My mother raised a library advocate. For a school costume competition in India, she sewed me a garment with many pockets, which we filled with books. I was a “walking library.” As an adult, I rediscovered the magic of libraries when my husband and I moved to Amherst with our toddler — we wanted to raise her in a diverse town with great public schools, green spaces, liberal politics.
Our daughter is an eighth grader at ARMS. She and her friends often rendezvous in town, where she sometimes gets bubble tea or pizza — not always great for our wallets or peace of mind. We need a central, free, safe place where our teens can be observed but still have freedom; the teen space at Jones Library isn’t appealing.
And teens aren’t the only population that would benefit from a facilities upgrade. I ran for trustee two years ago because of the inspiring concept of Jones Library’s renovation/expansion project. I’ve learned how much deliberation goes into allocating town funds, how dire each need is. As chair of the equity subcommittee, I’m ever more committed to our vision of a library where everyone feels they belong.
Jones is our community center. It’s where people can access ESL classes, technology, instruments, museum passes … The project is in the development phase. Residents were invited to give feedback on schematics; design plans are being approved. We cannot revert to making repairs that won’t fix persistent problems. A sustainable, ADA-compliant building is crucial, as are gender-inclusive restrooms, upgraded children’s/teen spaces, and new technology.
I’m committed to this because it supports providing critical services and resources, including to LGBTQIA+ youth/teens and immigrants. Not proceeding means forgoing the state aid, donations, and grants we’ve received. Refusing funding to improve public services just deepens the gulf between the haves and have-nots. This project bridges that gap to help us raise and support future generations.
My teen probably won’t get a chance to use the new teen space. I want to ensure yours will. I hope you’ll vote for me, the other incumbents, and Eugene Goffredo.
Farah Ameen
Amherst