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.

Join us to do a craft based on Henry's Picture-Perfect Day by Jenn Bailey! We will meet in the Youth Programming Room. Books are available in the children's department to check out. Please email jcornick@forbeslibrary.org with any questions. 

Monthly meeting of the Trustees of Forbes Library.

Meetings are open to the public and can be attended in person at the library or through the following zoom link.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84563794376?pwd=Y4bwVFEnzFlWzmk5ad6E8a92S5wHm3.1

Meeting ID: 845 6379 4376
Passcode: 737054
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,84563794376#,,,,*737054# US (New York)
+16469313860,,84563794376#,,,,*737054# US

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb6exyirwA

The agenda will be posted a few days before the meeting on the city website. There will be a public comment period at the start of the meeting, or people can submit written comments beforehand. Written comments emailed to director@forbeslibrary.org must be received 5 business days prior to the meeting to be included for the meeting.

Past meeting minutes are available online: Minutes of Trustees’ Meetings

*Registration for this cycle has closed.*

New and experienced players can join the adventuring party in the Forbidden Bogs of Blackwater Pass, a series of new short-form adventures for D&D Fifth Edition. Players will participate in character creation on May 5 and experience the adventure on May 12 and 19.

Players are not required to bring anything or have any prior experience with the game. Presented in coordination with Campaigns by Parker, this adventure is available to all and is a queer-inclusive adventure table.

Space is limited; registration is required. Registering for the first session gets you in to all three. Please only register if you are able to attend all three sessions. (If you don't get in this time around, don't worry - we plan to hold more future campaigns.)

About the game: Beyond the mists of Blackwater, a hidden society thrives - one where witches cast their magic safe from prying eyes, and where the old gods are remembered. In the bogs, six families rival each other for power, glory, wisdom, and favor from their chosen spirits... in The Forbidden Bogs of Blackwater Pass, adventure awaits where the rivers meet the stars...

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together. 

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.

Please see staff 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.

Workshops and resume/application work sessions on May 20 have been cancelled due to a prior commitment. 

Questions? Call the Greenfield office at 800-457-2603 or 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. 

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! 

Join us for a casual meet-up for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? Hoping to trade cards, or get help building a deck?
All are welcome! 

Bring your own cards to use if you have them, or if you don't have any - that's ok - Forbes will provide pre-made decks to use at the library. And we also have free cards to take and use for your own deck building or collecting!

This program is for ages 10+ and meets weekly, Wednesdays from 3:45-5:00 pm in the Community Room (tables are generally set up by 3:30 for folks eager to get games going!) 

Any questions, please email jvrysen@forbeslibrary.org

The Forbes Library Accessibility Advisory Board is made up of local disability and accessibility experts and community members with disabilities. Anyone with an interest in the accessibility of library services and events is encouraged to attend. The purpose of this board is to provide feedback to library staff with regards to programs, services and collections from the perspective of accessibility and the interests of people with disabilities.

This is a hybrid meeting. You can join us in the library or online using Zoom. Live captioning will be available. Please be in touch to request any accommodations.

If you wish to join us online, please register to receive the meeting link and password, which will be sent out two hours before the event begins. This helps keep our meeting free from trolls. No registration is required to join us in person.

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

We will meet in the Community room on Wednesday May 20th at 6:30 to talk about the 1965 film Chimes at Midnight written, directed and starring Orson Welles.

We will have copies of the DVD in the arts and music department on the second floor a week before the meeting. The film is also streaming on Kanopy using your Forbes Library Card or your BPL e-card : https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/239121

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

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness.

Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class. 

Click here to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held.

Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between Community Action and RSVP.

Photo credit: RSVP

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.

This spring, join us for monthly documentary screenings at Forbes! These films are presented through the Indie Lens Pop-Up program. This month: The Grocery List Show (60 minutes), plus an optional discussion afterward.

About the film: Hosted by Top Chef contender Chrissy Camba, The Grocery List Show is a trip to five bustling international grocery stores in America and the communities they serve. Special guests and food enthusiasts join Chrissy to shop for ingredients and cook a favorite family recipe, as they celebrate global food traditions over a shared meal.

Filmmakers: Emily Strong (director and executive producer), Diane M. Quon (producer)

About Indie Lens Pop-Up: For more than 20 years, the award-winning Indie Lens Pop-Up program has partnered with local organizations across the country to bring people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Inspired by the documentaries featured on PBS’ Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up events strengthen community connections and provide free, public spaces for everyone to meet, talk, and take action.

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. 

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together. 

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.

We're excited to host another of our recurring Arts and Crafts Supply Swaps — for sharing the joy of creativity! No registration required; all ages welcome. No need to bring something to take something.

Upon entering, find the labeled tables for different craft categories. Sort and place your contributions on the respective tables. Let's keep it organized and easy for everyone.

Accepted items: clean, gently used arts and crafts materials that you're willing to share, including:

• Art books or magazines (instructional and/or content for creative inspiration)
• Sketchbooks, drawing pads, notebooks and stationery
• Textiles (yarn, felt, fabric)
• Sewing materials (needles, thread, embroidery looms, buttons)
• Writing and drawing utensils (colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, markers)
• Canvas fabric or stretched canvases
• Frames and mats
• Paint brushes
• Tubes and Bottles of paint (watercolor, tempera, acrylic, oil, etc.)
• Easels
• Jewelry making tools and supplies
• Stringing & beading: beads, fishing line, thread
• Paper (stationery, homemade paper, origami)
• Fun to have: pom poms, pipe cleaners

Leave these items at home:

• Broken, crusty or dried out materials
• Massive objects that won’t fit in a sedan
• Super smelly smells including solvents or toxic chemicals
• Gallons of Paint
• Computers, printers, cameras, A/V equipment, other electronics
• Tools and related hardware: Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, bolts, nails etc….
• Lumber, wood or random loose boards

(When in doubt: Would I give this to my best friend?)

Every Saturday from 10:30 am-1:30 pm in the Watson Room, join fellow writers for companionable writing time. The Writing Room is ongoing throughout the year (except that there are no Saturday sessions during summer). 

How the Writing Room Works: each session opens at 10:30 am 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 12:45 pm to check in about how the work went, discuss matters related to writing, and make announcements. At (roughly) 1 pm, anyone who wishes to read for the group does briefly, without critique or spoken response. We're done by 1:30 pm.

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.

*The Writing Room also meets virtually on Wednesday mornings via Zoom.*

This is an inviting program for learning in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere through weekly Zoom sessions.
Sessions (which start promptly) are from 3-4:30 PM and include advanced conversation and text analysis.
Electronic devises are not permitted during the classes.
For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com

Este es un programa diseñado para practicar y mejorar el idioma usando distintos temas de comunicación, como literatura, análisis y conversación.
Es un grupo de inmersión y por esta razón sólo se habla en españnol, sin la ayuda de ningún aparato electrónico durante el tiempo de clase.

We are closed today for the holiday. Access to thousands of e-books and e-audiobooks as well as powerful research databases are still available from the library's website.

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.

Drop in to play games and meet other families! Enjoy collaborative games like Snug as a Bug and Busy Town, as well as turn-taking games like Spot It!, Hiss, and Zingo. Games are a great way to build communication skills, problem-solving, and brain development. It's also an enjoyable way to promote family time. This Monthly Family Game Time is geared toward families with children ages 3-8 years old. We'll get together on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 4-5 pm through June 2026, except for December.

This event is hosted by the NPS's Early Childhood Center. Questions?: email Ashley Miller at AsMiller@northampton-k12.us

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together. 

Bring your own book (or borrow one from our collection) and read alongside neighbors and friends. Gather at 6:30pm for a group welcome, then settle in for an hour of quiet reading, followed by (optional) sharing and socializing. You might just discover your new favorite book!

This Silent Book Club chapter meets on the last Tuesday of each month in the Reading Room. All are welcome to come read in community with us, no library card needed!

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.

Please see staff 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.

A captivating cover letter can set you apart from other job seekers. Learn to highlight skills and experiences that may not appear on your resume, and craft a confident career story that compels employers to invite you for an interview.

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. 

Write, revise, and submit job applications with staff support. Work on your resume, draft cover letters, complete applications, or organize your job search. Staff will be available for:

• Quick questions and troubleshooting
• Resume and Cover Letter reviews
• Brainstorming and feedback
• Practical advice
• Tech support for your device

Questions? Call MassHire Franklin Hampshire at (413) 774-4361. Register via JobQuest. 

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. 

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! 

Join us for a casual meet-up for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? Hoping to trade cards, or get help building a deck?
All are welcome! 

Bring your own cards to use if you have them, or if you don't have any - that's ok - Forbes will provide pre-made decks to use at the library. And we also have free cards to take and use for your own deck building or collecting!

This program is for ages 10+ and meets weekly, Wednesdays from 3:45-5:00 pm in the Community Room (tables are generally set up by 3:30 for folks eager to get games going!) 

Any questions, please email jvrysen@forbeslibrary.org

One of Calvin Coolidge's final acts as President was to sign into law the Narcotic Farms Act of 1929, which established the first federal government-run drug addiction treatment facilities. How well did the law work and what have we learned in the 97 years years since?

Please join us May 27, 6:30 PM, at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum or click here for the livestream link as we explore Coolidge's legacy in the field of drug rehabilitation with a stellar group of panelists:

• Prof. Marjorie Senechal, Louise Wolff Kahn Professor Emerita in Mathematics and History of Science and Technology, Smith College
• Prof. Sally Marlow, Professor of Practice in Public Understanding of Mental Health Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
• Dr. Thomas Lincoln, Associate Professor of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School - Baystate
• Prof. Nancy Campbell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Author, "OD: Naloxone and the Politics of Overdose" and co-author of The Narcotic Farm: The Rise and Fall of America's First Prison for Drug Addicts and participant in Narcotic Farm, a PBS documentary available at https://vimeo.com/97168417
• Taylor McDonough, Director of Substance Use Prevention in the City of Northampton's Health and Human Services Department
• Bill Scher, President of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum Standing Committee will moderate 

This program will be recorded and live stream on You Tube.  

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

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness.

Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class. 

Click here to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held.

Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between Community Action and RSVP.

Photo credit: RSVP

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 a presentation on tick prevention by Northampton Department of Heath and Human Services Public Health Nurses. Topics will include tick prevention tips:

• How to enjoy the great outdoors and stay healthy
• Be Tick Smart: learn about steps to protect you, your family and pets 
• Gain a better understanding of signs and symptoms of tickborne illness

The first 15 participants will get a free Tick Kit!

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. 

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together. 

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.

This is an inviting program for learning in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere through weekly Zoom sessions.
Sessions (which start promptly) are from 3-4:30 PM and include advanced conversation and text analysis.
Electronic devises are not permitted during the classes.
For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com

Este es un programa diseñado para practicar y mejorar el idioma usando distintos temas de comunicación, como literatura, análisis y conversación.
Es un grupo de inmersión y por esta razón sólo se habla en españnol, sin la ayuda de ningún aparato electrónico durante el tiempo de clase.

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness.

Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class. 

Click here to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held.

Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between Community Action and RSVP.

Photo credit: RSVP

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 with Northampton Open Media! Every Monday, 1-2:30pm. Bring your own device or use a library computer to work on your tech questions, troubleshoot issues, or work on personal projects with guidance from a NOM staff member. Whether you need help with software, apps, media creation, assistive technology or general tech advice, we are here to meet your digital needs. 

Calling all young adventurers! Our Dungeons & Dragons Club continues! Participants will sign up for four sessions at once, and will meet on the following Mondays from 3:45 - 5:15pm:  4/13, 4/27, 5/11, and 6/1. Participants must commit to all four sessions.

D&D is a great way for kids to practice collaboration, strategy, and storytelling, and we welcome participants of all experience levels. This program is for kids ages 9+, and is limited to six participants per session. Registration is necessary and opens on 4/1.

NOTE: due to Memorial Day on 4th Monday in May, we delayed by one week and are meeting on 1st and 5th Mondays in June.  The Presidential Book Group is reading in chronological order and this month we are on Coolidge!  Choose from the following titles:

• Primary selection: Coolidge by Amity Shlaes (2013)
• Alternative options: Coolidge: An American Enigma by Robert Sobel (1998) or Calvin Coolidge: The Man From Vermont (1940) by Claude Fuess 

In this group you will deepen your understanding of the American presidency as we trace the history of the presidency, beginning with George Washington, and watching how American democracy evolved in ways the Founders never anticipated. We'll follow how presidents, both celebrated and forgotten, grappled with slavery, economics, executive power and America's role in the world. In doing so, we'll broaden our knowledge of Coolidge and where his presidency fits in the American story. 

The group meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 PM EST, which you can attend in person in the Coolidge Museum or on Zoom. Discussions will be facilitated by Bill Scher, vice president of the museum’s Standing Committee.

Email Coolidge@forbeslibrary.org to join the email list or for more information.