I have a vision of a new, enlarged and renovated Jones Library, accessible and inviting to people of all ages and backgrounds.
We must recognize the populations served by the library — those who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, those of limited eyesight, immigrants studying to become citizens, parents of young children, and low-income residents.
I would like a library with more space for public programs, ESL tutoring and classes, and computer workstations, which are increasingly needed for remote learning and jobs, but not affordable for everyone. It would be nice to have restrooms just down a hallway, not downstairs and hidden away.
The stacks should be accessible to everyone. Let’s keep children on just one floor. On the other hand, teenagers need attractive spaces of their own with comfortable furniture and the possibility of having music that doesn’t impinge on others. We also need a safe place for our precious archives.
I’m sure that whatever we build will be like new, attractive, and satisfactory in the short run. But if we are spending money to renovate our library, let’s do it right. Let’s take advantage of the state construction grant and include what we need to take us into the future.
Alice Swift
Amherst
