The Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts, was established through the will of Judge Charles…read moreEdward Forbes, who died in 1881. He left $220,000 to the city to create a public library that would be free and accessible to all residents. Construction began in 1893, and the library opened in 1894. The building was designed by architect William Brocklesby in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, using Longmeadow brownstone and fireproof steel framing. It remains one of the most architecturally distinctive civic buildings in western Massachusetts. Judge Forbes was not related to the Forbes family associated with Forbes magazine or the well-known Forbes millionaire rankings. His wealth came from investments in the New Haven and Northampton Canal and later in railroads. He lived modestly, never married, and rented rooms in town. His legacy was civic rather than commercial, focused on education and public access to knowledge. The library also houses the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, reflecting its deep ties to local and national history. So while the name might suggest a connection to publishing or wealth, the Forbes Library stands as a monument to quiet generosity and intellectual accessibility. Beyond the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Museum, the Forbes Library offered a warm, welcoming space filled with quiet nooks, curated art displays, and shelves that seemed to stretch endlessly with local history, fiction, and research materials. We explored the main reading room, where natural light poured through tall windows and the original woodwork lent a sense of timeless dignity. A rotating exhibit near the entrance showcased regional artists, while tucked-away corners revealed archival maps and Northampton memorabilia. The elevator made it easy to reach the upper floors, ensuring that the library's resources and charm were accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility. [Review 1135 of 2025 - 1276 in Massachusetts - 24688 overall]

You know me and Libraries; can't keep me out of them!! and this one I daresay is my favorite in the…read moreWestern Mass area. Ok, ok, it's not just because Paco the vegetarian Pirahna is here. The building itself is an architectural marvel. There's something about this beautiful building that's up on the hill, surrounded by large oaks. It's as if the leaves billowing in the wind beckon you to: "please come in." There's just something about where this building is situated that exudes peace and tranquility. You'll see that others feel the same in the reviews. If you follow Forbes on Instagram, you'll not only see that it's active with events, but a lot of them strive to help the community. They have an upcoming event where they'll have clothes, shoes and general business attire available for people who are looking to get a job. I can't think of any other library that does that. To further expand on that note; they lend out musical instruments. You read right; you can borrow musical instruments here. I'm not sure what details are involved but I personally found that to be incredible, and a show of the willingness to go the extra mile for the community. Yes, you do have to pay for parking here. I know that sounds off putting, but there is a sign on the property that says the proceeds help the library and their programs. Besides, I think a dime gives you 20 minutes time so it's extremely cheap. Keep up the good work Forbes! You definitely have admirers.

Personal help finding things. Kind and experienced staff is super helpful. They reserved a book…read moreat another library and it was sent to Lilly library for me to check out. -For my book club. Computers available. Love the free Summer concerts just steps away on Thursdays.

From the owner: Lilly Library serves traditional and modern library user's needs. Come check out books, movies,…read moremusic, magazines & more. We also have ebooks and digital audiobooks available on our digital catalog. Find out about storytimes, book clubs for new readers, teens, and mystery lovers, as well as movie show times and other exciting programming on our website.

This is a stunning library. An $8 million dollar renovation was completed in 2020 when the old…read moreHadley Library (Goodwin Memorial Library) moved into this new building. There is ample space for books, games, computers, and a well-outfitted kids play area. There are large windows that let in a ton of natural light. The staff has always been very friendly. The only downside is that the hours are fairly limited so make sure it's open before you arrive. A neighborhood gem!!

As a West Coaster I have many bookstores to patronize and usually order from Amazon as I read as…read moremuch as I can. However after finding this little gem of a bookstore I can now say I order from Broadside! The shipping is more than reasonable and the selection is as all encompassing as I see online. The staff is tenured and reliable, one of the staff "Brenna" keeps a running log of what I read and like and when they have three or four they go ahead and charge my card and ship them out. It is so delightful to find a package of books waiting for me when I get home, I just dive right in. Thanks Broadside, Brenna and the rest of the fabulous crew for making reading even more fun.

Very cute new book store in Northampton! It's across the street from the Smith College Academy of…read moreMusic, in front of a "15 minute free" curbside parking spot. In addition to books of all genres, they sell a lot of adorable book related accessories - I do regret not getting the book earrings, but love my ribbon bookmark (the purchase of which helps with community hunger). They also have POSTCARDS! There's a bunch of local cards for Northampton and Smith, and the rest of vintage pictures, political, or just best described as random (but would be perfect for someone out there). Masks are required as of April 2022.

I moved to this area in part because of all the bookstores, and sadly over the years have seen many…read moreof them close. While many are fine, Grey Matter, Troubadour, and Federal Street Books in Greenfield are the three I return to again and again. Now that Troubadour and Grey Matter merged their stock (sort of), this has really become a can't-miss stop. If the Montague Book Mill is "Books You Don't Need in a Place You Can't Find," Grey Matter is "Books You Don't Want to Miss, in a Location that You Might." I never have enough time to check out all I need to check, and I always come away with a great find, and a great deal. Add to that the quirky humor and smarts of the owner and staff... Oh, just go!

3rd stop today on my "Used bookstore trail in MASS" journey. This was the largest book shop I…read morestopped at today, unfortunately, I couldn't find anything interesting to purchase. As other Yelpers have stated, this store is packed with "inventory of every genre and subject", but just nothing for me. On a side note, I'm almost happy I didn't buy anything here today. The clerk was sitting at a desk right near the front entrance, no acknowledgement of me entering or leaving the place. Would it hurt you to say, "Hello" ? Sorry, lack of customers skills irks me a bit. Anyway, got back in the vehicle and headed to the next Used bookstore !

Booklink is an independent bookstore in Thornes Marketplace in Northampton. It has been at this…read morelocation for 25 years now. This bookstore is so beautifully set up. The upstairs section is children's books. Given that I am an elementary school teacher, I was very impressed by this section. There was a good amount of books I haven't seen before. They have all the book categories you'd find in most bookstores, but books popped out at me that I hadn't seen before, that I'd love to dive into. Their selection of greeting cards was also beautiful. You won't find Hallmark here, but independent maker cards that are worthy of being framed. I was pleasantly surprised that they only charge $3.00 for them. The downstairs will lead you to more non-fiction and fiction for adults. This bookstore also sells a really nice amount of tea. I didn't get any this time. But the line of bottles of loose tea went on forever. They have some books on sale, unfortunately the sale prices are still very close to the retail price. Booklink is such a lovely independent bookstore. You're guaranteed to find something new here!

Hearing the rational "We are a small independent establishment" to try to justify the creation of…read morenon-reasonable/non-friendly customer service policies is becoming very old. Booklink is an establishment with bothersome and questionable quirks. I visited this seller with the intention of purchasing a specific book. I examined the half dozen copies on the shelf to choose the one that was in the best gift quality condition. A bearded man (owner) suddenly approaches me with "Can I help you? (No, thank you); Do not disrupt our displays (I am not); What exactly are you doing? (My plan is to purchase a book). He walked away, I purchased the book from the associate at the counter, and I immediately felt like a fool for doing so. Never again will I purchase from Booklink. There are other independent bookstores in this town, nearby towns, and of course on-line.

Graduation Day for our Niece. She's been here four years. This will be a outdoor event, 650 Grads…read more Weather in the 70's, a nice Weather day for her Special Event. 7 of us came Across Country to be a Witness. Smith is a all Woman's College and lodging is more big homes on a city campus than dorms that might look like apartments. More Victorian and Federalist styles. Quite nice, but that makes parking a special effort. Parking enforcement is strict.

This campus was beautiful and inviting. The botanical garden was an incredible teaching space.read more

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument consists of two spectacular bronze sculptures that stand on the…read morefront steps at the entrance of Memorial Hall. As you stand in front of the building and face the front door, a sculpture of a sailor stands to the right of the door and a sculpture of a soldier stands to the left. Memorial Hall was built in 1872 to honor the memory of the 90 Northampton residents who perished during the Civil War. The building has served as a library and museum over the years. The soldier and sailor are dressed in period uniform. The soldier holds his rifle vertically and the sailor holds a telescope in his right hand. It's a very cool monument -you get the feeling that the soldier and sailor are standing guard outside of the building -ever vigilant and ever dutiful.