Upcoming Events at Forbes Library

Celebrate Pride with Forbes!

Hampshire Pride returns this year on Saturday, May 6, 2023. This year's parade begins at 11 am at Old Ferry Road and Route 9 and marches to the Armory Street lot behind Thornes. We'll see you there!

More information about volunteering, floats, and performances available on Hampshire Pride's website.  

The David Ruggles Center for History and Education will host its Annual Founders Day Symposium on Saturday, May 6, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity. Forbes Library is proud to be a co-sponsor of this program. 

Our guest speaker is Lydia Moland, the author of an acclaimed new biography of Lydia Maria Child, a key figure in the national movement to abolish slavery who spent critical years living in Florence. Her talk will be preceded by a tribute to John H. Bracey, Jr.: author, activist, scholar and professor in the W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst. Erika Slocumb, a former student of Dr. Bracey, will speak to his influence on her and many others.

10:00-11:00: Meet Lydia Moland in the Grow Food Organic Community Garden where we grow sugar beets on the same land Lydia and David Child did in the 1830s.
1:00-3:00: A tribute to Dr. Bracey followed by Lydia Moland’s talk: “Gathering Flowers on the Dusty Road of Duty: Lydia Maria Child on Beauty and Reform”. Doors open at 12:30.
3:30-5:00: Join us at the Ruggles Center to celebrate the life and legacy of John H. Bracey, Jr. with friends and family. Light refreshments provided.

This event is free of charge but donations are very much appreciated.
For further information write to [email protected].

Library Programs

Visit our online calendar to see a complete list of library events. Filter using the category "VIRTUAL" to find events that can be attended remotely.

Tween Art Studio 

Monday, May 1, 2023, 4:30 pm

Join us in the Community Room to make art! This program is for ages 9-12 and meets the first Monday of the month at 4:30. For May we're sewing mini animals! Choose to make a penguin, bunny, fox, sloth, and more! We'll have all the supplies needed to make an adorable mini animal. 

Straw Dog Writers Guild Writers Night Out
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 6 pm

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at Forbes Library for Writers Night Out with a featured writer, Simon Hart. This event is organized by Straw Dog Writers Guild.

No registration required.

Raising Anti-Racist Children: Author Talk with Britt Hawthorne
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 1 pm

Register to attend this virtual author talk. 

Are you committed to building an antiracist family environment for your children? Raising antiracist children is a noble goal for any parent, caregiver, or educator, but it can be hard to know where to start. Let Britt Hawthorne—a nationally recognized teacher and advocate—be your guide. Raising Antiracist Children acts as an interactive guide for strategically incorporating the tools of inclusivity into everyday life and parenting.

Special Storytime and Craft with Author Vivienne Chang!
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 4 pm

Join us for a storytime and arts & crafts (make your own book) with author Vivienne Chang as she shares her debut picture book, This is Not My Home! A powerful reverse immigration story about a Taiwanese American girl, Lily, who moves to Taiwan, and how she turns this place into her home. This event is great for all ages. 

With support from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ Public Intellectuals Program, which is generously funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Book Talk with Michael Miller
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 6:30 pm

Book talk with local author Michael Miller and his new novel, High Bridge that tells the intertwined stories of a future President, Grover Cleveland, and a suffragist, Matilda Joslyn Gage, set in mid nineteenth century Fayetteville, New York.   

Join us in person in the Coolidge Museum or watch the livestream.

Virtual : Far Out Film Discussion
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 8 pm

Far Out Film Discussion will have a zoom meeting to talk about the debut feature film by American film director Mark Rappaport - Casual Relations from 1974.

Video Link

- Casual Relations (Rappaport, 1974) - Complete Film (Kanopy 1h 30m)

To virtually attend this discussion, join us on Zoom!

Magic the Gathering Club for Tweens & Teens
Thursday, May 4, 2023, 3:45 pm

Curious about learning how to play? Know how it works but looking for other players? All are welcome! 

Bring your own decks to use if you have them, or if you don't have any cards - that's ok - Forbes will provide cards to use at the library! 

This program is for ages 10+ and meeting biweekly, Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm in the Children's Dept starting December 15. Questions? Email [email protected]

Virtual Teen Book Club: Chaos & Flame By Tessa Gratton And Justina Ireland
Thursday, May 4, 2023, 4:30 pm

Join us for a chat and pick next month's read! This meeting is for teens only and will take place via Zoom; contact [email protected] for the meeting link.

This month, we will be reading Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland.

A Program for Exercising the Mind
Thursday, May 4, 2023, 6:30 pm

Right here in the Pioneer Valley there is an organization of intellectually curious people who come together to share their knowledge, ideas, humor and concerns while studying a particular subject. Using a variety of seminar styles (on Zoom and in person) and other ways of coming together, members of the Five College Learning in Retirement (FCLIR) program learn from each other. And along the way many form new friendships, another benefit enhancing their quality of life. And no, you don’t have to be retired to become a member.

Members from FCLIR will be here to explain how the program works and answer questions. You can also go to 5clir.org to find out more about the program and/or email [email protected] with questions.

Kids' Gaming Club
Friday, May 5, 2023, 4 pm

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's new Nintendo Switch!

For teens ages 12 and up, check out our Teen Gaming Lounge on Tuesdays.

In the Hosmer Gallery

JFK Middle School Student Art Exhibition

May 2-30, 2023
Opening Reception: May 12, 2023, 4-6pm

The Hosmer Gallery is thrilled to welcome art students of JFK for their first exhibit this May! This year’s display will showcase 6th through 8th grade student artwork that encompasses a range of material exploration and themes. Selections are curated by art teachers Emma Mendoker and Michelle Mallory. Work will be all media: ceramics, sculptural, mixed media, drawing, printmaking, painting, and collage.

Artwork above by Lily Sosa Cruz.