Book Lover’s Guide to Western MA
The New York Times once wrote that our region is “arguably the most author-saturated, book-cherishing, literature-celebrating place in the nation.” And while that might have been said years ago, we’re proud to claim that not much has changed. Here’s a sampling of essential events and destinations for book lovers visiting Hampshire County in western Massachusetts.
Easthampton’s BookFest
If it’s not in your calendar yet, it should be! Easthampton’s BookFest is the largest celebration of literature in our region introduced in the last few years. The day is packed with workshops, readings, and opportunities to share your own words and meet with local authors. "Our inaugural BookFest last year was great, but this year we're kicking it up a notch by integrating more local businesses, bringing in literary visitors from afar, and offering opportunities for even more age groups," Eileen Corbeil, owner of White Square Fine Books & Art, told MassLive in 2016. "At the center of it all is a celebration of the book, and this makes me inordinately happy."
The Emily Dickinson Museum
Poet Emily Dickinson spent most of her life living in the heart of Amherst and the Emily Dickinson Musuem gives visitors a rare glimpse into the writer’s homelife. For example, stepping into the poet’s bedroom has always been a deeply memorable part of visiting the Homestead at the Emily Dickinson Museum, and now it’s an even more authentic experience. After the original location of Dickinson's bedroom door was revealed in 2013, the museum undertook a major restoration project to return the room to its 19th century origins.
Downtown Northampton
The number of bookstores in Northampton comes close to rivaling only that of coffee shops—and you know we have a lot of those! Used book hunters will delight in browsing the shelves for previously-loved books Raven Used Books or The Old Book Store tucked away on Masonic Street. For crisp new books and special events, check out independent bookstores like Broadside Bookshop on Main Street or Booklink Booksellers in Thornes Marketplace. For a list of more bookstores in the region, click here.
Antiquarian bookstores and dealers
If you’re interested in buying rare and antiquarian volumes, there’s no shortage of these independent booksellers that operate in western Massachusetts. The Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers (SNEAB) website has a complete list of its member sellers, featuring not only stores like White Square Books in Easthampton but by-appointment sellers as well.
The Yiddish Book Center
Since its founding in 1980, the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst has rescued over a million volumes in the Yiddish language. When you visit, you’ll see shelves packed with Yiddish literature available for browsing or even to take home—the Yiddish Book Center makes duplicate copies of books in their collection available for purchase so they may be accessed and cherished by new readers again.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Eric Carle lived in western Massachusetts for over 30 years and he really showed his love for the region when he chose Amherst as the location for his museum. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, the Eric Carle Museum celebrates your favorite picture book artists and illustrators through a series of exhibitions and special events all year long.
The Mortimer Rare Book Room at Smith College
The Mortimer Rare Book Room at Smith College houses over 45,000 books and literary manuscripts from cuneiform tablets to contemporary artists’ books. The collection is open to the public with hours Monday through Friday, but patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the curators before visiting.
Williston Memorial Library at Mount Holyoke College
Now all you'll need is the perfect place to read all your new book finds. Consider Mount Holyoke’s Williston Memorial Library, which has been recognized as one of the “most magical college libraries.” The library was designed to resemble London’s Westminster Hall, seat of the British parliament, and is truly a breathtaking space.
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