Jones Library: Amherst's living room. Strong House back left
Library Director Sharon Sharry gave the local media a guided tour of the flagship Jones Library last week in the hopes of dispelling rumors that have been circulating lately about the much anticipated renovation/expansion of the 57,000 square foot icon that anchors the downtown.
The building was last renovated/expanded back in 1992 so it is now eligible for grant funding by the state that will cover roughly 50% of the entire project, preliminarily guesstimated at $10 million.
Library Director Sharon Sharry laments no staffed receiving area for incoming customers after first entering main door
Unlike the renovation of 23 years ago this time around the entire contents of the Jones Library -- 172,000 books, videos and CDs, the entire 28,000 items in Special Collections, and 20+ banker's boxes of financial records -- will be moved into an interim operating space.
The project could take up to two years but since an architect has not yet been chosen it's unknown how large the building expansion will be.
Employee parking is cramped and results in "dings" from other vehicles looking for parking
Only 2 handicapped spaces are provided
Either way, parking is a major issue that needs addressing. The formula the state uses is one parking space per 400 square feet of building. Thus, just the current foot print of the building would require 143 spaces for patrons. And at the moment the Jones Library has but 2 handicapped and 7 "employee only" parking spaces.
CVS & town parking lot next door
The other major issue that could scuttle public support for the project (Town Meeting) is the fate of the greenery behind the Jones and the side garden currently owned by the Strong House, which could soon be sold to facilitate the expansion.
Kinsey Memorial Gardens behind the Jones
Since neither the Library or Strong House are contemplating any construction in their front yards the only place left for an increase in footprint for the Jones is either directly behind or to the side of the Strong House, both of which are now occupied by greenery.
Strong House garden to the rear of the Library
But Library Director Sharon Sharry was adamant that whichever garden requires eviction it will be replicated elsewhere on the property, something that is commonly approved by Conservation Commissions when a construction project endangers wetlands.
Adult and Children's computers are in separate rooms
Children have 4 computers and 2 game stations
In this digital age it's tempting to think of libraries as antiquated as, say, newspapers.
But the Jones Library has kept pace with changing technology, offering audio and books on tape for a generation now, DVDs and of course in-house computers for the general public.
The current crop of 20 computers for adults and 4 for children is too few, and the space too limiting.
Children's Room
The Children's Room is also too tiny, the shelving too tall and materials are spread out over three floors. And like the rest of the Library, bad sight lines keep employees from being able to monitor the big picture.
Cameras are more reactive than proactive
The Library added security cameras two years ago as a safety feature trying to keep down inappropriate sexual activity by teens and the occasional criminal act (drug use or stealing of library materials) but by and large have not been overly successful.
The Jones offers a bevy of "non traditional" services found only in Amherst: An
English as a
Second
Language program that will someday seamlessly connect to
The Literacy Project (assisting patrons to acquire a GED).
Hwei-Ling Greeey acts as a 'Social Worker in Residence' helping to deal with Amherst's homeless population. While the 'Artists in Residence' program allows the general public to interact with artists to better understand the creative process.
The Special Collections Department is world renowned for their priceless collection of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost materials. And the Burnett Gallery offers space for local artists to display the fruits of their labor.
Archive materials stored under a sprinkler head
On average the Jones hosts 1,000 unique visitors per day and circulates as much material as the BIG city library in Springfield. Yet the only check out location is cramped and can be staffed by -- at most -- two employees.
Whether the expansion project is approved by the Mass Board of Library Commissioners and then Amherst Town Meeting or not, the aging infrastructure will still require extensive improvements -- especially the 30 year old
Heating
Ventilation
Air
Conditioning system.
The pretty glass atrium installed in the 1992 renovation never worked properly and continues to leak during a rainstorm or in the winter when snow accumulates. Just these two items alone cost close to $1 million and would be entirely town money.
Atrium is leaky and allows in too much sunlight
In addition to the Jones Library expansion three other major building projects are now in the pipeline: The Wildwood Elementary School project, the forever talked about new South Fire Station and a new
Department of
Public
Works building.
Both the Library and School projects have the distinct advantage of state reimbursements. All the more reason town officials need to promote all four of these vital upcoming building projects as an all-or-nothing package.
