Jones Library Building Project

See our complete Table of Contents below.

UPDATE: Town Council Greenlights Building Project!

After nearly ten years of planning by staff, Trustees and dozens of other volunteers; countless public presentations; numerous iterations in schematic design aided by the Massachusetts Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (including the provisional award of $13.8 million toward its cost); and a protracted and exhaustive analysis of its costs, the Amherst Town Council, on Monday, April 5, 2021, took the historic step of decisively (10-2-1) approving the Library’s renovation/expansion plan by appropriating the Town’s $15.8 million share of the cost. The Council also authorized the Town to enter into an agreement with the Library’s Trustees to supply the remaining $6.6 million of the total cost of the project.

In approving the project, Councilors particularly noted how it will advance the Town’s climate goals with a net zero ready building; make the building accessible to all citizens of the Town; provide safe and workable spaces for all of the Library’s childrens’ programs, including those for teens who have no space of their own; expand computer access for those without computers; provide adequate space for those served by the Library’s ESL program; and revive the Jones as the center of a community that, as proven during the pandemic, craves the kind of civic life that only a library can provide.

By acting now, the Town Council will allow a June 30 distribution of the first $2.7 million from the MBLC grant, allow design development to begin immediately, and construction to begin in mid-2022. Every year’s delay adds approximately $1.6 million in construction escalation costs.

All of us at the Jones look forward to welcoming all Town residents to a library that, once again, meets their needs.

OUR PROJECT AT A GLANCE

We recommended the following resources for those interested in an overview of our project:

RECENT COVERAGE

Town Council Public Fora — Jones Library Expansion & Renovation Project

View recordings of the March 3, 2021 forum and the March 6, 2021 forum.

Many thanks to those who attended!

February 22, 2021 — Building Project Presentation to Town Council

NOTE: This video was created by the Jones Library's IT Specialist Hank Allan – Thanks, Hank!

February 25, 2021 — Town of Amherst Community Chat about the Library Building Project
Library Director Sharon Sharry, Library Trustee Alex Lefebvre, and Capital Campaign Chair Kent Faerber discuss the Jones Library building project with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Communications Manager Brianna Sunryd.

January 22, 2021 — Fireside Chat with the Jones Library
Library Director Sharon Sharry and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce's John Page discuss our expansion and renovation project and the many roles a library plays in a community, including as an economic driver.



 See also:


INTRODUCTION & TABLE OF CONTENTS



Thank you for your interest in our building project.

We hope to improve the safety, efficiency, and user-friendliness of the Jones Library, while also restoring our original 1928 building and honoring our past. We invite you to help us brainstorm the future of our library!

To learn more about this project, follow the links below:


RECORDED LIBRARY CHATS



January 28, 2021 — The Public Library Construction Grant Program
with special guests Andrea Bunker and Lauren Stara, Library Building Specialists from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)

January 7, 2021 — The Library's Role in Economic & Social Justice
with special guests Lev Ben-Ezra (Director of the Amherst Survival Center), Judith Roberts (Director of the Literacy Project), and Lynne Weintraub (Jones Library ESL & Citizenship Coordinator)

December 3, 2020 — The Significance of Historic Preservation
with special guests Steve Schreiber (Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at the UMass Amherst) and Eldra-Dominique Walker (Assistant Professor, M. Design Graduate Program Director at the UMass Amherst)

November 10, 2020 — Library Services during COVID-19
with library staff

October 22, 2020 — Let's talk about historic preservation!
with special guests Jane Wald (Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum), Robin Fordham (from the Amherst Historic Commission and Community Preservation Act Committee), Mike Kelly (Director of the Amherst College Special Collections department), and Cyndi Harbeson (Head of the Jones Library’s Special Collections department)

October 8, 2020 — discussing the latest designs
with special guests Finegold Alexander Architects

September 23, 2020 — discussing the latest designs
with special guests Finegold Alexander Architects

September 3, 2020 — with our Sustainability Committee

August 20, 2020 — The Renaissance of Public Libraries
with special guests Toni Golinsky-Foisy (Library Director in West Springfield), Joe Rodio (Library Director in South Hadley), and Jean Shaughnessy (Library Director in Athol)

August 6, 2020 — The Jones Library’s Accessibility Report
with special guest Aelan Tierney of Kuhn Riddle Architects


PROJECT UPDATES



March 29, 2021: The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce sent us this statement of support for our project. Many thanks to the Chamber staff and Board of Directors!

February 22, 2021: View the Library Trustees' video presentation to the Town Council (~65 mins) about the building project. (This video was created by the Jones Library's IT Specialist Hank Allan.)

January 27, 2021: Read Sustaining the Future by Revisiting our Historic Properties (PDF), an article by Finegold Alexander Architects about the Jones Library building project which will appear in February 2021 edition of High Profile.

December 12, 2020: Read Amherst Can't Afford to Reject the Jones Library Renovation/Expansion Project by Lee Edwards, Trustee and Co-Chair of the Development Committee for the Friends of the Jones Library, and Kent W. Faerber, Co-Chair of the Development Committee for the Friends of the Jones Library.

November 26, 2020: Read Urging Amherst Town Council to vote for Jones Library renovation (Daily Hampshire Gazette) by Nancy Campbell and Marian Walker, Co-Presidents, Friends of the Jones Libraries.

October 22, 2020: Read a Memo to the Community Preservation Act Committee regarding our Revised CPA Grant Application (October 22, 2020).

October 19, 2020: Read Why It Is Important to Move Forward with the Plan to Renovate and Expand the Jones Library by Trustee President Austin Sarat & Director Sharon Sharry.

September 10, 2020: See the updated presentation entitled Schematic/Sustainability Study (September 8, 2020) (PDF) prepared by Finegold Alexander Architects. UPDATE: See the revised presentation (October 8, 2020).

September 1, 2020: Read our Revised Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grant Application Packet (August 25, 2020) (PDF).

August 25, 2020: Read the Revised Jones Library Sustainability Goals Schematic Design Package (PDF) prepared by Finegold Alexander Architects.

July 2, 2020: Today's Joint Jones Library Feasibility & Design (agenda & packet) / Sustainability Committee Meeting (agenda & packet) included a discussion of the sustainability and accessibility reports linked below. UPDATE (July 24, 2020): View a video recording of the meeting.

July 1, 2020: Read the Jones Library Sustainability Goals Schematic Design Package (PDF) prepared by Finegold Alexander Architects. NOTE: This document has been updated; see the revised package above (August 25).

June 10, 2020: Read the Jones Library Accessibility Review and Recommendations (PDF) prepared by Kuhn Riddle Architects.

May 8, 2020: Listen to Designing for Sustainability: An Interview with Finegold Alexander Architects, the first podcast in a series called "Building Literacy: Public Library Construction" from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

February 27, 2020: See the full presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects of their Revised Schematic Concept (February 26, 2020) (PDF). Or the abridged version (PDF).

February 11, 2020: Read our Proposal for an Accessibility Study and Review of Required Building Improvements (February 5, 2020) (PDF).

January 23, 2020: Read our Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grant Application Packet (January 23, 2020) (PDF).

January 22, 2020: Here are 2 new documents: Town of Amherst Capital Investment Projects - December 2019 Listening Sessions Report (January 21, 2020) (PDF), Sustainability Memo from Finegold Alexander Architects - with Sustainability Committee Comments (January 8, 2020) (PDF).

December 2, 2019: The Town posted a video overview of the four proposed capital investment projects. Watch the video (22:48) from the beginning or go directly to the portion of the video about the library project (starting at 5:19).

November 4, 2019: The Town Council will hold four Listening Sessions to collect comments from the public on the need for four major capital investments facing the Town and to provide guidance to the Town Council in setting priorities. Members of the School Committee and Jones Library Trustees have assisted in development of the information for these sessions and will be present at each session. The Listening Sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, Dec 3rd at 3:30 p.m. at Bangs Center, Large Activity Room
  • Tuesday, Dec 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at Bangs Center, Large Activity Room
  • Monday, Dec 9th at 3:30 p.m. at Fort River Elementary School, Library
  • Monday, Dec 9th at 6:00 p.m. at Wildwood Elementary School, Library

July 2019: The Jones Library moved up to 2nd on the wait list for a construction grant.

February 27, 2018: See the Construction Fact Sheet (PDF) for our project from the Masschusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

February 26, 2018: See the General Conditions of the Interior of the Jones Library (PDF).

July 31, 2017: The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners recently posted a resource guide entitled Libraries on the Waiting List for a Construction Grant: What now?

July 13, 2017: Today, we learned that 9 libraries were awarded a construction grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for FY2018, and 24 libraries were placed on the wait list. The Jones Library is 9th on the wait list. (See the MBLC’s Press Release for more information.) This is excellent news for Amherst as it will give us plenty of time to work with the community to determine its design priorities. We look forward to the next stage of this process. Please stay tuned for further details.

May 1, 2017: See our Deferred Maintenance Estimate (PDF).

April 28, 2017 (Updated): Many thanks to the Amherst Historical Society (PDF letter), the Friends of the Library (PDF letter), the Burnett Gallery Committee (PDF letter), the Literacy Project (PDF letter), Amherst's institutional librarians (Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst; PDF letter), Amherst's public school librarians (PDF letter), and our ESL students (PDF letter) for their support of our project.

February 15, 2017 (Updated): See our updated Space Needs Table (PDF), Key Milestones (PDF), our application designs and renderings (below), and our mailing to Town Meeting – Narrative (PDF), Floor Plans (PDF).

January 26, 2017: We have submitted our 2016-2017 Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) Construction Grant Round Application (PDF)!

Grant Application Designs

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Renderings

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

WHY DO WE NEED TO EXPAND THE LIBRARY?

  1. Reasons to expand our Children's Room (PDF)
  2. Reasons to expand our Young Adult space (PDF)
  3. Reasons to expand our Adult Collections (PDF)
  4. Reasons to expand our ESL Center (PDF)
  5. Reasons to expand our Special Collections (PDF)
Reasons to expand our Children's Room (Part 1) – with Head of Youth Services Mia Cabana.
Reasons to expand our Children's Room (Part 2) – with Head of Youth Services Mia Cabana.
Reasons to expand our Interlibrary Loan space.
Reasons to expand our Special Collections space – with Head of Special Collections Cynthia Harbeson.
Below are brief video testimonials from Rizwan, Jenny, and Ping — participants in our ESL & Citizenship program — about the value of the program and the need for an expanded/renovated Jones Library building.

STATE GRANTS & TIMELINES


In January 2014, the Jones Library applied to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for a Planning & Design Grant — the first step toward a building renovation and expansion project. In June 2014, the MBLC awarded Amherst a $50,000 grant.

We hired Finegold Alexander Architects to deliver a completed set of schematic drawings — as well as a cost estimate — for a renovated and expanded library building by October 2016. We submitted an application for an MBLC Construction Grant in January 2017 and created a detailed Project Timeline (PDF) and an outline of Key Milestones for our Building Project (PDF) shortly thereafter.

On July 13, 2017, we learned that 9 libraries were awarded a construction grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for FY2018, and 24 libraries were placed on the wait list. The Jones Library was 9th on the wait list. (See the MBLC’s Press Release for more information.) This was excellent news for Amherst as it gave us plenty of time to work with the community to determine its design priorities.

In July 2019, we moved up to 2nd on the wait list for a construction grant. We expect the state to award us the grant in the summer of 2021!

DESIGNS & RELATED DOCUMENTS

Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program

  1. Construction Fact Sheet - Jones Library Project - Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (PDF)
  2. General Conditions of the Interior of the Jones Library (February 13, 2018) (PDF)
  3. Grant Review Team - Review Worksheet
  4. Grant Review Team - Tally Sheet
  5. Grant Certification Letter to MBLC (May 24, 2017) (PDF)
  6. Deferred Maintenance Estimate - Jones Library Building (May 1, 2017) (PDF)
  7. Town Meeting Mailing - Narrative (March 27, 2017) (PDF)
  8. Town Meeting Mailing - Floor Plans (March 27, 2017) (PDF)
  9. Key Milestones for our Building Project (February 15, 2017) (PDF)
  10. Jones Library 2016-2017 MBLC Construction Grant Round Application (January 26, 2017) (PDF)
  11. Color Version of Designs Included in our Grant Application (January 26, 2017) (PDF)
  12. Jones Library Building Program - Space Needs Table (Revised December 2016) (PDF)
  13. Statement of Support from Amherst's Institutional Librarians (March 13, 2017) (PDF)
  14. Statement of Support from the Literacy Project (February 24, 2017) (PDF)
  15. Statement of Support from the Amherst Historical Society (February 6, 2017) (PDF)
  16. Statement of Support from the Burnett Gallery Committee (January 3, 2017) (PDF)
  17. Statement of Support from the Friends of the Library (December 5, 2016) (PDF)
  18. Massachusetts Historical Commission Project Notification Form & Quad Map (October 31, 2016) (PDF)
  19. LEED Project Checklist (October 28, 2016) (PDF)
  20. Jones Library Letter of Intent (October 6, 2016) (PDF)
  21. Statement of Support from Jones Library ESL Students (April 28, 2017) (PDF)
  22. Statement of Support from Amherst's Public School Librarians (March 20, 2017) (PDF)

Design Process & Building Program

  1. Finegold Alexander Article - Sustaining the Future by Revisiting our Historic Properties (PDF)
  2. Schematic/Sustainability Study - Updated Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (October 8, 2020) (PDF)
  3. Schematic/Sustainability Study - Updated Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (September 8, 2020) (PDF)
  4. Jones Library Sustainability Goals Schematic Design Package - Revised (Aug 30, 2020) (PDF)
  5. Jones Library Accessibility Review and Recommendations (June 10, 2020) (PDF)
  6. Finegold Alexander - Abridged Presentation - Revised Schematic Concept (February 26, 2020) (PDF)
  7. Finegold Alexander - Full Presentation - Revised Schematic Concept (February 26, 2020) (PDF)
  8. Proposal for an Accessibility Study and Review of Required Building Improvements (February 5, 2020) (PDF)
  9. Sustainability Memo from Finegold Alexander Architects - with Sustainability Committee Comments (January 8, 2020) (PDF)
  10. Jones Library FY2017 - FY2021 Plan for Library Service (October 6, 2016) (PDF)
  11. FY2018 Action Plan (PDF)
  12. Hazardous Materials Inspection Report (September 29, 2016) (PDF)
  13. Existing Conditions Report and Concept Design Structural Narrative (August 23, 2016) (PDF)
  14. DRAFT Building Project Budget Summary (August 15, 2016) (PDF)
  15. DRAFT Building Project Budget (August 15, 2016) (PDF)
  16. Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (October 26, 2016) (PDF)
  17. Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (August 11, 2016) (PDF)
  18. Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (July 27, 2016) (PDF)
  19. Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (July 19, 2016) (PDF)
  20. Presentation by Finegold Alexander Architects (May 10, 2016) (PDF)
  21. Jones Library Building Draft Designs (July 8, 2016) (PDF)
  22. Jones Library Building Program - Space Needs Table (Revised December 2016) (PDF)
  23. Jones Library Building Program - Space Needs Table (Revised August 11, 2016) (PDF)
  24. Jones Library Building Program - Space Needs Table (Revised July 12, 2016) (PDF)
  25. Jones Library Building Program - Space Needs Table (Revised April 13, 2016) (PDF)
  26. Jones Library Building Program (July 2, 2015) (PDF)
  27. Service Population Calculation (PDF)
  28. Square Footage Changes (May 12, 2016) (PDF)
  29. Project Timeline (April 7, 2016) (PDF)
  30. Building Program Acceptance Letter (July 17, 2015) (PDF)
  31. Long Range Plan for the Amherst Town Libraries: FY2017 - FY2021 (June 4, 2015) (PDF)

Budget

  1. Total Project Budget Analysis by Colliers International - Final (February 25, 2021) (PDF)
  2. Memo to Community Preservation Act Committee Regarding Jones Library Revised FY2021 CPA Grant Application (October 22, 2020) (PDF)
  3. Revised Jones Library Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grant Application Packet (August 25, 2020) (PDF)
  4. Schematic Design Cost Report - Renovation and Addition (June 15, 2020) (PDF)
  5. Schematic Design Cost Report - Renovation and Addition - Fennessy Consulting Services (September 19, 2016) (PDF)
  6. Jones Library Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grant Application Packet (January 23, 2020) (PDF)
  7. Review of Long Term Financials - Five Board Meeting (September 14, 2016) (PDF)

Community Feedback

  1. Town of Amherst Capital Investment Projects - December 2019 Listening Sessions Report (January 21, 2020) (PDF)
  2. Public Comments about Current Jones Building (Updated October 6, 2016) (PDF)
  3. Let Your Voice Be Heard (August 17, 2016) (PDF)
  4. Jones Library Listening Tour - Results Summary (January 28, 2016) (PDF)
  5. Survey Results Summary (PDF)
  6. Survey Results Summary - Supplement (PDF)
  7. Focus Group Results - Summary of Findings (PDF)

Site & Zoning

  1. What Could We Do With Our Existing Footprint? (April 2016) (PDF)
  2. Planning Board Report - Article 31 - Zoning Map - 67 Amity Street (PDF)
  3. Library and Museum Zoning Map (PDF)
  4. Library Expansion Study Area (PDF)
  5. Massing Models - Diagrams (PDF)
  6. Massing Models - Description (April 7, 2016) (PDF)
  7. 67 Amity Street Rezoning Map (PDF)
  8. Historical Society Partnership (April 7, 2016) (PDF)
  9. Garden Statement from the Trustees of the Jones Library (March 28, 2016) (PDF)
  10. Jones Library Trustees Propose Changes to Zoning Map for 67 Amity Street (PDF)
  11. Historical Society Zoning Maps (PDF)
  12. Site Analysis by Planning Director Jonathan Tucker (April 7, 2015) (PDF)
  13. Site Analysis Map (April 7, 2015) (PDF)

Planning & Design Grant

  1. Capital Request to Town Meeting for Grant Match; Grant Application to MBLC (November 5, 2014) (PDF)
  2. Jones Library Award Letter from MBLC (June 6, 2014) (PDF)
  3. Press Release: MBLC Awards Nearly $1 Million for Planning & Design (June 5, 2014) (PDF)

Civil War Memorial Tablets

  1. Amherst's Civil War Memorial Tablets - History and Description (July 2001) (PDF)
  2. Amherst's Civil War Memorial Tablets - Cleaning and Conservation Report (August 2010) (PDF)
  3. Civil War Memorial Tablet - Photograph 1 (JPG)
  4. Civil War Memorial Tablet - Photograph 2 (JPG)

IN THE NEWS




VIDEOS OF PRESENTATIONS & FORUMS

Design Subcommittee Meeting (July 19, 2016)



Building Forum (June 28, 2016)



Building Forum (May 10, 2016)



INFORMATION FROM EARLIER PHASES OF THE PROJECT

For more information, see also: Board of Trustees Meeting Agendas & Minutes (in particular: Buildings & Facilities Committee, Feasibility Committee, and Design Subcommittee).

Draft Designs


Our architects have created initial design drafts. These are by no means final drawings! Click the diagrams below to open up a larger PDF version of these designs. Additional information can be found in the Jones Library Building Program (Revised July 12, 2016) (PDF).

Update: These initial designs have been revised. Please see the most recent presentations by Finegold Alexander Architects (under Related Documents), which include updated designs.

Massing Models


To help people visualize the project, our architects have created two "massing models." These are by no means final drawings! These illustrations show the relationship of the building on its surroundings. (Click the diagrams below to open up a larger PDF version of these models.)

  • Option one shows no re-zoning, and no sale of land. Thus the Library would expand onto its property only.
  • Option two shows successful re-zoning, and a Library expansion closer to the Strong House, making collaborations easier, such as the sharing of artifacts and documents.
  • The third drawing shows the elevations. Whether we expand onto only our property, or use a small portion of the Historical Society’s property, we plan to go no higher than three stories.
Update: These models are outdated. The Library is planning to expand onto its property only.