Category: News

April 1, 2018 — At their March meeting, Forbes Library’s Board of Trustees voted to commission a new building reflecting the updated roles of the library in the 21st century. “This Victorian style is getting old,” remarked Board President Russell Carrier. Others disagreed, so as a compromise, part of the original facade will be preserved as a nod to…

March 16, 2018 — The Trustees of Forbes Library will present Tim Umbach with the Thirty-First Gertrude P. Smith Trustees Award on Wednesday, April 4 at 6:30 P.M. The event will take place in the Coolidge Museum on the second floor of the library. The award presentation will be followed by a talk by local historian Judge W. Michael Ryan on…

March 14, 2018 — Tickets are 2 for $5, 5 for $10, or 12 for $20. They’re on sale at Forbes Library now through June 8. The drawing is the day of the Garden Tour, June 9. You can see the quilt on display in the library lobby.

February 22, 2018 — About the Writer in Residence Program The WIR is a professional writer who furthers the library’s fundamental mission by volunteering approximately five hours each week creating, offering and promoting library programming. The intention of the WIR program is to further the engagement between the library and the community’s writers and readers. We are accepting applications…

January 31, 2018 — Click for the article and photos: Outreach: Read about it!

January 25, 2018 — Forbes Library’s Special Collections areas including local history, photography and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum are having a new HVAC system installed. This will provide more efficient and accurate climate control for the library’s unique and historic collections. The project is anticipated to be complete by mid-April. The Hampshire Room for Local History…

January 12, 2018 — Forbes Library is hosting a Library Legislative Breakfast on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 7:30 AM. This free event is open to the public and is a great opportunity to show support for adequately funding libraries and an opportunity to speak with elected officials. A buffet breakfast begins at 7:30 AM in the beautiful Forbes…

January 12, 2018 — 2018 Musicians in Residence at Forbes Library The members of Rub Wrongways Records, an independent record label from Northampton, are embarking on a musical odyssey in 2018 as the Forbes Library Musicians in Residence. The label’s Jason Mazzotta and Henning Ohlenbusch, two well-known staples of the area’s music scene, will curate a series of performances…

January 2, 2018 — It’s Food for Fines time! From January 2-20 you can clear overdue fines and support the needs of people in our community at the same time! Donated canned goods and healthy non-perishable food items will be distributed by the Northampton Survival Center. Suggested donation is one item for each $2 waived in fines.

November 1, 2017 — Forbes Library in Northampton has delivered library materials to homebound residents for decades. Due to budget constraints the service was at risk of being cut. Thanks to generous gifts by the Friends of Forbes Library, Lilly Library, several individual community members, and many volunteers the program is growing again. The Outreach Delivery Service uses volunteers…

October 18, 2017 — Strategic Plan Forbes Library completed an eight-month planning process that culminated in the creation of a strategic plan for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 (July 2018-June 2023). The library submitted the plan to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, which is a requirement for eligibility for certain grants. Katy Wight, Trustee of Forbes Library, chaired…

October 13, 2017 — VIETNAM PHOTOGRAPHS: 50 YEARS AGO A collection of 34 photographs taken in 1967 in South Vietnam is on display in the Forbes Library lobby through the end of October. These photographs were taken in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam, in 1967, by a photographer with the United States Information Agency. Quang Ngai is the 5th…