Library Hours
In case of severe weather, please call ahead to be sure the library is open.
| Main Desk Reference Arts & Music Hosmer Gallery |
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| Children's & Young Adult Department |
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| Hampshire Room for Local History |
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| Hampshire Room for Special Collections | Photo research by appointment only, 587-1013 | ||||||||||||||||
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Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum |
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Holiday Closings
The Library will be closed on the following holidays:
| 2013 |
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| 2014 |
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Directions to the Library
20 West Street, Northampton, MA 01060
by car
From Northampton center: At the intersection of Route 5 (Pleasant St./King St.) and Route 9 (Main St.), follow Route 9 west for about 2 blocks. Go straight through the traffic light at the Academy of Music, proceed about 100 feet to the next traffic light and turn left, onto Route 66 (West St.). The library is on the left, a large stone building with a semicircular driveway.
From Amherst and points east: Follow Route 9 west to Northampton center. Continue on Route 9 west following directions above.
From Springfield and points south: Take I-91 north to Exit 18. At end of exit ramp, turn left onto Route 5. Continue north to the traffic light at the intersection of Route 9. Turn left on Main St (Route 9) and follow directions from Northampton center.
From Greenfield and points north: Take I-91 south to Exit 20. Merge onto Route 5 and continue south to the intersection of Route 9. Turn right on Main St (Route 9) and follow directions from Northampton center.
by bus
Several Pioneer Valley Transit Authority routes stop at the Academy of Music, Northampton City Hall, and/or Smith College, which are all a short walk from Forbes Library. For maps and schedules, see the PVTA website and click on the Northampton tab.
Parking
Forbes has a metered parking lot behind the building.
The fee is $.25 per hour, with a two hour limit on most meters. There are some 4-hour meters at the back of the parking lot. There are a limited number of 30 minute meters on the east side of the building which cost $.25 for 30 minutes. The meters take only quarters.
Day passes are available for $3.00 per day. They are available at the library's circulation desk and the Children's desk.
Handicapped parking is located on the east side of the building.
There is a free 10-minute parking space on the east side of the building for book return only.
All money deposited in the meters goes to the library's book fund.
Parking is enforced by the City of Northampton, which keeps the money from fines and handles all violation complaints. Meters are in effect from 8 AM - 6 PM, except Sundays and holidays.
Additional parking: After 5:00 PM on weekdays, and all day on weekends, the Smith College Parking Garage on West Street is available free. There are also a limited number of metered spaces on West Street and Green Street.