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Date: 2/21/2023
AMHERST – The Jones Library’s Building Project is currently in the design development phase. This means that the project’s committee is in the process of making the final decisions on the design features which contribute to the completed building’s look and feel. Construction is still projected to begin in February or March of 2024, and the new Jones Library is projected to open in January or February of 2026.
The Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) approved schematic design plans for the roughly $45 million renovation and expansion (as of last estimate; this figure is subject to change), on Dec. 15, 2022. Library Director Sharon Sharry said of the design plans, “these are the best set of plans we’ve seen. In this sense, time has been good to us.” Ginny Hamilton, the library’s Capital Campaign Manager, said that “the plans shared by the architects show a bright, safe, accessible, and welcoming library that will fulfill all of the major goals set forth by the Building Committee.” These goals were endorsed by 65 percent of Amherst voters in November 2021.
“Features include a prominent ground floor location for the Burnett Gallery and a permanent home for Amherst’s historic Civil War Tablets. The Children’s room will be expanded, and teens will have dedicated space all their own. Restoration of the historic 1928 structure will create reading rooms in spaces not currently open to the public. The expansion will create dedicated classroom and tutoring spaces for the library’s award-winning ESL program as well as expand public meeting and event space for community use,” Hamilton said. “Despite some cost saving design changes, the committee has retained sustainability measures, including using carbon-friendly building materials. The renovation will eliminate the use of fossil fuels, making the building net-zero ready.”
In addition to the $15.8 million committed by the town of Amherst for the project, and a $13.8 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Jones Library Capital Campaign (JLCC) has also been tasked with raising the remaining $14 million of the projected cost. As of Feb.1, the JLCC has raised $4,545,324 of their share, leaving roughly $9.5 million to be secured. According to Hamilton, over $2.1 million of the funds raised have been from community donations.
Regarding fundraising, Capital Campaign Co-Chair Kent W. Faerber said that “at this early stage, while commitments matter, what matters as much is how many lines you have in the water. And we have many.” In December 2022, Congressman Jim McGovern secured $1.1 million for the project in economic development funding from the Omnibus spending package approved by the House.
Hamilton said that the new building will restore much of the original while adding new layers of accessibility and eco-sustainability.
“When complete, the renovation and expansion will make the Jones Library one of the most climate-friendly buildings in Amherst, restoring most of the original 1928 building, expanding programming space to meet current and emerging needs for all ages and multiple populations, while improving the layout to be fully accessible for people with disabilities and more functional for everyone,” Hamilton said.