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

Forbes Library offers a wide range of services and collections spread over four floors in a grand Victorian building. Join us for a guided tour of the library where we will be presenting a brief introduction to the library's history and an overview of what awaits you on each floor. You will have the opportunity register for a library card after the tour.

Preregistration is appreciated but not required. Meet us in the library's front lobby. For more information contact Mary in Borrower Services at 413-587-1011 ext. 4522 or by email at mbiddle@forbeslibrary.org. For questions concerning access or to request accommodations, please contact 413-587-1017 or info@forbeslibrary.org. 

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 generative writing, light socializing, and low-stakes sharing. We warmly welcome writers of all genres and all levels of experience.

Meet-ups start with a friendly check in, followed by a 20-minute writing prompt and optional share-out. 

This is an inclusive, collaborative creative space. Many of our writers have become regulars, and we cherish our growing community. 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 problem if you can't make it - we look forward to seeing you next time. We are also working toward online accessibility - contact noholitsociety@gmail.com with questions or visit us at https://noholitsociety.org 

Follow us on Instagram @noholitsociety

Read Lit Society news and subscribe to our free newsletter via Substack: https://noholitsociety.substack.com/ 

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!

In 1921, at the start of Prohibition, a young widow in Springfield’s South End inherited the biggest bootleg racket in western Massachusetts. Pasqualina Albano ruled her late husband’s gang of toughs and bootleggers, and directed a war of vengeance against their adversaries.
The “Bootleg Queen,” as the newspapers called her, fought lawmakers, other bootleggers, and even her own family—all for a secret society that would never accept her as a member.

Written by Justin Cascio—the author of the popular MafiaGenealogy.com website and In Our Blood: The Mafia Families of Corleone—Pasqualina: The Bootleg Queen of Springfield, Massachusetts is the true story of one woman's pivotal role in Mafia history.

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 Not So Perfect Strangers by L. S. Stratton. 

About the book: 

One fateful encounter upends the lives of two women in this tense domestic thriller, a modern spin on Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train that flips the script on race and gender politics.  

“I’m a big believer that women should help each other, Tasha,” she says. “Don’t you think?” Tasha Jenkins has finally found the courage to leave her abusive husband. Taking her teenage son with her, Tasha checks into a hotel the night before their flight out of D.C. and out of Kordell Jenkins’s life forever. But escaping isn’t so easy, and Tasha soon finds herself driving back to her own personal hell. As she is leaving, a white woman pounds on her car window, begging to be let in. Behind the woman, an angry man is in pursuit. Tasha makes a split-second decision that will alter the course of her life: she lets her in and takes off.    

Tasha and Madison Gingell may have very different everyday realities, but what they have in common is marriages they need out of. The two women want to help each other, but they have very different ideas of what that means . . .   They are on a collision course that will end in the case files of the D.C. MPD homicide unit. Unraveling the truth of what really happened may be impossible—and futile. Because what has the truth ever done for women like Tasha and Madison?

This is a hybrid 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 The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. 

About the book:

In a modern translation, this definitive edition contains entries about Anne’s burgeoning sexuality and confrontations with her mother that were cut from previous editions. Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl is among the most enduring documents of the twentieth century. Since its publication in 1947, it has been a beloved and deeply admired monument to the indestructible nature of the human spirit, read by millions of people and translated into more than fifty-five languages. Doubleday, which published the first English translation of the diary in 1952, now offers a new translation that captures Anne’s youthful spirit and restores the original material omitted by Anne’s father, Otto—approximately thirty percent of the diary. The elder Frank excised details about Anne’s emerging sexuality, and about the often-stormy relations between Anne and her mother.Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation forces, hid in the back of an Amsterdam office building for two years. This is Anne’s record of that time. She was thirteen when the family went into the “Secret Annex,” and in these pages, she grows to be a young woman and proves to be an insightful observer of human nature as well. A timeless story discovered by each new generation, The Diary of a Young Girl stands without peer. For young readers and adults, it continues to bring to life this young woman, who for a time survived the worst horrors the modern world had seen—and who remained triumphantly and heartbreakingly human throughout her ordeal.

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
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Meeting ID: 936 2007 0920
Passcode: 340325
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcnCepHoM3

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.

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.

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.*

All film genres for all walks of life! Beginning in January and continuing into the foreseeable future: Saturday morning film screenings! 

If you're seeking a reliable weekend get-away, if you want to share in a passive amusement with the community, if you need to feast your eyes on another world, please join us in the Forbes Library Community Room for a film. All shows start at 11.

Hundreds of Beavers

2022
1hr 48min

In this wild and wacky black-and-white comedy, a drunken 19th-century applejack salesman finds himself up against an army of beavers after losing everything in a freak snowstorm. With no weapons or supplies, he's forced to rely on sheer cunning (and pure luck) to outsmart the beavers and survive in the wilderness. What follows is a madcap, slapstick battle of man versus nature, filled with zany antics and unexpected twists. Bursting with old-school physical comedy, this film is a rollicking ride through a frostbitten frontier.

*Special extended hours for January 17 and 24*

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 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

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.

Free Yiddish Learning group for all experience levels. Join us learning Yiddish songs, historical movements, and texts together.

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 an edible snowman using marshmallows, pretzels and candy, and then enjoy a cup of hot cocoa! Great for ages 4+

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.

Enjoy an evening discussing the process of making kombucha, both at home and commercially, with Katalyst Kombucha! 

Join Dave Keramaty (Production Manager) and Jason Hunter (Brand Manager) from Katalyst Kombucha as they guide you through the ingredients, materials and mindset you need to make your own kombucha at home. From the mysterious SCOBY to sanitation and troubleshooting, the crew from Katalyst share 20 years of professional kombucha brewing knowledge.

Topics will include tea selection, SCOBY maintenance, adding flavors and the importance of balance. Samples will be provided.

Registration is appreciated but not required. 

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.

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:

• Request to be added to the Writing Room Mailing List in order to receive the Zoom link. 
• The facilitator, Tzivia, 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. 

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.

During this in-person workshop learn about the current types of interviews and how best to prepare yourself for them. We will review commonly asked questions and how you can respond to them as well as talk about questions you should bring. 

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

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.

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 January 21st at 6:30 to talk about the 1973 Spanish film Spirit of the Beehive by filmmaker Victor Erice. 

We will have copies of the DVD in the arts and music department on the second floor a week before the meeting.

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

Meet Pat Sicard and learn about RSVP of the Pioneer Valley, the local volunteer connector for people 55 and older. 

RSVP of the Pioneer Valley is a federal Americorps Seniors volunteer matching program and has been serving Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden county since 1973. RSVP connects people 55 and older who wish to share their skills with more than 60 local non-profits that depend on talented and reliable volunteers. For more information contact RSVP of the Pioneer Valley, 413-387-4558, rsvp@communityaction.us or www.rsvphf.org.

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.

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

Author and Holocaust and English Studies educator Paula Ressler invites you to a presentation, including a dramatic reading featuring Alex Kessler. Paula will share her perspectives on her beloved uncle, Arnold Alter. As an adult, he witnessed and experienced severe economic impoverishment and the Nazi persecution of Jews during the wartime era in Vienna, Austria. The telling of his story includes his post-immigration struggles, and emphasizes the continuing importance of Jewish ethics and universal human rights.

By honoring the memory of someone who positively influenced her own development, Paula emphasizes how such stories can help us meaningfully connect the past with the present and the future. They can be critical in helping us to repair an imperfect world, and remind us to have compassion for ourselves and others.

This event will be livestreamed on the Forbes Library YouTube Channel. Click here to watch. 

Join us down in the Forbes Library Community Room on Thursday nights for some generative writing, light socializing, and low-stakes sharing. We warmly welcome writers of all genres and all levels of experience.

Meet-ups start with a friendly check in, followed by a 20-minute writing prompt and optional share-out. 

This is an inclusive, collaborative creative space. Many of our writers have become regulars, and we cherish our growing community. 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 problem if you can't make it - we look forward to seeing you next time. We are also working toward online accessibility - contact noholitsociety@gmail.com with questions or visit us at https://noholitsociety.org 

Follow us on Instagram @noholitsociety

Read Lit Society news and subscribe to our free newsletter via Substack: https://noholitsociety.substack.com/ 

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!

General meeting of the Western Massachusetts club of the CPUSA

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. 

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.

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.

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.*

All film genres for all walks of life! Beginning in January and continuing into the foreseeable future: Saturday morning film screenings! 

If you're seeking a reliable weekend get-away, if you want to share in a passive amusement with the community, if you need to feast your eyes on another world, please join us in the Forbes Library Community Room for a film. All shows start at 11.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

1975
1hr 32min

Grossing the highest box-office of any British film in the US when released in 1975, this “cult classic” comedy from the Monty Python team loosely follows the legend of King Arthur (Graham Chapman), along with his squire (Terry Gilliam) and his Knights of the Round Table (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin), as they embark on a fearless quest in search of the elusive Holy Grail. A hysterical, historical tour-de-force from Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.

*Special extended hours for January 17 and 24*

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 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

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.