The Big Read Steeped in Mystery
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There's mystery in the air of the communities of Northampton, Easthampton, Southampton, and Westhampton. They are about to become immersed in the world of private eyes, femmes fatales, and crime scene investigations, all part of the action inspired by the All Hamptons Read book, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. The plot will be set in motion on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. with a program on American crime fiction at Forbes Library. In addition to book discussions in each community, the Hampton libraries will host films, lectures, a dance featuring Twenties music, a shadow puppet show for children, and a theater workshop for teens. The 1941 film adaptation of the book, starring Humphrey Bogart as the hard-boiled private detective Sam Spade, will screen at the Academy of Music on April 19, and everyone who participates in the book discussions will get a free ticket. Copies of the book are available at participating libraries. Check out the event listings on the All Hamptons Read Facebook page.
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Friends of Forbes to Celebrate 35th Anniversary in Style
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This year marks the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Forbes Library. To celebrate, the Friends have created commemorative items for the occasion, including a banner on the fence outside the library and a stunning new bookmark. The Friends of Forbes will mark the occasion with a special program during its annual meeting on April 1 in the Coolidge Museum. Tied to the All Hamptons Read book selection, The Maltese Falcon, published in 1929, librarians Julie Bartlett Nelson, Elise Bernier-Feeley, and Dylan Gaffney will offer an illustrated talk on Northampton and the Coolidges in the 1920s and 1930s. The occasion of the Friends 35th birthday is a good opportunity to consider becoming a member of the organization. Memberships help to support the library during a period when state and local government support are stretched thin. If you attend some of the library’s special evening events, you may see a Friend handing out membership forms. Please join!
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Friends Sponsor Antiques Appraisal
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Do you have something stashed in the attic that you suspect might be old or rare and possibly valuable? The Friends of Forbes will host an Antiques Appraisal Day on Saturday afternoon, April 25, in the Coolidge Museum. Appraisers from Skinner Inc. of Marlboro, Mass., will be on hand to evaluate objects. Save the date and watch for details about the exact time, per-item charge, and the number of items each person is permitted. Three appraisers (a generalist and two specialists) are expected. The Friends will provide refreshments in the gallery outside the Museum, and all proceeds from the event will go to the Friends for use by the library. Don't miss out on the fun!
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Writer in Residence Susan Stinson To Receive Trustees Award
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Susan Stinson hard at work. Photo by Jeep Wheat Writer in residence Susan Stinson is ending her five-year tenure this spring, and she will be honored with the Forbes Trustees Award in the Coolidge Museum on May 30 at 2 p.m. The award is given each year to a community member who has contributed exceptional volunteer service to the library. Ms. Stinson, joined by former writer in residence Diana M. Gordon, will read from her work. Ms. Stinson, a novelist and poet, creates an encouraging environment for new and seasoned writers in the Writing Room and facilitates the Writing Life, a discussion and learning community for writers. She initiated the popular Local History/Local Novelists series, now in its fifth year, which connects local writers and their work with the culture and history of the community. With a tinge of nostalgia, Ms. Stinson said, "There is so much life in the library, and my relationships to its people and collections have brought so much life to my work."
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Architectural drawing for the new elevator. Construction on the elevator to replace the lift in the front entry began the week of Feb. 23 and will continue into late summer. During this time the library will not be wheelchair accessible. The library offers Outreach delivery service to patrons with limited mobility who can not come into the library including those that are impacted by the construction process. The library will arrange for someone to drop off and pick up library materials at your home. For more information about this service, please contact the library by calling 413-587-1017. The front entrance will be kept open for most of the construction process, although there will be disruptions, including the loss of some parking spaces and noise during the construction process. "The good news is that in the end we will have a fully functional, commercial-grade, attractive elevator that will serve our needs for decades to come," said Lisa Downing, assistant director.
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If you have comments or suggestions, please email Lisa Downing at ldowning@forbeslibrary.org. Our many thanks to all who contributed. ~The Editors
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Hosmer Gallery March 3-30 Drawings by Lynne Adams, mixed media by Diana MacKenzie, handcrafted wooden vehicles by Louis Leone. Reception Saturday, March 7, 2-4 p.m. Read more. Lynne Adams Diana MacKenzie Louis Leone April Watercolors of Ashfield by Walter Cudnohufsky May Northampton High School Student Show
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Painting Restoration Orpheus and Eurydice Nearly all of the damage the library suffered from the fire last summer has been repaired. But the much-loved painting that hung in the stairwell, Orpheus and Eurydice, will look even better when it's returned to its place. The painting's original gilt frame will be restored to its former glory by the Williamstown Art Conservation Center. Work is expected to be completed in a few weeks.
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Library Briefs The upgrade to the audio-visual system in the Community Room has been scheduled for early March and should take two days. ... Food For Fines was offered from Jan. 2-24. Three hundred pounds of food was collected and given to the Northampton Survival Center for distribution to those in need in our community. ... In December the library held its 25th annual Giving Tree. Forbes partnered with First Call and Community Action to identify eligible families. This year 28 local families representing 40-50 kids were served.
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