Upcoming Events at Forbes Library

Closed: Monday, February 20

The library will be closed on Monday, February 20, 2023 for Presidents' Day. We will reopen with usual hours on Tuesday, February 21 at 10 am. 

Toiletries Drive To Benefit Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals, Inc.

Throughout the month of February, Forbes Library is collecting toiletries to support local residents who are experiencing homelessness.
The following supplies are needed:
deodorant, shampoo, shaving materials, lip balm,
small bar soap, hand or foot warmers, men’s underwear (new in package), small packages of tissues, small packages of Bandaids,
snack bars, and insulated water bottles with tight seals.

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.

Kids' Chess Club
Saturday, February 18, 2023, 4 pm

Back by popular demand! All levels welcome! For ages 9+. Learn the rules and how to use all of your pieces. First come, first served. Attendance limited to 14 people. We will meet monthly from 4-5 PM on the following Saturdays: 

Feb. 18

Mar. 18

Apr. 15.

No registration is required. We look forward to seeing you!

Virtual Middle Grade Book Club
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 4 pm

Join us on Zoom to discuss this month's book, A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga. For ages 8-12. Email [email protected] to register and receive the Zoom meeting link!

Teen Anime Club

Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 4 pm

Watch anime, check out the library's growing collection of manga, and make fan art with our craft supplies! This month, we'll be watching episodes of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.

Magic the Gathering Club for Tweens & Teens
Thursday, February 23, 2023, 3:45 pm

Join us for a casual meetup for tweens & teens interested in the tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering. 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. Questions? Email [email protected]

Northampton Literary Society
Writing Meet-up
Thursday, February 23, 2023, 6 pm

Lite socializing, low-stakes sharing, and informal critique - as well as some time writing, of course! We warmly welcome writers of all genres and levels of experience.

We will start every meeting with a friendly check in, followed by a 15-20 minute writing prompt. After an optional share out, you are welcome to hang out and work on whatever you’ve got - flesh out the prompt, work on your novel, maybe get crafty with some visual poetry or collage. This is an inclusive, expansive creative space! Come when you can, and stay as long as you like. Let’s get together, get some good work done, and enjoy each others company! 

Optional preregistration is through Eventbrite, where you’ll also find info on our open mics and other events.

Kids' Gaming Club
Fridays, 4-5 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.

Crafternoon for Kids
Saturday, February 25, 2023, 3 pm

Join us in the community room for an afternoon of creativity! We'll have everything you need to use your imagination and make an open-ended craft. Ages 4+.

Slavery and Christianity

College Church invites you to Slavery and Christianity: Jonathan Edwards’ Journey from Slaver to Early Abolitionist
Sunday February 26 at 1PM 

Two local historians, Historic Northampton's Elizabeth Sharpe and Forbes Library's Elise Bernier-Feeley will delve into the history of slavery in Northampton, and tell the fascinating story of how Jonathan Edwards views on slavery evolved over the course of his life.  Q & A time will follow and refreshments will be served.  Free and open to the public!

In the Hosmer Gallery

Paintings and Digital Art by Sunny Allis, Ella N. Alkiewicz, and Jay Smith

February 1-28, 2023