Highlights from the Friends
Baskets, Books & Chocolate!
What a way to beat the winter blahs! In a blink of the eye it will be Valentine's Day and the Friends Board is gearing up for its most popular fundraiser.
From January 31 - February 9, the atrium of the Jones Library will be filled with beautifully wrapped and ribboned theme gift baskets. The baskets are donated by area businesses and individuals, then are put together and wrapped by volunteers. During this time, library patrons are invited to make bids on the baskets, with the highest bids winning the baskets on February 9th. The bidding will close at 4 pm. If you like a special basket, you can buy it immediately at the estimated value on Thursday night, February 7, from 5 to 9 pm. Watch for more details on this special offer!
Much of what is included in the baskets comes from patrons. We always appreciate donations for our gift baskets, such as:
- Chocolate and fancy foods
- New or almost new books
- Gift items (nothing with Christmas imagery, however)
Please bring your donations, labeled with your name so we can thank you, to the Jones Library any time before January 18.
Build a Birdhouse!
In its second year, come join the literary challenge of building a birdhouse based on an idea from any published book. These birdhouses will be showcased at a Garden Party of Literary Birdhouses - day and time to be announced. Stay tuned for more information!
Have Some Fun!
Check out the variety of museum passes available at the Jones Library! Two museums have been recently added to the selection: passes for free admission to the Amherst History Museum and passes for discounted admission to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. And we'd like to remind you that the Friends also sponsor passes to six other museums: the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Springfield Quadrangle Musuems, the Eric Carle Museum, the Holyoke Children's Museum, the Clark Art Institute, and Historic Deerfield. All these passes are available for checkout in the Children's Room.
Every Child a Reader
Starting in February of 2008, all the second grade students from the Amherst schools will be visiting the Jones Library as a part of the Every Child a Reader program. The students will tour the library, hear a story, choose a free book to take home, enjoy a snack, and get their own library cards. They will learn about special children's programs, resources for homework assignments, and check out books using their new library cards. This very successful program is supported by a donation from Friends members Michael Giles and Michelle Santangelo (Michael is also on the Board). Many thanks to them for their generosity.