The Town of Amherst and the Jones Library Board of Trustees announce the selection of a temporary location at 101 University Drive in Amherst, from which library services will be offered during the renovation and expansion of the historic Jones Library building at 43 Amity Street.
The University Drive site, which is located next to the United States Post Office is about a mile from the current library. It is accessible by bus and will offer extensive free parking. The site was selected after a public procurement process. Lease documents are being finalized and are expected to be signed soon.
Library staff intend to offer full library services – including browsable collections, children’s services, public computers, reference assistance, English as a Second Language (ESL) services, and access to historical collections – once they are fully moved into this space. The vast majority of the library’s books and other holdings are expected to be accessible to patrons during construction.
Library Director Sharon Sharry expects to close the 43 Amity Street location in mid-May and open at the University Drive location in mid-July, depending on the final project schedule. The timeline allows about two months for the library staff to pack up and move the library’s extensive collections, technology, and furnishings into the new University Drive location.
During the transition, the library will expand the open hours of its two branches, the Munson Memorial Library in South Amherst and the recently-renovated North Amherst Library. Digital collections and resources will continue to be available through the library’s website. In addition, since the Jones Library is a member of the CW MARS library consortium, Amherst cardholders can request, borrow, and return items at CW MARS member libraries in neighboring communities, such as Hadley, Belchertown, Sunderland, Leverett, and Shutesbury.
Library staff will provide further information in the coming weeks, including answers to questions about returning and requesting items during the transition. Staff are actively brainstorming ways to maintain continuity for library patrons throughout this process.
The library’s Summer Reading Programs for all ages will continue as usual, with a kick-off party for children and teens expected to be held at The Drake in downtown Amherst on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Although the University Drive location isn’t large enough to accommodate events andprograms, library staff will explore options for offering programming at alternate venues in the Town, as well as virtual programming via Zoom.
“Staff are excited to begin the next phase of this project,” noted Library Director Sharon Sharry. “And we’re delighted to be moving into a conveniently-located temporary space right down the street.”
“We know there will continue to be twists and turns in the process, and our team is ready for that,” she added. “Relocating a library is complicated, and we’re grateful for the support and patience of our patrons as we figure it out. During this transition, our focus will be where it’s always been: on providing exceptional customer service and important resources and collections to our community.”
Additional information will be posted on the library’s website at www.joneslibrary.org as it becomes available.
