Forbes Library, the public library for Northampton, Massachusetts, provides a wide range of information, materials and services to all of the people of Northampton and Massachusetts. The library’s magnificent building offers a friendly, welcoming physical environment which encourages the civic, intellectual, and cultural pursuits of the public. Forbes serves as a community meeting place in which curiosity, free inquiry, and lifelong learning are supported and nurtured. The library is open 56 hours per week, and many resources are available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Forbes collections are large and varied including not only popular fiction and non-fiction, large arts and music and children’s departments, and an impressive art gallery, but also an extensive local history and genealogy collection for Hampshire County as well as the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum. Forbes also offers Northampton an array of programming and reference services for all ages, ranging from author readings to music and dance demonstrations, dramatic readings and performances, to writing workshops, book and poetry discussion groups, internet training workshops, knitting, chess, and storytimes.
There are multiple event and meeting spaces available for public use, including the Friends of Forbes Community Room (capacity 50), the Watson Room (capacity 15), and the Bak Study Room (capacity 6). The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum is located on the second floor of the library and is used for evening events and performances, with library staff special approval.
