability Advisory Committee (Lisa Downing)

       3. 125th Anniversary Committee (Lisa Downing)

       4. Landscaping & Grounds Committee (Lisa Downing)

       5. Book Expo (Molly Moss)

13. Miscellaneous

    1. Events Calendar

    2. Press Cuttings

Past meeting minutes and additional information is available on the Trustees website.

Please see Sophie on the Mezzanine level.

Dharma Gentle is a weekly yoga class.  No yoga experience is required, but participants must be able to get up and down from the floor independently. Drop-ins are welcome. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket and blocks with you. 
This gentle, yoga class is appropriate for all who wish to add the healing qualities of yoga to their lives. We move the body through the classical poses very slowly, gently and conscientiously. Rests are taken between poses as the body moves towards inner introspection on a physical and meditative level. This class is highly beneficial for those who are ready to return to physical activity after an illness or injury, or for those who have not moved much in a long time. Everyone will leave feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Your teacher, Vickie Healy is a registered Dharma Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance Certification. She is a Registered Nurse with over 35 years of nursing experience.  Vickie believes that practicing yoga is a powerful way to increase health and longevity.

The Dharma Gentle Class was designed by Sri Dharma Mittra who founded one of the early independent schools of Yoga in New York City in 1975.  He is the author of the world-renowned masterpiece, The Master Yoga Chart of 908 Postures.  For more information about Dharma Yoga go to http://www.dharmayogacenter.com.

This course is free of charge.  Nominal donations of up to $5 accepted.

Contact: Vickie Healy, RN, BSN, RYT at Vickie@VickieHealyRN.com

Every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 am-12:30 pm in the Watson Room, join fellow writers for companionable writing time. The Writing Room is ongoing throughout the year.

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. Some writers work in other parts of the library, then join us at 11:45 to 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.

There are writing prompts on the table for those who like to use them. There are four hour parking meters in the back of the lot. Consider bringing a sweater. Writers are welcome to come for all or part of the session.

Join local musician Liam Hurley for half an hour of music and stories! Ages 1.5- 6 years. 

Participants must register by calling the Greenfield Career Center: 413-774-4361.

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

Do you need a little help using a computer? Are you having trouble getting started? Did you run into a sticky problem? Do you want to get an email account? Are you looking for a better way to format a document?

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

Writers of picture books, middle grade and YA meet to read and receive feedback about their work-in-progress from the group, facilitated by leaders following the SCBWI guidelines. You don’t have to be a member of SCBWI to participate.

Come research your Jewish Roots with a one-on-one appointment with a mentor or translator!
Pre-registration highly recommended; contact Nina at wmjgs2 at gmail.com or 413-268-2147

Make Music Day is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st. Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it is now held on the same day in more than 800 cities in 120 countries. Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music Day is open to anyone who wants to take part.

Free performances and participatory music-making gatherings will take place all day in Pulaski Park and the Forbes Library lawn.

The schedule so far:

morning: Northampton Community Music Center band set in Pulaski Park

afternoon: AEIOUkes set in Pulaski Park

1-5 PM: Acoustic Open Lawn for anyone & everyone who would like to come play or sing, at Forbes Library. Bring an instrument or borrow one of ours. We've got chairs and space, you bring the tunes! 

5-6 PM: Vernon Valiquette & Liam Hurley at Forbes Library

6-8 PM: The Massachusetts Walking Tour at Forbes Library, featuring local guest artists

early evening: Western Mass. fiddle orchestra set in Pulaski Park

Learn how to prepare for your interviews and position yourself as a qualified candidate. Tips on dress and how to respond to interviewers will be offered. We will also review commonly asked questions such as “Why should we hire you?” Come with challenging questions you’ve encountered, and be prepared to participate and answer other questions. A handout of questions to ask prospect employers will be provided.

Participants must register by calling the Greenfield Career Center: 413-774-4361.

Locations they are hiring for: 

53 Main Street Florence MA

221 Northampton Street Easthampton MA

31 Elm Street South Deerfield MA

Cookies with a Curator:  Informal Conversation and show and tell from the Forbes Library's Collection

Third Thursdays at 2pm in the Coolidge Museum 

June's Topic is the Imperial Bakery.  Guest Curator Richard Szlosek will reminisce about growing up in Northampton and his family owned bakery.

With the school year over, now is a great time to enjoy some fun reading with the conclusion of Philip Pullman's classic His Dark Materials trilogy series!

For June’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy book discussion, we’ll be reading the third and final book in the series, The Amber Spyglass. Any tweens and teens who are fans of the series are welcome to join our discussion!

A free performance on the lawn by local heroes Vernon Valiquette and Liam Hurley, celebrating the worldwide day of music.

"Glam-a-billy" remakes of songs from Johnny Cash to David Bowie. Kid-friendly volume and fun for all ages. Glam-a-billy was launched at the Fęte de la Musique in Nantes, France three years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noa-lSjYswc

Since 2010, co-founders Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards have organized an annual non-profit bipedal concert tour of Massachusetts in support of arts and culture for towns throughout the state. Each free community concert collaborates with local artists, musicians, educational programs, trail managers and land trust groups to highlight both artistic diversity and recreational land use. 

Carrying approximately 40-50 lbs of gear and instruments, the MWT Troupe including Mark Mandeville (guitar/banjo), Raianne Richards (ukulele/penny whistle), Mark Kilianski (guitar/banjo), Amy Alvey (fiddle), Vito Caccavelli (guitar) and Kristen Sykes (Ukulele and Director of Operations for the AMC) will be paddling down the CT River Paddlers Trail and hiking into towns along its western bank using recreational trails and exploring State Reservations, Mass Audubon and DCR properties. In addition to evening concerts, the troupe will also be organizing a series of short group hikes, which are open to the public. Daily routes can be found at www.masswalkingtour.org

The culminating event of Make Music Day Northampton!

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Rock out with Carle educators in this program celebrating music and dance! Families will enjoy an interactive storytime followed by opportunities to move, play, and explore art materials. Ages 2 and up. 

Toby the dog can't read, but he's a great listener! Sign up for a ten-minute reading session on Friday afternoons between 3:30 and 4:30. Sign up in person at the Children's Desk, by calling 587-1010, or by sending an email to sjohnson@forbeslibrary.org. 

AEIOUkes is a community ukulele club. We meet regularly to sing together and  to improve our playing,  and we occasionally have opportunities to  play in public.  The group has been meeting for several years and over the past year has expanded to include Saturday morning practices.  We are comprised of ukulele enthusiasts with all levels of playing experience, including beginners, and we always welcome new members to play, sing, or just watch and  listen.

Photo by Dale Ruff.

A Documentary on Finding Lost Memory

In 1945, two teenagers, George and Mel went on an an adventure they’d remember for the rest of their lives—until Mel lost his memory to Alzheimer’s. Now, over seventy years later, Mel’s grandsons are traveling the same 100-mile journey to explore the legacy of their grandfather,
telling a cross-generational story of love, conflict, and life.

Followed by discussion with Filmmaker and Alzheimer’s support leaders

ashbournefilms.com
Supported in part by a Northampton Arts Council grant. 

The region's liveliest Spanish conversation group is opening up its fall season and accepting new participants. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere in weekly Saturday sessions at the Forbes Library's Watson Room. Sessions (which start promptly) are from 3-4:30 PM and include conversation, creative writing, storytelling, grammar and small group chats of 2 to 3. Room holds 15 people, with priority given to established participants, who keep returning enthusiastically. 
Since the room door will close at 3:15, we ask people to arrive at 3 pm to avoid interruptions For more info, email silmar7@juno.com or Pat Rector at pat.rector@gmail.com or simply show up at a session and give it a try.

Grupo de conversación español gratis donde se puede mejorar o practicar tu fluidez con la lengua. Es un grupo de inmersión. Por eso, vamos a usar solamente español por la hora y media. Ven para una manera divertida a mejorar tu nivel de español.

Please see Sophie on the Mezzanine.

Walk-in assistance; first-come, first-served.

Hampshire County residents only.

Please see Mary Ann in the Reference Room Computer Area (see sign) for assistance.

Storytime with Ellie

Join Ellie for storytime on Monday mornings at 10:30. 

Join us to read books, sing songs, play with puppets and toys, and meet other babies and caregivers! The first 20 minutes are storytime, followed by 40 minutes of free play with toys. For children ages 0-18 months. 

Please see Mary Ann on the Mezzanine level.

Please see Sophie on the Mezzanine level to check in.

For afternoon appointments, please call the Greenfield Career Center: 413-774-4361, by Thursday of the preceding week.

Calling all creative writers aged 9-12! Join the writing club and meet every other Monday to learn and practice writing tips and techniques, write to new prompts, and even share your work if you're willing. At the end of the summer we'll collect everyone's best pieces into a chapbook you can take home! Meetings start April 30th and are from 3:30-4:30 at the table by Paco's tank.

Meet with people interested in learning to code python to work on projects and exchange tips!

Participants are encouraged to bring their own computers, with a copy of python on it. (Python can be downloaded for free, online).

An opportunity for new and experienced investors to meet, learn and discuss the stock market. Using the easy to read and understand book Invest to Win by Gordon Scott and bestselling author Toni Turner, we discuss topics that include: mutual fund and individual stock selection in a 401k, IRA or non-retirment account, locating top performing sectors and evaluating current market conditions using the book's market mood signals.  Our members range from long term investors to short term traders.

All concepts discussed can be accessed online through a number of free, easy to use websites like Yahoo! Finance & FreeStockCharts.com

Possible new members, who have not read the book in advance, are welcome to join any meeting as an observer.  The group is run at the pace of regular attendees who all have a familiarity with the stock market and the concepts in Invest to Win.  Until new members have read the book it may take a meeting or two to follow topics discussed and actively participate.

Led by Andrew Leonard, a resident of Florence, who has been mentored by Invest to Win co-author Gordon Scott. For more information and/or to RSVP before attending please contact Andrew at: andrewleonard.invest2win@gmail.com

Far Out Film Discussion is formatted like a book club: check out the film, watch it at home, and attend the meeting to discuss it. 

(We will not be screening the film at the program.)

Our next movie is 2012's Spring Breakers, written and directed by Harmony Korine.

View the trailer here : 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDML4om8z8

Copies of the film will be available in the Reference Dept. and the Arts and Music Dept. 

Join us in the Community Room on Monday June 25th at 7:00pm to discuss the film!

Do you need a little help using a computer? Are you having trouble getting started? Did you run into a sticky problem? Do you want to get an email account? Are you looking for a better way to format a document?

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

Weekly gathering to study the Ancient Greek Language with retired professor, Nicolas Gross. Study based on Athenaze Book 1 [2nd edition] (eds.) Maurice Balme  & Gilbert Lawall (ISBN 0-19-514956-4.) For more information contact nicolaspgross at gmail.com