Forbes Library Events

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

ALTERATIONS Laura Boban, 13 Roots/Sequoia LeBreux & Maggie Whittemore On view: August 3 - 29  Opening Reception: Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm  Artists have always altered stories, materials and objects, picking up where others left off and recontextualizing what is known or expected. Like a tailor modifying a garment to better fit a unique form, the artists in Alterations similarly engage with creative methods of taking in and letting out. Working through a feminist lens, they imbue female Greek mythology characters with agency and power, reclaim their relationship to girlhood, and celebrate the complexities of parenting through painting, soft sculpture and prints. The tactile breadth of works in this show reveal ways that the process of altering has potential for healing, liberation and wonder.  LAURA BOBAN is a visual artist and educator whose art practice is rooted in textile processes and references–hand and machine stitching, piecework, yarn wrapping and patterning. Working across the realm of fiber art provides opportunities to expand and release quilting and textiles from a purely domestic context and highlight their value as an art form and ground for abstract designs. The quilts, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition reflect Laura’s experience of becoming a parent and contending with dueling realities–joy and anxiety, comfort and heartbreak, exhaustion and patience. She intends for viewers to draw connections between the works and experience a vibrant, tactile language of craft, connection and softness.  @laura.boban.art on Instagram lauraboban.com 13 ROOTS is the moniker of Sequoia LeBreux, a visual artist working primarily in ceramic, textile, and printmaking. Her work draws on her experiences of growing up in the hills of Western Massachusetts, and the magic she found there. Across different mediums, each material must be transformed through process to reach its final state. Each object has been touched and altered, whether through printing, stitching, beading, dyeing, sculpting, or firing. This transformation, like magic in a fairytale, gives the work its life. As you step inside her adult-sized altar to girliness, or view her prints or sculptures, you step into a world of animated spirits, portals, and magic. Each piece is a collaboration between invisible realms, the material, and the hands of the artist.  @13rootsart https://13roots.my.canva.site MAGGIE WHITTEMORE is a painter and illustrator based in Boston, MA. Her current works are medium to large-scale oil paintings and digital paintings, mainly using the nude female form and natural surroundings in surreal or unexpected ways. These works are her attempt to capture the beauty and complexities of authentic self-expression and acceptance as a woman in a patriarchal world. Her current motif, ‘reverse sirens’, are nude women with fish heads. This collection presents a new narrative for the female nude in painting, a reclamation of discarded parts and identities in the wake of trauma. The main collection features four famous victims of Zeus in Greek myth, giving them new narratives where they triumph, actualitize, and find a supportive community.  @maggieartsss on instagram maggiearts.com

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Free Play

Hang out in the Youth Programming Room with other babies and caregivers! We'll have baby-friendly toys out on the rug and plenty of space to play. Ideal for children 0-18 months.

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit: RSVP

Drop-In Tech Help with NOM

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 with  Northampton Open Media ! Every Monday, 1-2:30pm. Bring your own device or use a library computer to work on your tech questions, troubleshoot issues, or work on personal projects with guidance from a NOM staff member. Whether you need help with software, apps, media creation, assistive technology or general tech advice, we are here to meet your digital needs.

LEGO Club!

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

HYBRID Presidents Book Group:

The Presidential Book Group is reading in chronlogical order and this month we are on . . .  Choose from the following titles: Primary selection:  Longer option:   In this group you will deepen your understanding of the American presidency as we trace the history of the presidency, beginning with George Washington, and watching how American democracy evolved in ways the Founders never anticipated. We'll follow how presidents, both celebrated and forgotten, grappled with slavery, economics, executive power and America's role in the world. In doing so, we'll broaden our knowledge of Coolidge and where his presidency fits in the American story.  The group meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 PM EST, which you can attend in person in the Coolidge Museum or on Zoom. Discussions will be facilitated by Bill Scher, vice president of the museum’s Standing Committee. Email Coolidge@forbeslibrary.org to join the email list or for more information.

Mystery Book Discussion: The Bangalore Detectives Club

This month's selection is The Bangalore Detectives Club  by Harini Nagendra .  About the book:  When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry handsome young doctor Ramu, she's resigned herself to a quiet life. But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden for some peace and quiet—and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the party turns into a murder scene. When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel to an Englishman's mansion. She soon finds that sleuthing in a sari isn't as hard as it seems when you have a talent for mathematics, a head for logic, and a doctor for a husband . . . And she's going to need them all as the case leads her deeper into a hotbed of danger, sedition, and intrigue in Bangalore's darkest alleyways. The Mystery Book Discussion Group meets monthly for a casual discussion. New members are always welcome. Pick up a copy of this month's discussion book at the library.

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

ALTERATIONS Laura Boban, 13 Roots/Sequoia LeBreux & Maggie Whittemore On view: August 3 - 29  Opening Reception: Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm  Artists have always altered stories, materials and objects, picking up where others left off and recontextualizing what is known or expected. Like a tailor modifying a garment to better fit a unique form, the artists in Alterations similarly engage with creative methods of taking in and letting out. Working through a feminist lens, they imbue female Greek mythology characters with agency and power, reclaim their relationship to girlhood, and celebrate the complexities of parenting through painting, soft sculpture and prints. The tactile breadth of works in this show reveal ways that the process of altering has potential for healing, liberation and wonder.  LAURA BOBAN is a visual artist and educator whose art practice is rooted in textile processes and references–hand and machine stitching, piecework, yarn wrapping and patterning. Working across the realm of fiber art provides opportunities to expand and release quilting and textiles from a purely domestic context and highlight their value as an art form and ground for abstract designs. The quilts, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition reflect Laura’s experience of becoming a parent and contending with dueling realities–joy and anxiety, comfort and heartbreak, exhaustion and patience. She intends for viewers to draw connections between the works and experience a vibrant, tactile language of craft, connection and softness.  @laura.boban.art on Instagram lauraboban.com 13 ROOTS is the moniker of Sequoia LeBreux, a visual artist working primarily in ceramic, textile, and printmaking. Her work draws on her experiences of growing up in the hills of Western Massachusetts, and the magic she found there. Across different mediums, each material must be transformed through process to reach its final state. Each object has been touched and altered, whether through printing, stitching, beading, dyeing, sculpting, or firing. This transformation, like magic in a fairytale, gives the work its life. As you step inside her adult-sized altar to girliness, or view her prints or sculptures, you step into a world of animated spirits, portals, and magic. Each piece is a collaboration between invisible realms, the material, and the hands of the artist.  @13rootsart https://13roots.my.canva.site MAGGIE WHITTEMORE is a painter and illustrator based in Boston, MA. Her current works are medium to large-scale oil paintings and digital paintings, mainly using the nude female form and natural surroundings in surreal or unexpected ways. These works are her attempt to capture the beauty and complexities of authentic self-expression and acceptance as a woman in a patriarchal world. Her current motif, ‘reverse sirens’, are nude women with fish heads. This collection presents a new narrative for the female nude in painting, a reclamation of discarded parts and identities in the wake of trauma. The main collection features four famous victims of Zeus in Greek myth, giving them new narratives where they triumph, actualitize, and find a supportive community.  @maggieartsss on instagram maggiearts.com

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Storytime

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.

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

CANCELLED: Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Middle Grade Book Club: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Join us to discuss The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and enjoy some snacks! About the book: After learning that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea, Percy Jackson is transferred from boarding school to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, and becomes involved in a quest to prevent a war between the gods.

Traditional mBira Music Survey

Tradition mBira music meet-up to learn mBira music of Zimbabwe. For the ethnomusicologist, anthropologist interests, adults as a new hobby etc. Presented by: Kusha Aura by koganinjazz

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

Silent Book Club

Bring your own book (or borrow one from our collection) and read alongside neighbors and friends. Gather at 6:30pm for a group welcome, then settle in for an hour of quiet reading, followed by (optional) sharing and socializing. You might just discover your new favorite book! This Silent Book Club chapter meets on the last Tuesday of each month in the Reading Room. All are welcome to come read in community with us, no library card needed!

VIRTUAL: Poetry Discussion:

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.

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

ALTERATIONS Laura Boban, 13 Roots/Sequoia LeBreux & Maggie Whittemore On view: August 3 - 29  Opening Reception: Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm  Artists have always altered stories, materials and objects, picking up where others left off and recontextualizing what is known or expected. Like a tailor modifying a garment to better fit a unique form, the artists in Alterations similarly engage with creative methods of taking in and letting out. Working through a feminist lens, they imbue female Greek mythology characters with agency and power, reclaim their relationship to girlhood, and celebrate the complexities of parenting through painting, soft sculpture and prints. The tactile breadth of works in this show reveal ways that the process of altering has potential for healing, liberation and wonder.  LAURA BOBAN is a visual artist and educator whose art practice is rooted in textile processes and references–hand and machine stitching, piecework, yarn wrapping and patterning. Working across the realm of fiber art provides opportunities to expand and release quilting and textiles from a purely domestic context and highlight their value as an art form and ground for abstract designs. The quilts, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition reflect Laura’s experience of becoming a parent and contending with dueling realities–joy and anxiety, comfort and heartbreak, exhaustion and patience. She intends for viewers to draw connections between the works and experience a vibrant, tactile language of craft, connection and softness.  @laura.boban.art on Instagram lauraboban.com 13 ROOTS is the moniker of Sequoia LeBreux, a visual artist working primarily in ceramic, textile, and printmaking. Her work draws on her experiences of growing up in the hills of Western Massachusetts, and the magic she found there. Across different mediums, each material must be transformed through process to reach its final state. Each object has been touched and altered, whether through printing, stitching, beading, dyeing, sculpting, or firing. This transformation, like magic in a fairytale, gives the work its life. As you step inside her adult-sized altar to girliness, or view her prints or sculptures, you step into a world of animated spirits, portals, and magic. Each piece is a collaboration between invisible realms, the material, and the hands of the artist.  @13rootsart https://13roots.my.canva.site MAGGIE WHITTEMORE is a painter and illustrator based in Boston, MA. Her current works are medium to large-scale oil paintings and digital paintings, mainly using the nude female form and natural surroundings in surreal or unexpected ways. These works are her attempt to capture the beauty and complexities of authentic self-expression and acceptance as a woman in a patriarchal world. Her current motif, ‘reverse sirens’, are nude women with fish heads. This collection presents a new narrative for the female nude in painting, a reclamation of discarded parts and identities in the wake of trauma. The main collection features four famous victims of Zeus in Greek myth, giving them new narratives where they triumph, actualitize, and find a supportive community.  @maggieartsss on instagram maggiearts.com

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

MassHire Weekly Job Seeker Services

Meet with staff from MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center each week for drop-in job seeker services. Meet in the Coolidge Museum on the library's second floor. Staff will be available to help with: Career Center registration Job search assistance Job applications Resume and cover letter reviews UI assistance and more! Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

Read to Sunny the Dog!

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!

Magic: The Gathering meet-up for Teens and Tweens

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

Drop-in Chess

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. Can't make it in the evening? Drop in on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3pm for our afternoon session.

Summer Juggling Meetups

Come practice the fundamentals of juggling in a relaxed, supportive environment! This beginner-friendly meetup covers basic patterns, hand-eye coordination techniques, and fun skill-building exercises. The space also welcomes more advanced jugglers, offering opportunities to explore new tricks, share techniques, and connect with others. Everyone is encouraged to be both a teacher and a student—this is a space to build community through play, learning, and collaboration. Led by juggling instructor Joseph Goldin. These meetups will start June 10 and run through August 26 September 2! Some juggling balls will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. Thank you to our sponsors: Gateway Fiber and A2Z Science & Toys

Zine Club

Join us in the Arts and Music Department on the 2nd floor.  6:30-8:00 pm New members are welcome! Zine Club!

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

ALTERATIONS Laura Boban, 13 Roots/Sequoia LeBreux & Maggie Whittemore On view: August 3 - 29  Opening Reception: Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm  Artists have always altered stories, materials and objects, picking up where others left off and recontextualizing what is known or expected. Like a tailor modifying a garment to better fit a unique form, the artists in Alterations similarly engage with creative methods of taking in and letting out. Working through a feminist lens, they imbue female Greek mythology characters with agency and power, reclaim their relationship to girlhood, and celebrate the complexities of parenting through painting, soft sculpture and prints. The tactile breadth of works in this show reveal ways that the process of altering has potential for healing, liberation and wonder.  LAURA BOBAN is a visual artist and educator whose art practice is rooted in textile processes and references–hand and machine stitching, piecework, yarn wrapping and patterning. Working across the realm of fiber art provides opportunities to expand and release quilting and textiles from a purely domestic context and highlight their value as an art form and ground for abstract designs. The quilts, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition reflect Laura’s experience of becoming a parent and contending with dueling realities–joy and anxiety, comfort and heartbreak, exhaustion and patience. She intends for viewers to draw connections between the works and experience a vibrant, tactile language of craft, connection and softness.  @laura.boban.art on Instagram lauraboban.com 13 ROOTS is the moniker of Sequoia LeBreux, a visual artist working primarily in ceramic, textile, and printmaking. Her work draws on her experiences of growing up in the hills of Western Massachusetts, and the magic she found there. Across different mediums, each material must be transformed through process to reach its final state. Each object has been touched and altered, whether through printing, stitching, beading, dyeing, sculpting, or firing. This transformation, like magic in a fairytale, gives the work its life. As you step inside her adult-sized altar to girliness, or view her prints or sculptures, you step into a world of animated spirits, portals, and magic. Each piece is a collaboration between invisible realms, the material, and the hands of the artist.  @13rootsart https://13roots.my.canva.site MAGGIE WHITTEMORE is a painter and illustrator based in Boston, MA. Her current works are medium to large-scale oil paintings and digital paintings, mainly using the nude female form and natural surroundings in surreal or unexpected ways. These works are her attempt to capture the beauty and complexities of authentic self-expression and acceptance as a woman in a patriarchal world. Her current motif, ‘reverse sirens’, are nude women with fish heads. This collection presents a new narrative for the female nude in painting, a reclamation of discarded parts and identities in the wake of trauma. The main collection features four famous victims of Zeus in Greek myth, giving them new narratives where they triumph, actualitize, and find a supportive community.  @maggieartsss on instagram maggiearts.com

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Preschool Storytime

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

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit:  RSVP

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Forbes Library Tour

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.

Western Mass CPUSA General Meeting

General meeting of the Western Massachusetts club of the CPUSA

International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil

Come together in community to honor and remember those we have lost. Bring names and/or photos of loved ones to honor. Resources, candles, and ribbons will be available. Questions? Contact: hampshirehope@northampton.gov In the event of rain, the vigil will be held inside the library in the Coolidge Museum on the second floor. Organized in partnership with Northampton DHHS, Tapestry, Forbes Library, UMass Recovery, Northwestern District Attorney, Northampton Recovery Center, Hampshire Hope, the City of Northampton, Drug Addiction Recovery Team, Cooley Dickinson/A Positive Place, Learn to Cope, and Support After a Death by Overdose.

Northampton Literary Society Writing Meet-Up

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!

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

ALTERATIONS Laura Boban, 13 Roots/Sequoia LeBreux & Maggie Whittemore On view: August 3 - 29  Opening Reception: Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm  Artists have always altered stories, materials and objects, picking up where others left off and recontextualizing what is known or expected. Like a tailor modifying a garment to better fit a unique form, the artists in Alterations similarly engage with creative methods of taking in and letting out. Working through a feminist lens, they imbue female Greek mythology characters with agency and power, reclaim their relationship to girlhood, and celebrate the complexities of parenting through painting, soft sculpture and prints. The tactile breadth of works in this show reveal ways that the process of altering has potential for healing, liberation and wonder.  LAURA BOBAN is a visual artist and educator whose art practice is rooted in textile processes and references–hand and machine stitching, piecework, yarn wrapping and patterning. Working across the realm of fiber art provides opportunities to expand and release quilting and textiles from a purely domestic context and highlight their value as an art form and ground for abstract designs. The quilts, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition reflect Laura’s experience of becoming a parent and contending with dueling realities–joy and anxiety, comfort and heartbreak, exhaustion and patience. She intends for viewers to draw connections between the works and experience a vibrant, tactile language of craft, connection and softness.  @laura.boban.art on Instagram lauraboban.com 13 ROOTS is the moniker of Sequoia LeBreux, a visual artist working primarily in ceramic, textile, and printmaking. Her work draws on her experiences of growing up in the hills of Western Massachusetts, and the magic she found there. Across different mediums, each material must be transformed through process to reach its final state. Each object has been touched and altered, whether through printing, stitching, beading, dyeing, sculpting, or firing. This transformation, like magic in a fairytale, gives the work its life. As you step inside her adult-sized altar to girliness, or view her prints or sculptures, you step into a world of animated spirits, portals, and magic. Each piece is a collaboration between invisible realms, the material, and the hands of the artist.  @13rootsart https://13roots.my.canva.site MAGGIE WHITTEMORE is a painter and illustrator based in Boston, MA. Her current works are medium to large-scale oil paintings and digital paintings, mainly using the nude female form and natural surroundings in surreal or unexpected ways. These works are her attempt to capture the beauty and complexities of authentic self-expression and acceptance as a woman in a patriarchal world. Her current motif, ‘reverse sirens’, are nude women with fish heads. This collection presents a new narrative for the female nude in painting, a reclamation of discarded parts and identities in the wake of trauma. The main collection features four famous victims of Zeus in Greek myth, giving them new narratives where they triumph, actualitize, and find a supportive community.  @maggieartsss on instagram maggiearts.com

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Toddler Storytime

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.

Kids' Gaming Club

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch! We generally play Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, Super Mario: Wonder, and Mario Party.

Maggie Whittemore, Laura Boban, & 13 Roots Art

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Ukulele Strum Group

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 .

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

Writing Club

Calling all writers! Let's write and work on our stories together. Saturdays through August 29, 1-3pm Meet in the Forbes Library Bak Study Room (second floor) More information: @zukiswa._

End of Summer Reading Party!

Join us for an all-ages celebration wrapping up our Summer Reading Program, featuring music spun by DJ Studebaker Hawk! Stop by the Library Lawn to pick up your Summer Reading prizes, enter the raffles, groove to some high energy tunes, and enjoy fun party activities on the lawn.  All ages are welcome to celebrate a summer of good reading together. (Didn't fill out a reading tracker? No problem! Stop by anyway for your prize book and raffle entries.) Studebaker Hawk is a DJ, vinyl record dealer, organizer of the Northampton Record Fair, and member of the record label and DJ crew Peace & Rhythm. Hawk was 3 times voted "Best DJ in Valley" in the Valley Advocate and spent 8 years on the airwaves of WMUA. Splitting time between Western Mass and Guadalajara, Mexico, Hawk brings a blend of funky international and homegrown grooves for you all. More info: https://linktr.ee/Studebakerhawk and www.peaceandrhythm.com

KidLit Children's Writers & Illustrators Meetup

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 Margaret Frothingham: mkfrothingham@gmail.com

VIRTUAL: Spanish Conversation Group

Welcome! This program is designed not only to improve language, but also to provide education about all Latin American countries including Spain and one African nation. We listen to music, view and analyze films, and use literature and history of these countries and distinct communication topics. I, Silvia,also sometimes give give homework that I will later grade.  All levels are accepted, but as this is an immersion group we only speak in Spanish , and electronic devices are only for personal use in your homes. We should be present in the short class time, rather than being immersed in a screen. For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com. ¡Bienvenidos! Este programa está diseñado no solo para mejorar el idioma, sino para recibir educación acerca de todos los países Latinoamericanos incluyendo a España y a un país de África. Escuchamos música, vemos y analizamos películas y usamos la literatura e historia de estos países y distintos temas de comunicación. También algunas veces yo, Silvia, doy tareas para la casa que después corrijo.  Todos los niveles son aceptados, pero como e s un grupo de inmersión sólo se habla en español y los aparatos electrónicos son únicamente para uso personal en sus casas. Debemos estar presentes en el corto tiempo de clase, en lugar de estar sumergidos dentro de una pantalla. Para más información y el enlace de Zoom, envía un correo electrónico a Silvia en garabato.m7@gmail.com.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Free Play

Hang out in the Youth Programming Room with other babies and caregivers! We'll have baby-friendly toys out on the rug and plenty of space to play. Ideal for children 0-18 months.

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit: RSVP

Drop-In Tech Help with NOM

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 with  Northampton Open Media ! Every Monday, 1-2:30pm. Bring your own device or use a library computer to work on your tech questions, troubleshoot issues, or work on personal projects with guidance from a NOM staff member. Whether you need help with software, apps, media creation, assistive technology or general tech advice, we are here to meet your digital needs.

Beginner and Beyond Beginner Tai Chi

Due to the voting setup on Monday, August 31, Beyond Beginner and Beginner Tai Chi classes at the Senior Center will be held outdoors on the Hess Performance Stage. Wear clothing and shoes that you will feel comfortable wearing outdoors on the grass. In the event of inclement weather, this class will be cancelled.  1:15-2:15: Beyond Beginner Tai Chi 2:45-3:45: Beginner Tai Chi This program is presented in collaboration with the Northampton Senior Center.

LEGO Club!

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Dungeons and Dragons for Kids: Summer Session

Calling all young adventurers! Our Dungeons & Dragons Club continues! Participants will sign up for  four sessions at once , and will meet on the following Mondays from 3:45 - 5:15pm:  7/13, 7/27, 8/10, and 8/24. Participants must commit to all four sessions. D&D is a great way for kids to practice collaboration, strategy, and storytelling, and we welcome participants of all experience levels. This program is for kids ages 9+, and is limited to six participants per session. Registration is necessary and opens on 7/8.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Storytime

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.

Drop-in Tech Help

*Starting September 1, this Tech Help session will start 1 hour earlier than usual, now at 1pm.* 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.

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Straw Dog Writers Guild Writers Night Out

Join Straw Dog Writers Guild on the first Tuesday of each month for Writers Night Out at Forbes Library. No registration required. This month's featured reader: Nina B. Lichtenstein If you want to participate in Open Mic and read, please sign up by 5:50pm. Ten names will be randomly selected. Each reader will have five minutes. The second half of the evening showcases our Featured Reader. Masks are not currently required for indoor events. Please wear a mask if you would like to exercise caution. Hosted by Jacqueline Sheehan, Rick Paar and Beth Filson. Sponsored by Valley Home Improvement.

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

VIRTUAL: Poetry Discussion:

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.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

MassHire Weekly Job Seeker Services

Meet with staff from MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center each week for drop-in job seeker services. Meet in the Coolidge Museum on the library's second floor. Staff will be available to help with: Career Center registration Job search assistance Job applications Resume and cover letter reviews UI assistance and more! Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

MassHire Drop-in Career Advice for Young Adults

Come meet with a Young Adult Career Counselor and ask us questions in areas like: resume review, editing & suggestions practice job interview questions job search strategies explore possible career pathways learn more about our programs

Magic: The Gathering meet-up for Teens and Tweens

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

Drop-in Chess

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. Can't make it in the evening? Drop in on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3pm for our afternoon session.

Summer Juggling Meetups

*Extended through September 2!* Come practice the fundamentals of juggling in a relaxed, supportive environment! This beginner-friendly meetup covers basic patterns, hand-eye coordination techniques, and fun skill-building exercises. The space also welcomes more advanced jugglers, offering opportunities to explore new tricks, share techniques, and connect with others. Everyone is encouraged to be both a teacher and a student—this is a space to build community through play, learning, and collaboration. Led by juggling instructor Joseph Goldin. These meetups will start June 10 and run through August 26 September 2! Some juggling balls will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. Thank you to our sponsors: Gateway Fiber and A2Z Science & Toys

Science Fiction and Fantasy Discussion: A Wizard of Earthsea

Anyone interested in Science Fiction or Fantasy is welcome. Although we focus on this month’s selection, we will discuss any topics related to Science Fiction or Fantasy, books or movies. This month's discussion will cover   A Wizard of Earthsea  by Ursula K. Le Guin .  About the book:    Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Preschool Storytime

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

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit:  RSVP

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

MassHire Drop-in Career Advice for Young Adults

Come meet with a Young Adult Career Counselor and ask us questions in areas like: resume review, editing & suggestions practice job interview questions job search strategies explore possible career pathways learn more about our programs Career Counselors will be here on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meet in the Reference Room Nook.

Northampton Literary Society Writing Meet-Up

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!

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

Toddler Storytime

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.

Kids' Gaming Club

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch! We generally play Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, Super Mario: Wonder, and Mario Party.

How to Enliven Every Aspect of Your Life

HU is an ancient name for God, used for thousands of years as a prayer and sacred chant to attune oneself to the presence of God. Sound of Soul events offer the chance to chant HU and enjoy spiritual conversation in the company of like-hearted Souls. Presented by Massachusetts Satsang Society Inc.

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Ukulele Strum Group

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 .

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

Threshold Circle: End of Life Discussion

Join us once a month for Threshold Circle: a welcoming space for exploring mortality, loss, and the thresholds we encounter in life.  Awareness of mortality has the power to deepen our appreciation of life. Yet, many of us carry thoughts, experiences, and questions about death that we rarely share. Threshold Circle is a welcoming space to explore these topics in community, free from fear or taboo. End-of-life doulas Alison Keller and Alyssa Walters invite you to join a monthly gathering for quiet reflection, open conversation, and the simple comfort of connecting over tea. Some guidelines: You do not have to participate. This is a gentle environment, meaning you can participate to whatever degree you feel comfortable. You are welcome to share, simply listen, get up, move around, leave the room, or leave the meeting.  We are discussing vulnerable topics and will moderate to encourage cultural humility, and acceptance of the perspectives of others. Thusfar we have found people show up with a natural instinct for kindness and respect toward one another.  We will close the meeting with food and beverage so that you have an opportunity to mingle and relax after discussions.  Space is limited; registration is required. What is an end-of-life doula? You may have heard of a birth doula. End-of-life doulas, also known as death doulas or death midwives, provide practical, spiritual, and emotional support for people at the end of life. They are able to offer resources, tools, and guidance in an area of life that does not come with a user manual. They excel in compassionate care, listening, open mindedness, and acceptance and offer those qualities to support and smooth the labor of death for those who are dying and their loved ones. If you have more specific questions on what we offer, how to become a death doula, or how to find resources and support for yourself or a loved one, please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us.

VIRTUAL: Spanish Conversation Group

Welcome! This program is designed not only to improve language, but also to provide education about all Latin American countries including Spain and one African nation. We listen to music, view and analyze films, and use literature and history of these countries and distinct communication topics. I, Silvia,also sometimes give give homework that I will later grade.  All levels are accepted, but as this is an immersion group we only speak in Spanish , and electronic devices are only for personal use in your homes. We should be present in the short class time, rather than being immersed in a screen. For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com. ¡Bienvenidos! Este programa está diseñado no solo para mejorar el idioma, sino para recibir educación acerca de todos los países Latinoamericanos incluyendo a España y a un país de África. Escuchamos música, vemos y analizamos películas y usamos la literatura e historia de estos países y distintos temas de comunicación. También algunas veces yo, Silvia, doy tareas para la casa que después corrijo.  Todos los niveles son aceptados, pero como e s un grupo de inmersión sólo se habla en español y los aparatos electrónicos son únicamente para uso personal en sus casas. Debemos estar presentes en el corto tiempo de clase, en lugar de estar sumergidos dentro de una pantalla. Para más información y el enlace de Zoom, envía un correo electrónico a Silvia en garabato.m7@gmail.com.

KidLit Children's Writers & Illustrators Meetup

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 Margaret Frothingham: mkfrothingham@gmail.com

SANE (Support and Accountability in Novel Editing)

SANE, or Support and Accountability in Novel Editing, is the monthly writing group of the Western Mass Writer's Guild, formerly Western Mass NaNo. All writers (not just novel writers) are welcome at SANE. Having a work to edit is not a requirement. Meetings include writing/editing "sprints," idea collaboration, and general camaraderie. Sharing excerpts and feedback are not features of meetings. Bring your writing in whatever form that takes, whether it's laptop, pen and paper, or typewriter. For more information about the Western Mass Writer’s Guild, check out our website ( https://wmawriters.wordpress. com/mission-statement/ ) or discord ( https://discord.gg/yVbpBCR ).

Library Closed Today

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 .

Baby Free Play

Hang out in the Youth Programming Room with other babies and caregivers! We'll have baby-friendly toys out on the rug and plenty of space to play. Ideal for children 0-18 months.

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit: RSVP

Drop-In Tech Help with NOM

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 with  Northampton Open Media ! Every Monday, 1-2:30pm. Bring your own device or use a library computer to work on your tech questions, troubleshoot issues, or work on personal projects with guidance from a NOM staff member. Whether you need help with software, apps, media creation, assistive technology or general tech advice, we are here to meet your digital needs.

LEGO Club!

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Storytime

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.

Drop-in Tech Help

*Starting September 1, this Tech Help session will start 1 hour earlier than usual, now at 1pm.* 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.

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Teen Graphic Novel Club: MOONCAKES by Suzanne Walker

Join us for a chat in the Youth Programming Room and pick next month's book! We'll be reading Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, illustrated by Wendy Xu. From the publisher: " A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any townhome. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery." 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Finalist 2019 Cybils Award Finalist 2020 Hugo Award Nominee A 2020 ALA Rainbow Top Ten Book

Family History Help

Are you curious about how to get started on a family tree or use census records to explore the history of your neighborhood or house? Book a one-on-one appointment with genealogist Brian Tabor and learn how to research using genealogy resources such as Ancestry, Heritage Quest and American Ancestors databases.   Family History Help is held on the second week of the month: Tuesdays, 6-7pm Wednesdays, 10:30am-12pm Email archives@forbeslibrary.org to book an appointment with Brian.  The Hampshire Room for Local History is also open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10-2 for appointments and drop in research.

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

VIRTUAL: Poetry Discussion:

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.

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

MassHire Weekly Job Seeker Services

Meet with staff from MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center each week for drop-in job seeker services. Meet in the Coolidge Museum on the library's second floor. Staff will be available to help with: Career Center registration Job search assistance Job applications Resume and cover letter reviews UI assistance and more! Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

Family History Help

Are you curious about how to get started on a family tree or use census records to explore the history of your neighborhood or house? Book a one-on-one appointment with genealogist Brian Tabor and learn how to research using genealogy resources such as Ancestry and American Ancestors databases.   Family History Help is held on the second week of the month: Tuesdays, 6-7pm Wednesdays, 10:30am-12pm Email archives@forbeslibrary.org to book an appointment with Brian.  The Hampshire Room for Local History is also open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10-2 for appointments and drop in research.

Magic: The Gathering meet-up for Teens and Tweens

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

Drop-in Chess

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. Can't make it in the evening? Drop in on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3pm for our afternoon session.

Readers & Writers Live: Ariel Delgado Dixon and Jayson Keery

Writers Ariel Delgado Dixon and Jayson Keery will read and discuss their work as part of the Readers & Writers Live series. This event will also be livestreamed on the Forbes Library YouTube channel. Click here to view [link to be added shortly]. About the writers:  Ariel Delgado Dixon was born in Trenton, New Jersey. She is the author of the novels  Sourland , published in June by Random House and  Don't Say We Didn't Warn You . Her writing has appeared in Kenyon Review , O Magazine , The Mississippi Review , Adroit Journal , LitHub , and elsewhere. She has received support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Yaddo, The Studios of Key West, and as a Hemingway Writer-in-Residence. She lives in Western Massachusetts where she works in farming and teaches writing.  Sourland is a gripping, propulsive novel about succession, sex, and revenge on a California marijuana farm. “Deliciously written and compulsively readable . . . As the ex-lovers of a missing weed farmer grapple for control of her land and harvest, they contend with the force of her presence and the complexities of their own pasts,” says Carmen Maria Machado, author of In the Dream House and Her Body and Other Parties . Jayson Keery is based in Western Massachusetts, where they completed their MFA in poetry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. They are the author of The Choice is Real (Metatron Press, 2023) and the chapbooks Sleepover Nervous (Midnight Mass Press, 2024) and Astroturf (o•blēk editions, 2022). They have been anthologized in Mundus Press’s Nocturnal Properties , Nightboat Books' We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics , and Pilot Press London's A Queer Anthology of Rage . They received the 2022 Metatron Prize for Rising Authors, selected by Fariha Róisín, and the 2021 Daniel and Merrily Glosband Fellowship, selected by Wendy Xu.

Nature and Environment Book Club: The Home Place

Please contact facilitator Hilary Caws-Elwitt for updated meeting info. The Nature and Environment Book Club is devoted to the best of nature writing and environmental reporting with discussions on the second Wednesday of each month. Readers and writers interested in books ranging from such classics as Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek to topical reportage like Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction will want to join the conversation. This month's book is The Home Place  by J. Drew Lanham .  About the book:  “In me, there is the red of miry clay, the brown of spring floods, the gold of ripening tobacco. All of these hues are me; I am, in the deepest sense, colored.” From these fertile soils of love, land, identity, family, and race emerges The Home Place , a big-hearted, unforgettable memoir by ornithologist and professor of ecology J. Drew Lanham. Dating back to slavery, Edgefield County, South Carolina—a place “easy to pass by on the way somewhere else”—has been home to generations of Lanhams. In The Home Place , readers meet these extraordinary people, including Drew himself, who over the course of the 1970s falls in love with the natural world around him. As his passion takes flight, however, he begins to ask what it means to be “the rare bird, the oddity.” By turns angry, funny, elegiac, and heartbreaking, The Home Place is a remarkable meditation on nature and belonging, at once a deeply moving memoir and riveting exploration of the contradictions of black identity in the rural South—and in America today.

VIRTUAL Herstory Book Group: Being Heumann

This month's discussion will cover Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist   by Judith Heumann. About the book:  One of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her personal story of fighting for the right to receive an education, have a job, and just be human. A story of fighting to belong in a world that wasn’t built for all of us and of one woman’s activism—from the streets of Brooklyn and San Francisco to inside the halls of Washington— Being Heumann recounts Judy Heumann’s lifelong battle to achieve respect, acceptance, and inclusion in society. Paralyzed from polio at eighteen months, Judy’s struggle for equality began early in life. From fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” to later winning a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license because of her paralysis, Judy’s actions set a precedent that fundamentally improved rights for disabled people. As a young woman, Judy rolled her wheelchair through the doors of the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in San Francisco as a leader of the Section 504 Sit-In, the longest takeover of a governmental building in US history. Working with a community of over 150 disabled activists and allies, Judy successfully pressured the Carter administration to implement protections for disabled peoples’ rights, sparking a national movement and leading to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Candid, intimate, and irreverent, Judy Heumann’s memoir about resistance to exclusion invites readers to imagine and make real a world in which we all belong. The Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library has started a new book group in 2024 to focus of reading women's history and social history.   As her husband John met in Philadelphia to discuss forming a new nation, Abigail Adams wrote to implore him, 'I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.' Alas, it would be another 150 years before they even got the right to vote. But women were neither silent nor passive then or now. To elevate the voices of women in American history, a new book club is being offered by the The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum. The inspiration for the club,  Herstory: Women in American History,  came from some members of the museum's Presidential Book Club, who expressed a desire to read more about the context of historical figures, and to hear from and about the women involved in the building of our nation.  Selections in the book club will include biographies of women interspersed with texts on significant periods in American history. This way, book club members can place the women they read about in context and gain a fuller understanding of their challenges and achievements. This group meets on Zoom on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM  This group is moderated by Coolidge Museum Committee members Leslie Skantz-Hodgson (Smith Vocational School Librarian) and Rob Weir (retired professor of history).   To join the email list or for more information, email Coolidge@forbeslibrary.org

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Preschool Storytime

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

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit:  RSVP

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Book Launch - The Eternal Time

Join author Laura Bellusci to celebrate historical fiction told within the framework of a fairytale set in Naples, Italy.

Western Mass CPUSA General Meeting

General meeting of the Western Massachusetts club of the CPUSA

Flywheel and Forbes Library present : William Hooker and Mal Devisa

Flywheel Arts Collective  and Forbes Library present a concert on the lawn.  Music will begin promptly at 6:00pm and end by 8pm. "Doors" are at 5:30, the show starts at 6 sharp. Rain date is Sept. 17th - any postponement will be announced here by 2 pm day of the show, so check here before coming down. Lots of space on the lawn for picnicking and playing! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets   WILLIAM HOOKER Half a century ago, free jazz liberated William Hooker; he has never gone back, only forward into wide-open improvisation, into music that feels every time like a new explosion of the spirit. From records with Thurston Moore and Christian Marclay to Ava Mendoza and James Brandon Lewis, Hooker has built a massive catalogue of these testaments to freedom. Hooker has also built dozens of ever-changing ensembles over the decades, from an orchestra to intimate duos. In them all, he combines restless drumming that speaks to the revelatory early works of Milford Graves with the spoken-word poetry Hooker began writing in California. His work is informed by mysticism and American history, by deep spirituality and family bonds. MAL DEVISA Mal Devisa is the songwriting, liberation, and poetry project of multifarious artist Deja Carr. Starting in 2014 and breaking through with 2016's Kiid, Mal Devisa's work spans a self-made spectrum of sound from gravitic, soulful rock to soliloquy to unabashed hip hop. Although known for her unmistakable, smoldering voice and loop-based, bass-forward compositions, Carr's talents also extend to reaches of spoken word and production, paralleled by aspirations to start both a youth foundation and Afrobeat orchestra. Such boundless inspiration is a central facet of Mal Devisa's work, whose sonically and narratively unrestrained passages teem with empathy and liberatory visions for a better world.

Northampton Literary Society Writing Meet-Up

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!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Toddler Storytime

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.

Kids' Gaming Club

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch! We generally play Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, Super Mario: Wonder, and Mario Party.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

Ukulele Strum Group

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 .

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

The Writing Room

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.*

Gentle Yoga on the Lawn with Sanctuary

Connect with your breath and align your body, mind, and spirit with a slow, grounding flow. Explore a variety of yoga postures and breathing techniques, practicing in a way that feels authentic to you. By the end of the class, you should feel more grounded and centered, with a deeper connection to yourself. All experience levels welcome.  Saturdays in September and October, 11am-12pm: September 12 September 19 October 17 October 24 (Rain or shine; we will move indoors into the Community Room if there’s too much rain). Please bring:  A yoga mat (If you do not have a yoga mat, we will have some on hand for you to borrow) Water Sun protectant Registration is required. Click here to register on the Sanctuary website.

Smith Student Open House

Calling all current Smith students! As part of your First Week at Smith festivities, join us on the first floor of Forbes Library (Northampton's public library) to learn what resources are available to you here as a new member of the Northampton community. We'll have snacks, a scavenger hunt, and staff who can help you sign up for a library card. Students are invited to explore the stacks, scope out their new favorite study spots, and meet Paco, the Forbes Library fish. Smithies will also have the chance to peruse the Hosmer Art Gallery and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, both of which are on the second floor of the library.  All Smith students can sign up for a Forbes Library card---you just need your OneCard to register! Once you have a library card, you have access to resources from libraries all over central and western Massachusetts.  Forbes Library is conveniently located at 20 West Street, just across from the Smith College Bookstore.

KidLit Children's Writers & Illustrators Meetup

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 Margaret Frothingham: mkfrothingham@gmail.com

VIRTUAL: Spanish Conversation Group

Welcome! This program is designed not only to improve language, but also to provide education about all Latin American countries including Spain and one African nation. We listen to music, view and analyze films, and use literature and history of these countries and distinct communication topics. I, Silvia,also sometimes give give homework that I will later grade.  All levels are accepted, but as this is an immersion group we only speak in Spanish , and electronic devices are only for personal use in your homes. We should be present in the short class time, rather than being immersed in a screen. For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com. ¡Bienvenidos! Este programa está diseñado no solo para mejorar el idioma, sino para recibir educación acerca de todos los países Latinoamericanos incluyendo a España y a un país de África. Escuchamos música, vemos y analizamos películas y usamos la literatura e historia de estos países y distintos temas de comunicación. También algunas veces yo, Silvia, doy tareas para la casa que después corrijo.  Todos los niveles son aceptados, pero como e s un grupo de inmersión sólo se habla en español y los aparatos electrónicos son únicamente para uso personal en sus casas. Debemos estar presentes en el corto tiempo de clase, en lugar de estar sumergidos dentro de una pantalla. Para más información y el enlace de Zoom, envía un correo electrónico a Silvia en garabato.m7@gmail.com.

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Free Play

Hang out in the Youth Programming Room with other babies and caregivers! We'll have baby-friendly toys out on the rug and plenty of space to play. Ideal for children 0-18 months.

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit: RSVP

Drop-In Tech Help with NOM

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 with  Northampton Open Media ! Every Monday, 1-2:30pm. Bring your own device or use a library computer to work on your tech questions, troubleshoot issues, or work on personal projects with guidance from a NOM staff member. Whether you need help with software, apps, media creation, assistive technology or general tech advice, we are here to meet your digital needs.

LEGO Club!

We've got bricks, baseplates and minifigs--now all we need is you! Join us for LEGO Club Mondays at 3:30 in the Forbes Library Community Room. Pick a design challenge out of the bowl or simply build a creation of your own choosing. This program is great for ages 4+.

HYBRID Coolidge Standing Committee meeting

Meeting of the Coolidge Standing Committee of the Forbes Library Board of Trustees HYBRID with in person in the Community Room and remote via zoom.   Public welcome to observe and there is a public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.  The agendas are posted by Thursday before the Monday meeting.

Second Monday Book Discussion: The Sympathizer

We'll be reading The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen .  Request a copy of this book by placing a hold .  About the book :  The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as seven other awards, The Sympathize r is the breakthrough novel of the year. With the pace and suspense of a thriller and prose that has been compared to Graham Greene and Saul Bellow, The Sympathize r is a sweeping epic of love and betrayal. The narrator, a communist double agent, is a “man of two minds,” a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain who arranges to come to America after the Fall of Saigon, and while building a new life with other Vietnamese refugees in Los Angeles is secretly reporting back to his communist superiors in Vietnam. The Sympathizer is a blistering exploration of identity and America, a gripping espionage novel, and a powerful story of love and friendship.   Literary minded discussion. Open to new members. Join us in person or join via Zoom !

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Baby Storytime

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.

Drop-in Tech Help

*Starting September 1, this Tech Help session will start 1 hour earlier than usual, now at 1pm.* 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.

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

Early Readers Book Club: Owl Diaries: Eva and the New Teacher

Join us to do a craft based on  Owl Diaries: Eva and the New Teacher  by Rebecca Elliott ! We will meet in the Youth Programming Room. Books are available in the children's department to check out.  Please email jcornick@forbeslibrary.org with any questions.

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

AEIOUkes Guided Session with Joe Blumenthal

AEIOUkes is Northampton's ukulele club. In addition to the open sessions every Saturday morning in the Coolidge Library, there are "guided sessions" on second Tuesdays.  In these sessions, club founder Joe Blumenthal leads the group in working on new repertoire, technique and ensemble playing. These sessions lead up to a performance as part of Northampton's First Night celebration.  Registration is required; for more information, email  downtownjoeblumenthal@gmail. com .

VIRTUAL: Poetry Discussion:

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.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

MassHire Weekly Job Seeker Services

Meet with staff from MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center each week for drop-in job seeker services. Meet in the Coolidge Museum on the library's second floor. Staff will be available to help with: Career Center registration Job search assistance Job applications Resume and cover letter reviews UI assistance and more! Questions about other job seeker services? Please call the MassHire Greenfield office at 413-774-4361.

Magic: The Gathering meet-up for Teens and Tweens

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

Drop-in Chess

Drop in for part or all of these casual chess meets, every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm on the mezzanine. All experience levels welcome. Please bring your own set if you have one. Can't make it in the evening? Drop in on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3pm for our afternoon session.

TransTogether Meeting

TransTogether is a free support group for anybody who identifies as trans regardless of age or background. More than anything our goal is to be a safe space for local trans people to meet each other and build a strong community.

Far Out Film Discussion

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Preschool Storytime

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

Healthy Bones & Balance

A low-impact exercise class to enhance strength, increase bone density, develop flexibility, and improve balance to help prevent falls and boost overall fitness. Exercises are done either standing or seated. Loose clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Space is limited; please register to attend. Registration opens 3 days before the class.  Click here  to see a list of senior centers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties where this training is held. Healthy Bones and Balance is the result of cooperation between  Community Action and RSVP . Photo credit:  RSVP

Drop-in Tech Help

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.

MassHire Drop-in Career Advice for Young Adults

Come meet with a Young Adult Career Counselor and ask us questions in areas like: resume review, editing & suggestions practice job interview questions job search strategies explore possible career pathways learn more about our programs Career Counselors will be here on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meet in the Reference Room Nook.

Monthly Family Game Time with Northampton Public School's Early Childhood Center

Drop in to play games and meet other families! Enjoy collaborative games like  Snug as a Bug  and  Busy Town , as well as turn-taking games like  Spot It! ,  Hiss , and  Zingo . Games are a great way to build communication skills, problem-solving, and brain development. It's also an enjoyable way to promote family time. This Monthly Family Game Time is geared toward families with children ages 3-8 years old. We'll get together on the third Thursday of the month from 4-5 pm through May 2027, except for February. This event is hosted by the NPS's Early Childhood Center. Questions?: email Ashley Miller at  AsMiller@northampton-k12.us

Northampton Literary Society Writing Meet-Up

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!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Toddler Storytime

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.

HYBRID: Afternoon Book Discussion: Is A River Alive?

This month's book is Is A River Alive?   by Robert Macfarlane . You can request a copy of the book from the library catalog.  About the book:   Macfarlane takes readers on three unforgettable journeys teeming with extraordinary people, stories, and places: to the miraculous cloud-forests and mountain streams of Ecuador, to the wounded creeks and lagoons of India, and to the spectacular wild rivers of Canada—imperiled respectively by mining, pollution, and dams. Braiding these journeys is the life story of the fragile chalk stream a mile from Macfarlane’s house, a stream who flows through his own years and days. This is a hyrbid 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 --- One tap mobile +16469313860,,81924408925#,,,,*272243# US +13017158592,,81924408925#,,,,*272243# US (Washington DC) --- Dial by your location • +1 646 931 3860 US

HYBRID: Social Justice Book Group: "Nothing More of This Land"

This month we will discuss  Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity by Joseph Lee. About the book: Before Martha’s Vineyard became one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the country, it was home to the Wampanoag people. Today, as tourists flock to the idyllic beaches, the island has become increasingly unaffordable for tribal members, with nearly three-quarters now living off-island. Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, journalist Joseph Lee grappled with what this situation meant for his tribe, how the community can continue to grow, and more broadly, what it means to be Indigenous. This discussion is part of the 2026 Great Reads MA program, sponsored by the  Massachusetts Center for the Book . Participants who register for this discussion will receive a free copy of the book (while supplies last) and be invited to a virtual Q&A with the author on September 29 at 6pm. About the Author : Joseph Lee is an Aquinnah Wampanoag writer based in New York City. He has an MFA from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at Mercy University. His writing has been published in  The Guardian, BuzzFeed News, Vox, Electric Literature, High Country News , and more. He was a Margins Fellow at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and a Senior Indigenous Affairs Fellow at  Grist.  He has won multiple awards from the Indigenous Journalists Association for environmental coverage, health coverage, and beat reporting and was awarded a 2024 Silvers Grant for Work in Progress. Follow him on X at @JosephVLee and on Instagram at @Joseph.V.Lee. 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 One tap mobile +13126266799,,93620070920#,,,,*340325# US (Chicago) +16465588656,,93620070920#,,,,*340325# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 936 2007 0920 Passcode: 340325 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcnCepHoM3

Kids' Gaming Club

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can hang out with other young gamers and play the library's Nintendo Switch! We generally play Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, Super Mario: Wonder, and Mario Party.

EVERYTHING OLD IS GARBAGE (a never-ending work in progress)

In this installation, the Arts and Music reading room will be transformed into an interactive, homey space, full of furniture, decor, everyday items, and books!  Everything in the room is second-hand, salvaged, thrifted or recycled–and altered by being covered in cozy stuffed animals.  This ongoing, ever-growing project brings new life to discarded items, and keeps everyday “stuff” out of the waste stream a little while longer.  Gallery goers and library patrons are invited to spend time in the installation, find a cozy chair, read the books, pick up, touch, and interact with the whole exhibit! There will also be an ongoing “leave some stuffies / take some stuffies” program and we invite young people and their parents to bring in stuffed animals they have outgrown, and maybe find a new animal friend to take home!

Catherine Aiello, Laura C. Davis, & Lennie Kaumzha

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Drop in and work on your knitting or crochet projects together.

Ukulele Strum Group

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 .

The Writing Room

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.*

Gentle Yoga on the Lawn with Sanctuary

Connect with your breath and align your body, mind, and spirit with a slow, grounding flow. Explore a variety of yoga postures and breathing techniques, practicing in a way that feels authentic to you. By the end of the class, you should feel more grounded and centered, with a deeper connection to yourself. All experience levels welcome.  Saturdays in September and October, 11am-12pm: September 12 September 19 October 17 October 24 (Rain or shine; we will move indoors into the Community Room if there’s too much rain). Please bring:  A yoga mat (If you do not have a yoga mat, we will have some on hand for you to borrow) Water Sun protectant Registration is required. Click here to register on the Sanctuary website.

Game Designer Day

Come play new board games and meet their designers! A wide range of fun experiences from initial prototype to finished designs will be present. Also, it’s your chance to ask game designers your favorite questions! “How did you think of this?” “How do I get my game published?” “What is your process for developing a game?” Featured game designers:  Jim DuBois has been designing and publishing games of all types for many years, including the hit computer game, Majesty: the fantasy Kingdom sim, and the very recent board game, City of Demons. Come play Aldernyss , a fast-paced, deep, dice-less adventure game, set in a unique fantasy world. Joshua A.C. Newman is the publisher and co-designer of Mobile Frame Zero, and the designer/publisher of the groundbreaking science fiction roleplaying games Shock:Social Science Fiction and Shock:Human Contact.  Funderdome : Design a car in five minutes, then race your Hot Wheels cars on a track, shooting at each other, flinging mines, taping your car back together, dying, living, and dying again on your race to the finish line! Jake Brooks : Race to dress sloths too lazy to dress themselves in Get Up, a 2-4 player, combination speed and (light) strategy game.  Get Up is the first game from CT-based designer Jake Brooks and his company Pal Around Games.  Jonathan Martel : I have enjoyed designing board games since I could first hold a pencil to graph paper. However, as I’ve gotten older, I have been able to meet a number of other game designers and fall more in love with board games and the process of crafting them.  Climate Changed : Can you establish a foothold in our solar system to build and launch a ship that can hold humanity before the clock runs out on Earth?  Ron Pfisterer : I'm a robotic engineer who loves designing everything from 3D prints to board games. In Business Bees , your crew builds synergetic decks; each member plays a unique role in the cooperative enterprise of constructing 3D hives and earning honey.  Juno Orion is a board game designer from Easthampton and a Dad to two smart daughters who will one day be the rightful rulers of the world. In Rule The Realm , the king has died and left no clear successor. Prove you're the rightful heir by drafting cards, hatching your dragon, and influencing powerful mystics to join your clan.

Coolidge Museum 70th anniversary

Coolidge Museum 70th Anniversary! September 16, 1956, the Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library was dedicated by Grace Coolidge after a renovation in 1955. Photo on left of Grace, son John, his daughters Cynthia and Lydia and wife Florence at the ceremony.     Join us on Saturday September 19 as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Coolidge Museum with a concert of 1920s inspired music and dance by the Butterfly Swing Band.   Coolidge inspired treats and 1920s style mocktails will be served.   Free and open to the public In case of rain, the event will be held in the Coolidge Museum.

KidLit Children's Writers & Illustrators Meetup

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 Margaret Frothingham: mkfrothingham@gmail.com

VIRTUAL: Spanish Conversation Group

Welcome! This program is designed not only to improve language, but also to provide education about all Latin American countries including Spain and one African nation. We listen to music, view and analyze films, and use literature and history of these countries and distinct communication topics. I, Silvia,also sometimes give give homework that I will later grade.  All levels are accepted, but as this is an immersion group we only speak in Spanish , and electronic devices are only for personal use in your homes. We should be present in the short class time, rather than being immersed in a screen. For more information and zoom link, email Silvia at garabato.m7@gmail.com. ¡Bienvenidos! Este programa está diseñado no solo para mejorar el idioma, sino para recibir educación acerca de todos los países Latinoamericanos incluyendo a España y a un país de África. Escuchamos música, vemos y analizamos películas y usamos la literatura e historia de estos países y distintos temas de comunicación. También algunas veces yo, Silvia, doy tareas para la casa que después corrijo.  Todos los niveles son aceptados, pero como e s un grupo de inmersión sólo se habla en español y los aparatos electrónicos son únicamente para uso personal en sus casas. Debemos estar presentes en el corto tiempo de clase, en lugar de estar sumergidos dentro de una pantalla. Para más información y el enlace de Zoom, envía un correo electrónico a Silvia en garabato.m7@gmail.com.