Without expansion, Jones is inadequate
EDITOR’S NOTE: Amherst Town Meeting rejected an article to rezone the Amherst Historical Society’s property for Jones expansion.
There has been understandable concern expressed about the effort to renovate and expand the Jones Library.
Having worked on many library capital projects, the Jones’ current inadequacies — particularly for those who need it most — are obvious and fixable. Our library should be the place for everyone to come together to learn, enjoy and grow and it is for many, but not for key parts of our community.
Our growing low- and fixed-income populations need a place that provides more access to technology and programming. We need private study spaces for tutoring and mentoring, a dedicated young adult area, and spaces for students to come together for group study and to apply research skills.
Today’s Jones meets only some of these needs. The facts is the opportunity to address the building’s weaknesses systematically with substantial support from the State only comes about every eight to 10 years. The library has engaged in a serious and open process for more than a year and has involved many volunteers from throughout the community.
The design team is incredibly well qualified to take on historic preservation and expansion work. The guidelines being followed are there to help the Jones create the best possible library for the next 20 (more likely 50) years.
From the perspective of the design team, staff and the building planning committee, being able to put on an addition that “squares off” the building is by far the best option. It is best because it allows for greater efficiencies in patron and staff workflow, enabling the Jones to better fulfill its mission of serving all patrons.
Acquiring some land from the Strong House is necessary, and they are a willing partner. The requested rezoning cannot lead to any other development. Without the transfer, it will be difficult to create a design that will be competitive for a critical state grant. Without this funding the project will fail and the Jones will remain a beloved but inadequate facility for the foreseeable future.
Matthew Blumenfeld
Amherst
I am an Amherst Town Meeting member and am writing regarding the behavior of a number of people at the Monday, May 16, Town Meeting.
The citizens of Amherst elected the moderator to run the meeting. One may not agree with the rulings of the moderator, but courtesy should still prevail. The disrespect displayed to the moderator was abhorrent.
Clearly, there were a number of Town Meeting members who disagreed with the moderator’s decision to limit discussion of a zoning article, which would have allowed the Amherst Historical Society to sell a small parcel of land to the Jones Library so as to open up the most options for any future library expansion.
The booing and verbal abuse given to the moderator for some of his decisions was shameful. I have often observed sharp divisiveness in our town, and do not object to dissent (although it can be awfully tiring to listen to at times). The disrespect shown by the dissenters left me feeling angry and not proud to be a part of Town Meeting.
Jean Schwartz
Precinct 2 Amherst
Planning Board member should represent all
I picked up the newspaper today and read that the Hadley Town Meeting did not approve the library site.
But there’s something else that got me concerned. It’s the Planning Board member, John Mieckowski, saying, “I’ve never been to (the library) in my life and don’t plan to.”
This is an incredibly foolish statement made by a public official since he is supposed to represent all the citizens of Hadley and not only speak for himself.
Hadley deserves better.
George Balsley
Hadley
Jones needs to combine children’s rooms
I’m disappointed that Amherst Town Meeting members chose not to support rezoning of the property that hosts the Amherst Historical Society, a move that challenges a well-thought-out plan to connect it to the Jones Library.
As a former teacher of young children in Amherst and a children’s author, I’ve spent many hours benefitting from the impressive collection of children’s literature housed in the Jones Library. For the past 20 years, I’ve led numerous writing workshops for young authors at the library. Then there are the years spent there as a parent.
The children’s collection is located in five different rooms beneath one roof. Actually five when you include the Young Adult collection in the central atrium. Middle grade novels are in one room.
Picture books in another. The biography and poetry sections are actually on a different floor, as is the activity room.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile for those talented librarians to supervise the community’s children and the collection on one floor in one large room? That’s just one reason the library needs to expand. There are many others.
Let’s respect and support our librarians, who know more than we do about why and how the library needs this expansion.
Burleigh Muten
Amherst