FORBESlibrary NORTHAMPTON’S PUBLIC LIBRARY

Summer 2014 FRIENDS OF FORBES NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Issue 1

Elevator Fundraising Goal Surpassed Gardens of Earthly Delight Construction to Begin This Fall One of the great pleasures for garden- ers throughout the Valley is the annual Northampton Garden Tour, which ben- efits the Friends of Forbes Library. Plant lovers can explore seven varied gardens on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tour, which marks its 21st year this season, offers a mix of flora, from an expansive country hideaway to a cluster of small urban sanctuaries.

To protect the owners’ privacy, the exact addresses of the gardens aren’t publicized. When people buy their tickets, however, they will receive a map. The tour is self- guided, so that people can enjoy the gar- dens at their own pace and in any order. Judy and Mike Ryan (center) were honored for their fundraising efforts by the Library Trustees (from left) Joseph Gardeners and volunteer guides will be on Twarog, Bonnie Burnham, Peter Rowe, Marjorie Hess, Russell Carrier, and Janet Moulding. hand to answer questions. In just a little more than a year, the Forbes important challenge, and we can’t wait for for All Handicap Elevator fundrais- the elevator to be installed.” ing campaign has blown past its goal. The new hydraulic elevator will cost an Architect Thomas Douglas completed the estimated $300,000, and the library has construction documents, and the project raised $327,000. was put out for bids from contractors in early May, with a deadline of June 11. The “We are very grateful for everyone’s sup- elevator, which will fit the architectural port to make this elevator happen,” said style of the building, is expected to be Library Director Janet Moulding. “Our completed this year. The hydraulic elevator community responded generously to this will provide a comfortable and reliable ride see ELEVATOR, page 6 Friends Annual Meeting Lecture Connects the Dots Between Local, National History

The intersection of regional and national Elise Bernier-Feeley, a local and family Feick Betsy by Photo history was front and center at the an- history librarian at Forbes. Her fascinating In choosing the tour’s sites, the garden nual meeting of the Friends of Forbes lecture was titled “Caleb Strong and the committee has several criteria for selection, Library at the Coolidge Museum on April Ugly Duckling.” including diversity in the types of gardens 2. After giving an update on the Friends’ and their settings, educational potential, accomplishments over the past year, board Strong was a native son of Northampton, an original vision, and at least one garden President Martha McCormick introduced who, after practicing law in Hampshire that grows fruit and vegetables. see ANNUAL MEETING, page 3 see GARDENS, page 6 MONDAY NIGHT TECH CLASSES The Reference De- The library received 57 adult entries and LIBRARY BRIEFS partment recently launched the Monday 11 from teenagers. “We were so pleased with Night Technology class series. Every Monday the number and quality of the entries—the LIBRARY RECEIVES NEARLY $4,000 IN FSB AWARDS from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. a tech class will con- judges had a very difficult time deciding on Forbes Library received $3,859 at the Flor- vene in the Community Room. Topics are the winners,” said Molly Moss, head of the ence Savings Bank People’s Choice Awards wide-ranging, including the basics of Micro- Reference Department. ceremony on 5. It was largest sum the soft Word and Twitter and how to find good Ellen LaFleche, a published poet and edi- library has yet received in the Peoples Choice recipes online. tor, won the adult category for “Why I Wake Awards, which allows FSB customers to vote Early,” and home-schooled River Pasquale for their favorite nonprofit organization. The won the teen category for “That Summer.” bank then makes donations to the highest- Both will receive a Northampton Chamber of ranking nonprofits. Forbes Library came in Commerce gift card. Visit the library’s Face- seventh place in a field of 400 organizations. book page for more book-spine poems. The bank also gave Forbes Library a special award of $2,500 in memory of former Forbes treasurer and FSB president Edward Morin. Why I Wake Early At a subsequent meeting, the Forbes trustees used the money to establish the Edward Mo- Seeing things before the dawn: rin Fund, which will be used to finance the Day lilies wash a kind of yellow remodeling of the circulation desk. They also into the forest. contributed $1,000 to the fund. A home at the end of the world.

Just before dark, Iconic baby head sculpture outside MFA, Boston what moves is not the wind. REDUCED ADMISSION TO MFA, BOSTON Thanks to Ruby owls and other fantasies, a generous gift from the Friends of Forbes scarlet tanager, Library, the library now offers passes to the a feast of snakes. Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Passes pro- vide $10 admission for up to two adults; chil- THE WOW IS NOW Forbes Library’s new service We who would not kill dren under 18 are admitted for $10 during Wowbrary sends you free weekly emails fea- for the relief the week and are free on weekends. Passes turing its latest acquisitions. Check out all the of unbearable urges. may be picked up at the front desk during wonderful new books, DVDs, and CDs as regular library hours and are valid during the The angel of history, soon as they arrive. To get your weekly notice, year printed on the ticket and need not be re- kind one, visit wowbrary.org/signup.aspx. turned to the library. Patrons may have up to in such hard times I died for beauty. two passes a month. The MFA is one of the most comprehen- Ellen LaFleche sive art museums in the world; its collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works of art. From Renaissance and Baroque masters to Impressionist marvels, African masks and Na- tive American pottery to contemporary crafts, the collections are extraordinary in breadth and depth. Call (617) 267-9300 for informa- tion on current exhibits or visit the museum’s website at www.mfa.org. Forbes Library patrons may also use a dozen other museum passes that offer free or TEEN SUMMER READING PROGRAM Forbes will host reduced admission to area museums. an adult and teen summer reading program from June 23 to Aug. 29. We know you’ll be POETRY WITH SPINE In celebration of April as Na- reading this summer so why not get involved tional Poetry Month, the library sponsored its and win a prize or two? Just pick up a form second Book Spine Poetry Contest, challeng- at the Reference Desk, read or listen to any ing poets to compose works using the titles three books, and briefly recommend one title. on the spines of books. Poets were asked to No registration is required. Call the Reference use books from the Forbes collection, pho- Desk at (413) 587-1012 or email reference@ tograph them, and upload their photographs forbeslibrary.org for more information. to Facebook.

page 2 Oh, Those Incredible, Edible Books! Books can fire the imagination and fuel the appetite, and they did both at the annual Edible Book event at the Flor- ence Civic Center on April 6. The annual fundraiser, which features food inspired by books, was dished up by the Friends of Forbes Library.

Forbes Library Trustee Bonnie Burnham and retired profes- sor of library science Dee Michel once again produced the moveable feast, which featured 26 delectable entries from book interpreters of all ages. With ingredients ranging from Peeps to horseradish and dishes drawn from all genres, the “books” provided food for thought.

Photos, clockwise from top right: Literary gourmets re- gard The Enormous Croco- dile; “The Metamorphosis: Kafka’s Apple Tart,” by Toni Bonazoli, won the award for Most Appetizing; judges Kelsey Flynn, Steve Herrell, and Gavin Grant consider the menu.

from ANNUAL MEETING, page 1 home from servicemen who had served on den tour, raffle baskets, and Edible Book County, rose rapidly to prominence in the ship. They had never been postmarked. event,” she said. “I’m looking forward to both Massachusetts and national politics. A modern-day hero, a post office employee the always-superb garden tour and this He helped draft both the Massachusetts named Meg Harris, took it upon herself to year’s wine tasting in September. and Federal constitutions and served as track down the intended recipients of the governor and a U.S. senator. letters—“wives, sweethearts, mothers, and “I’m most grateful for the dedicated service fathers,” as Bernier-Feeley put it. Harris of the board, for the wonderful library Strong, who died in 1819, was an exem- found all but eight of those for whom the administrators and staff, the volunteers and plary man. After vividly bringing him to letters were intended. the trustees who all keep the library hum- life, Bernier-Feeley leaped nimbly from ming with energy,” she concluded. the nineteenth century to the twenti- “What a story,” Bernier-Feeley said, “of eth, which is when her story took an courage, faith, loyalty, persistence, and unexpected turn. During World War II, determination this is—a story worthy a cargo transport ship, the S.S. Caleb of Northampton’s own.” After Bernier- Strong, was named after him. Such ships Feeley’s inspiring lecture, the Friends were called Liberty Ships, but because of along with the others in attendance their size and ungainliness, they were also enjoyed refreshments. nicknamed “Ugly Ducklings.” McCormick, Friends board president, Decades later, in 1986, a workman in looked back on the past year with consider- Raleigh, N.C., found a regulation U.S. able satisfaction. “We had a successful year, Navy mailbag that contained 235 letters raising funds through our wine tasting, gar- Elise Bernier-Feeley

page 3 HOSMER GALLERY

MAY 2014

Northampton High School Student Show

by Olivia DeLisle

JUNE 2014

Wilbraham Art League: 3 Objects Novel Affairs, Passionate Readers

JULY 2014 Now celebrating its twelfth year, the Second What books have you enjoyed most? Monday Book Club at Forbes is a forum for Diane Harr gouache paintings, Italy discussing great books, new and classic. Each Impossible to say as a group. While we may member takes turns leading the lively discus- agree that a book is a good choice for discus- Martha Ebner sions, but longtime participant Caroline sion, we’re not always in agreement about drawings, monotypes, watercolors Batson spoke with us about what makes the whether we, as individuals, enjoyed reading group so compelling. it. Frequently, the group is split between liking a book and hating it, and variations What makes your book group unique? in between. But one of the best parts of the discussions—and a quality we work hard to I asked the group and five main answers maintain—is respect for each other’s opin- emerged: 1) the quality and variety of the ions, even when we passionately disagree. books, 2) the thoughtful quality of the It’s especially fun when you come to that discussions, 3) the variety of and respect for month’s discussion not liking the book, Monhegan Poppies, by Martha Ebner each other’s opinions, 4) the democratic way wondering why on earth it was chosen, and the books are chosen, and 5) the way we then get turned around by hearing what Lisa Henry charcoal & graphite drawings share the leadership. others valued in it.

How do you select which books to discuss? We’ve had great discussions about Virginia AUGUST 2014 Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, Salman Rushdie’s Walter Cudnohufsky Everyone in the group may suggest titles. Midnight’s Children, Barbara Kingsolver’s The landscape watercolors A subcommittee is formed, with the sug- Poisonwood Bible, by Russell Banks’s Conti- gestions split among the members, who nental Drift, ’s Bridge of Sighs, Caren Hyde research the books, then bring that info Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, and many, many acrylic landscape paintings back to the subcommittee to discuss. There others. We’ve read some authors more than usually are two to three dozen titles to start, once (Jane Austen, John Banville, Ian McE- with 12 to 14 books finally chosen. The wan, , Cynthia Ozick, main criterion is whether a book can sustain Colm Toibin, to name a few). And we enjoy a two-hour discussion, so the subcommittee reading “new” authors, that is, new to the pays attention to the storyline, quality of group, such as the ones coming up this year: writing, and whether a book has won any Betty Smith, Paul Harding, Eleanor Morse, major prizes. , and Walter Kirn.

Floating Islands, by Caren Hyde see NOVEL AFFAIRS, page 6

page 4 A Support System for a long time—demonstrated that the While Looking for Work current high unemployment rate is not simply the result of individual situations but of widespread problems in the econo- Whether you’re looking for a job or a new my. It also created a space for exchanging career, why not explore your options at useful information as well as expressing the library’s Job Seeker’s Support Group? the positive and negative feelings that are It’s facilitated by Jane Sommer, a deeply part of being involuntarily unemployed. experienced career counselor. The follow- Although the group is not a therapy ses- ing letter was written by Richard Holmes, sion, it was healing to many participants a former group participant who recently who found it a highlight of their week, found work: offering them support in tough times. After several years as a term employee Jane Sommer is, in my view, the center of with the National Park Service, work- the group and an extraordinary resource. ing as an archaeologist at the Statue of She facilitates the meetings without Jane Sommer Liberty and Ellis Island, my job vanished dominating them, making people with with government budget cuts in 2011. I I recently accepted a new professional different backgrounds feel comfortable returned to the Valley, where I have deep position, and I’m awaiting the comple- enough to tell their stories, ask ques- ties, but I couldn’t find work here—or tion of paperwork for the job. Looking tions, and contribute to discussions. She anywhere else that I looked. The discour- back on an extended episode that I didn’t never insists that anyone do one thing or agement that comes from an unsuccessful anticipate in my life, being out of work another, and she lets participants share job search while burning through finan- seems to have been a psychological and what really matters to them. As most of cial resources can be physically tiring and spiritual journey as much as it was a the participants had been in the work wearing on the spirit. financial one. force for quite a while before becoming unemployed, it’s beneficial that Jane re- Fortunately, there are places to get sup- It involved making the right steps to get spects their experiences and doesn’t limit port, and I found one at the Forbes a job. The group was a weekly solace and the group to résumé and interview advice Library in the Job Seeker’s Support the best thing that I did during that time. (although she ably provides such advice, Group. It wasn’t only practical assistance as requested). Her positive attitude cheers that was offered, although that was avail- The Job Seeker’s Support Group meets many people and helps turn strangers able. Meeting people with a wide range Tuesdays in the Community Room from into friends. of abilities and different job histories but 1:30 to 3 p.m. who were also out of work—sometimes

4th annual fundraiser WINE TASTING to benefit the forbes library The Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program is an annual program that allows Florence Savings Bank customers to vote for their favorite local non-profit to receive a share of $75,000.

Friends of Forbes Library, Inc. name of local non-profit You must be an FSB customer to vote. Northampton, MA september city/state friday, sep. 26, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. your name tickets $25 per person purchase tickets at: e-mail forbes library www.forbeslibrary.org Mail or drop off at any of our offices or vote online at www.florencesavings.com/vote.

page 5 from ELEVATOR, page 1 from GARDENS, page 1 from the ground level up to the library’s ten, people who need it are denied their Tickets for the tour are $15 in advance first floor. right to use their public library. That and are available at Forbes Library, Bay is unacceptable!” State Perennials, Cooper’s Corner, Had- In appreciation of their contribution, the ley Garden Center, and State Street Fruit Forbes Library Trustees gave a reception in The new elevator will be installed in . On the day of the tour, tickets April to honor Mike and Judy Ryan, who library’s front entrance in place of the lift. are $20, sold only at Forbes Library and led the fundraising committee. The Ryans, Douglas’s architectural design creates an Garden No. 1. both Northampton natives and longtime elevator that will be much more reliable, library patrons, received the 27th Trustees easy to operate, and inexpensive to repair. Award for their service. Mike Ryan is an attorney and former judge, and Judy Ryan Inevitably, there will be some disrup- is a retired schoolteacher. tion of the library’s front entranceway at times during construction, but the Built in 1893, with no floor at the ground library will remain open while the front

level, the Forbes Library building could entrance is blocked. Feick Betsy by Photo only be entered by climbing up or down flights of stairs. In 1986, a handicap lift The Children’s Room entrance on the The tour has a raffle as well, with prizes was installed in the main entrance. Often west side of the building will remain such as organic compost, gift certificates, out of service and difficult to use, that lift open throughout the process. For a few garden supplies, and a landscape consulta- was replaced in 2005. The replacement lift weeks during construction, the library tion. Raffle tickets are two for $5 or five proved unreliable and expensive. will not be handicap accessible. Pa- for $10 and are available at Forbes Library trons who cannot enter the building are through the day before the tour and at “It was out of service more than half of encouraged to make arrangements for Garden No. 2 the day of the tour. the year in 2012 and cost nearly $10,000 someone to pick up materials for them in repairs,” Moulding said. “The old lift, or use interlibrary loan to request books when it is working, is shaky and creaky, and videos to be held for them at a from NOVEL AFFAIRS, page 4 but when it is out of service, which is of- neighboring library. What books led to the best discussions? Join your Friends to Support Forbes Library Seven words—the ones we have most The Friends of Forbes is a nonprofit organization whose disagreed about. mission is to help and enrich the Forbes Library so it may better serve the public. Through its membership and various fundraising activities the Friends of Forbes provides financial Everyone is welcome. The club meets at support for programs, projects, events and materials whose 6:30 pm in the Watson Room each second costs are not met from the library’s annual operating budget. Monday of the month, except for October, q We/I wish to join as a new member of the Friends of Forbes Library when it will gather on the first Monday q We/I wish to renew my membership to the Friends of Forbes Library because of the Columbus Day holiday. q Senior Citzen $15 q Supporting $50-$149 q Individual $20 q Sustaining $150-$499 q Family $35 q Benefactor $500-$1000 WIN RED SOX TICKETS Our Red Sox Raffle Basket will be in the name (please print) lobby of the library start- ing on June 18th. The street address basket will contain 2 box seats for a city/state/zip September game, e-mail as well as other Red Sox goodies. q We/I wish to make an additional donation of $ to the Friends of Forbes Endowment Fund $1 each or 6 for $5. q Please send more information about the Friends of Forbes Endowment Fund GO SOX!

newsletter printing made possible by The Friends of Forbes Library page 6 newsletter design & layout by sandy duclos @ www.behance.net/sandyduclos