Daily Hampshire Gazette - Established 1786
Cloudy
56°
Cloudy
Hi 80° | Lo 58°

Your Time: Forbes Library, Northampton

  • Laura Biddulph<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Forbes Library<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Mike Goodman<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Kathleen Kent<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Rosie Buchanan, left, Alison Noyes<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Jason Mazzotta, Trang Vo<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Bobbie Salthouse, Hosmer Gallery<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • Josh Kroner<br/>JERREY ROBERTS
  • before Toddler Time at the Forbes Library. KEVIN GUTTING
  • Ryan Duffy, Interlibrary Loan Assistant, Monday morning on the mezzanine level of Forbes Library, Northampton.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Stella Rabinowitz of Northampton reads Monday morning in the periodical section at Forbes Library, Northampton.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Stella Rabinowitz of Northampton reads Monday morning in the periodical section at Forbes Library, Northampton.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • before Toddler Time at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Stairwell "F" and "L" at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Levi Manseau, 20 months, of Florence plays before Toddler Time at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Claire Kmetz, right, and Tanner Kmetz, 3 1/2, of Easthampton at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Stephanie Levine, left, leads Toddler Time at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Gram Flynn, left, Keira Tataro, 2 1/2, Kayleight Tataro, 10 months, and Krissy Tataro of Easthampton play before Toddler Time at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING
  • Tracey Kry, left, and Violet Kry of Warren at Toddler Time at the Forbes Library.<br/>KEVIN GUTTING

Photos and text by Jerrey Robertsand Kevin Gutting

Thursday, March 21, 2013
(Published in print: Friday, July 27, 2012)

Judge Charles E. Forbes, a longtime Northampton resident who died in 1881, wrote in his will that the city’s inhabitants should have “the means of learning, if they are disposed to learn, the marvellous development of modern thought. The importance of the education of the people cannot be overrated.” The result of the bequest was Forbes Library, the three-story stone structure on West Street that was finished in 1894 at a cost of $114,000.

These days, Forbes is a community hub that hosts a range of activities that might surprise the judge. Throughout the week, visitors can be found browsing the stacks on the glass-floored mezzanine, relaxing with a magazine in the reading room, playing chess, arriving with children in tow for Toddler Time, attending a knitting workshop, yoga class or art exhibit, or doing research in the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum.

“This is a great library,” said Josh Kroner of Pelham, who was playing chess there one recent day. “There are lots of activities and offerings, not just books.”

Hallisey Lawton of Westfield, a caregiver for a Northampton family, was also at Forbes for her weekly visit. “It’s a good out-of-the-house getaway,” she said. “They have a lot of awesome programs for kids, which is really nice.”

PULL QUOTE:

“It’s a great opportunity for caregivers and for kids to socialize. We love the library.”

— Mindy Haskins Rogers of Florence

To suggest a subject for Your Time, email Suzanne Wilson at swilson@gazettenet.com.

There are no comments yet. Be the first!
Post a Comment

You must be registered to comment on stories. Click here to register.