Author: bkalish

April 15, 2025 — The Board of Trustees is the governing body for Forbes Library. The Trustees are responsible for the hiring and evaluation of the director and the oversight of the library budget and policies. As an example, a few years ago Forbes Library eliminated fines after the Trustees voted on and approved this new policy. Trustees also…

April 10, 2025 — On Friday, March 14, President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 that targeted federal funding to libraries and museums through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. IMLS’ entire program of service costs 87 cents per person (U.S. population July, 2024). The Massachusetts…

March 25, 2025 — April 1 is Library Giving Day and the Friends of Forbes Library are matching every gift up to $25,000! Your gift to Forbes Library will support everything from new books to the upcoming renovation to the Children’s and Teen’s rooms. Double your impact when you make a donation on Library Giving Day. Thank you!

March 11, 2025 — For Immediate Release Press Contact: Lisa Downing, 413-587-1016 Forbes Library will be breaking ground on a new outdoor performance stage later this month. H|AI Architecture based in Northampton designed the accessible, open air, covered stage for the library’s west lawn. The stage will support a wide variety of programs including concerts, children’s programming, and outdoor…

February 20, 2025 — Join Dr. Ousmane Power-Greene–scholar, author, and chair of the Northampton Reparations Study Commission–to discuss the history of slavery and Jim Crow in Northampton based on his work with the Documenting Black Lives in the Valley Project, the contemporary reparations movement, and the recent discovery of how slavery and slave-derived finance capital funded key institutions in…

February 7, 2025 — Forbes Library local history specialist, Dylan Gaffney appeared on WWLP’s Mass Appeal. In the interview he discussed research uncovered in the library’s Hampshire Room for Local History in support of Historic Northampton’s initiative “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton and in the Colonial North”. You can watch the interview on their website–the video will play automatically…

November 7, 2024 — Forbes Library Racial and Social Justice Advisory Group We are looking for new volunteer advisors! The RSJ Advisory Group focus You, as a member would bring What you can gain as a member Examples of outreach and inclusion efforts Meetings How to participate We invite you to attend a meeting and see if you would…

October 8, 2024 — Dear Forbes Library Supporter, What is your first memory of visiting your local library? Do you recall excitement about the books, videos, and audio that illuminated more possibilities in that world, and even opened up the possibilities of whole new worlds? What about programs like story time or summer reading that entertained and challenged? Perhaps…

September 21, 2024 — For Immediate Release Press Contact: Lisa Downing, Forbes Library, director@forbeslibrary.org or 413-587-1016 A long-awaited project to improve the ventilation system and accessibility of Forbes Library’s seven bathrooms will begin on Monday, September 23. The work is anticipated to be completed within three months and is being done by Keiter Corporation. While the library is anticipating…