Friends of the Jones Library System - Amherst, MA

06/12/2026

ESL Volunteers Needed!
The ESL program needs volunteers to work with adult immigrants from a variety of countries. Volunteers should be fluent English speakers, but no prior teaching experience or second language skills are required. We are looking for one-to-one tutors as well as conversation partners. Learn more: https://www.joneslibrary.org/301/Teach-English

06/11/2026

The Jones Libraries will close at 12:00pm on Friday, June 12 for the Amherst Town Employee Picnic.

06/11/2026

Here's a sneak preview of our upcoming interview with the George Hicks-Richards, Director of Facilities at the Jones Library! He spoke with us recently about the historical preservation aspect of the building project.

06/09/2026

We love the Staff Picks and Amherst Favorites shelves at the library. What treasures have you snagged from these sections?

06/05/2026

We hope to see you on Sunday!

Join us at the Friends of the Jones Library System's ANNUAL MEETING!

June 7, 2026
3:00-5:00
Town Room, Second Floor
Town Hall, Amherst

The Board will present a brief report on our activities for the year and hold votes to elect board members and amend the by-laws (see Board Business below). This will be followed by a conversation with distinguished sports journalist and author Howard Bryant and former sports and investigative reporter David Porter.

The Kings & Pawns presentation will be open to the public. However, only Friends members may vote on Board business. A Member is anyone who has made a donation of any amount to the Friends of the Jones Library System, Inc. within the past 12 months. You are welcome to join or renew your membership before the event! (joneslibrary.org/donate)

Light refreshments will be available.

BOARD BUSINESS

Board Nominees:
This year's nominees are Kelly Erwin, Kathy Lanza and Lisa Perlbinder, who will be seeking another term, and Ellen Keiter, who has been nominated for a first term.

Addition to By-Laws:
Members may also vote to add an “emeritus member” provision the Board by-laws (Article 4, part e).

"Board Members who have provided distinguished, long-term service to the Friends of the Jones Libraries may be elected by a majority vote of the Board as Emeritus/Emerita Board Members. They shall serve in an honorary and advisory capacity only, shall not vote on Board matters, and shall not be included in determining a quorum."

06/03/2026

Whoooo's been getting scoops at a local dairy farm?

Sammy the Owl, of course!

Help us reach our goal of 50 donations (e.g. 50 scoops on Sammy's sundae) before the end of our fiscal year—June 30th!): joneslibrary.org/donate

Your donations provide essential funding for library programs, services, materials, and staffing.

Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silos

06/02/2026

"At home, teens are with their parents, and at school they are with their teachers. With a social space like the library, they don’t have to have friends over to their house. There’s democracy in it—everything here is available to everyone. They can learn to navigate on their own without adults constantly telling them what to do, but still have the basic consequences that come with being in a public setting. Their social skills develop phenomenally." - Cecilia Jezek, Head of Teen Services at the Jones Library

Yes, the renovated and expanded Jones Library will have a full Teen Center!! Read about it in our most recent blog post:

Cecilia: I went to Amherst College, where I interned with Amherst Media and worked at the college radio station. After college I worked at the University of Washington Libraries and got my Masters in Library Science. I was very involved with activism addressing media literacy and the concentration o...

06/01/2026

So....is it summer yet?

Wacky weather aside, Amherst's libraries are gearing up for a summer full of fun and enriching programs and events. We need YOU, our wonderful supporters, to help make it all happen.

Sammy the Owl (our library mascot) is asking for 50 donations by the end of the fiscal year—June 30—and he's keeping track by measuring in scoops. Donate today! joneslibrary.org/donate

And stay tuned for some live Sammy visits to local frozen dessert shops!

Our libraries offer so much during the hot summer months:

- our long-running Summer Reading Program for kids, teens, and adults
- special events like Caravan Puppets and the Summer Reading Kick-Off with a concert by The Nields
- continued programming: Story Time, Drop-In Technology Support, knitting and stitching groups, Ukulele Play-Along, book groups, Cookbook Club, Poetry Discussion Group, 50-Plus Job Seekers Networking Group, and so much more!
- an abundance of new books and media
- a cool place to hang out on hot days

THANK YOU! We appreciate everything you do for our community.

05/29/2026

Walk with the Jones Libraries in the Amherst Pride Parade!

Want to walk with the Jones Libraries in the Amherst Pride Parade? We'd love to have you join us!

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Amherst Pride Parade
Sunday, June 28
Parade: noon - 1pm*
Rally: 1 -3pm
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

*We will meet at 11 am at Amherst Regional High School.

Interested folks should sign up so that we can get a head count:
joneslibrary.org/amherstprideparade
🌈