Saturday, November 7, 2015

Sprucing Up The Town's Living Room

Jones Library:  "The town's living room"

Downtown anchor and all around gem in the bag of treasured municipal buildings, the Jones Library is a destination spot that attracts thousands of customers of all ages and socioeconomic standings.

One of the many attractions is the comfortable interior that allows one to settle in for concentrated study of important historical documents, the latest non-fiction best seller, or just a casual reading of the local newspapers (all two of them).

Like The Case Of The Purloined Letter, a real treasure lurks in the background that quietly contributes to the Jones overall ambiance: paintings, statues and rugs.

 Cindy Harbeson (far left) waiting to present to Jones Library Trustees Thursday morning

Recently hired Special Collection Director Cindy Harbeson updated the Board of Trustees on her department which included the public relations outreach, increased security for priceless collection materials and a current appraisal for all the furnishings scattered about the entire Library:


The Library will be unveiling a half-dozen paintings that were recently restored via $10,000 in Community Preservation Act monies Town Meeting approved in 2011, on Sunday, November 22nd.

I can't think of a better way of bringing brightness to an otherwise sad anniversary.



6 comments:

Rene said...

Larry,
One small nit to pick with your language choice referring to people who use the library as "customers." When I go to a store to buy something, then, yes, I'm a customer as defined in the dictionary, "a person or organization that buys goods or services from a store or business." When I go to the library, I do nor purchase anything, rather I "borrow" an item (book, DVD, etc) or "attend" an event or "look at" art and pay no money. Perhaps a better choice would have been Library user or patron.

Yes, I know, it's a small thing, but I'm tired of the trend that makes us all "customers" as if economic relations were the only kind of relations there are.

Larry Kelley said...

The customer is always right. Especially in Amherst.

Walter Graff said...

I think Larry was using the second definition - a person or thing of a specified kind that one has to deal with.

Anonymous said...

You are correct. And yes, it really Is a small thing. As though capitalism was a bad thing.

Anonymous said...

God, er... Griff forbid we should use a word that has the evil conotation that one might purchase something and contribute to the success of an enterprise. Lemme guess: another vote for Bernie . Lol. Be my.. Er.. guest.

Anonymous said...

Where was the meeting held?

That room needs a little TLC- Metal folding chairs?