Hello, Friends! The cool fall weather is blowing in, and it's a beautiful season here in Amherst. The construction crew at the Jones Library is working through all types of weather to complete the exterior and interior of the building addition, and restore the historic 1928 structure.
Due to the generosity of donors near and far, we are starting to see the incredible impact this building will have on our community. We have also surpassed the $10M mark, having raised over $10.3M as of October 1! Thank you!
You can read more about all the recent happenings with the building project and Campaign below.You can also "keep up with the Jones" on Facebook and Instagram, where we share program highlights, event announcements, construction photos, and all the latest news about our libraries.
In November, you'll be receiving details about new (and fun!) ways to give and be a part of our Community Campaign. Stay tuned!
With gratitude,
Jenn Fox and Lisa DeGrace
Jones Library Capital Campaign
A recent article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette gives a glimpse of all that is happening inside 43 Amity including: six classrooms and study rooms for our ESL program, program rooms for teens and children, an expanded Woodbury Room for community meetings and gatherings, quiet reading rooms, cozy places to sit, and bathrooms on every floor—all in a light-filled welcoming environment.
In September, the Amherst Current featured a piece written by Jones Library Trustee Farah Ameen, speaking about all the opportunities created by the renovated and expanded library.
Slate installation is nearly complete, along with chimney flashing and copper caps.Exterior masonry is in progress—you can see it from the west side and rear of the library. Ivy has been removed from the original stonework, revealing the beautiful stones brought by community members from near and far in the 1920s.
The glazing subcontractor has been on the job, installing windows in the new portion. Interior insulation has been installed on the Garden Level, along with pipe insulation and HVAC ductwork. Drywall and priming are underway, giving a better sense of the spaces we'll be moving into next spring and summer. (Photo by Ruby McElhone Yates)
We were thrilled to host Representative Mindy Domb and Legislative Aide Ruby McElhone Yates on a tour of the Jones Library under construction. Rep. Domb was instrumental in securing a $50,000 earmark for the Library renovation in support of gender neutral bathrooms on the Garden Level. Future events in the Woodbury Room, the newly located Amherst Room, Special Collections, and the Burnett Art Gallery will all benefit. Thank you Rep. Domb!
View photos from the visit here.
Many of you have asked about our projected reopening date. At the last Building Committee, it was reported that construction will be completed by mid-March, slightly later than originally hoped for due to the delayed start of construction and change orders. With that, staff hope to start moving in May, with a grand reopening targeted for July 2027. Fontaine, our general contractor, is doing absolutely amazing work, and we are so grateful to everyone who is working so hard to make this dream a reality.
Learn more about the Friends of the Jones Library System here.
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