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Date: 5/9/2023
AMHERST — “This is government at its best, identifying local needs, listening to local voices and working at the local, state and national level to preserve and expand our civic infrastructure,” said Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry at the project funding announcement where she acknowledged the receipt of more than $2 million in federal funds for the library’s planned expansion and renovation.
Among those in attendance at the May 3 public gathering inside the historic library building was U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) who helped secure monies through a $1 million challenge grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and another $1.1 million from the government’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending bill. The entire project costs are estimated at more than $40 million.
The federal funds complement money raised by Jones Library Capital Campaign, a project from Friends of the Jones Libraries, a nonprofit organization now credited with raising nearly $6 million including more than $2 million from community contributions. According to information supplied by the campaign, the town of Amherst has committed $15.8 million to the project and additional $13.8 million will come via a grant from The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
In making the funding announcement, McGovern pointed to what the federal assistance will do in terms of the library and the community.
“[It will] help renovate this incredible building, preserve its history and make it one of the most climate friendly libraries in Massachusetts and in the country,” he said.
McGovern spoke to the challenge of not only appropriating funds in the nation’s capitol but of the difficulty at a time where areas of education and literature are facing scrutiny and attack.
“That’s why today’s investment matters, because in some places they might ban books, but in Massachusetts and in Amherst, we embrace them and we embrace all of them,” he said.
State Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) and Amherst Town Councilor Anika Lopes were also in attendance to celebrate the announcement, both praising the fundraising efforts and offering their personal appreciation for what the library has meant to them.
Austin Sarat, president of the Jones Library Board of Trustees celebrated the library, calling it a long-time stalwart for the town.
“Public libraries and public schools exemplify the most important democratic values in a community like Amherst. The schools and libraries are where the communities come together. Rich and poor, people who are native speakers of English and people who are English language learners, the old and the young, come to this place,” Sarat proclaimed.
Plans for the library include a proposed ground floor Humanities Center, increased space for internal and community-based programming as well as climate-controlled space to house historical and literary materials. The campaign presented materials at the press event addressing shared questions raised by the community, including how the overall project will advance the town’s climate action goals in relation to the 1928 library building. According to the information presented by the committee, the new building will be net-zero ready with the purchase of renewable energy.
In addition, the committee findings state, “The use of fossil fuels will be eliminated, resulting in an 8% cut in utility costs, Total carbon use over the life of the building will be reduced by 41% and Energy use intensity will be reduced by 60%.”
George Hicks-Richards, facilities supervisor at the library, toured and researched a number of libraries across the state, and said he looks forward to the changes, including improvements to airflow and overall air quality.
“Improving the sightlines and making it a more open building will add to accessibility and safety,” he said.
The project inventory expects to increase overall usage space from the current 47,000 to 63,000 square feet.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2024 with completion eyed for the beginning of 2026.