Messages of joy: Jones Library expansion reaches new heights with beam-raising ceremony

AMHERST — Expressions of love for libraries and the freedom and literacy they offer the community are among the messages, accompanying people’s signatures, written on a large, white-painted steel beam.

On Friday afternoon, that beam, which for two days was open to the public to sign while located in a parking lot across from the Jones Library at 43 Amity St., was placed into the actual structure of the building project.

As the beam, with an evergreen tree and an American flag attached to it, was lifted by a crane, supporters in the nearby gravel parking lot of the Amherst History Museum cheered and applauded.

“How fabulous was that?” said Austin Sarat, the trustees president who emceed the topping-off ceremony. “Was that the best beam-raising you’ve every seen?”

The placement of the beam marks the latest milestone in the $46.1 million project to expand and renovate the Jones Library from 48,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet.

Sarat praised Library Director Sharon Sharry for the work she has done during her tenure.

“We are only here because of the determined efforts of a visionary library director,” Sarat said.

He also thanked the library staff and former Town Council President Lynn Griesmer for her exemplary leadership in getting the spending through Town Council and a ballot vote, and state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, for securing state funding. Both were present, along other current and former town councilors, library trustees, business leaders and community members. Sarat also thanked Sen. Jo Comerford and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern for their support.

Sarat observed that topping-off ceremonies are a tribute to the workers, thanking the Fontaine Brothers, Inc. crews who have been on site throughout the coldest and snowiest days of winter.

After Ellene Anselone, a principal at Fineghold Alexander architects, spoke about the years of work it has put into the design, Liz Larson, executive director of the Amherst Historical Society, gave an overview of how the original library was built in 1928 and how the stones came to adorn its facade.

Larson said while the messages on the beam won’t be visible in the large addition, they are now embedded in the fabric of a building that will be a welcoming and safe space for all in the community.

The event marked the first celebration for the project since last June when a formal kickoff occurred. The building is expected to be complete by March 2027, with the next step to be making the building weathertight this spring.

The finished project will create, for the first time, teen space and more room for the English as a Second Language program, as well as space for the town’s Civil War tablets. It will be the most climate friendly building in town.

Capital campaign co-chairs Kent Faerber and Lee Edwards presented a $1.1 million check to Town Manager Paul Bockelman, though they noted the capital campaign remains in progress.

Sarat closed the brief program by saying he wants people to fall in love with the building but also not to be afraid, in 50 years time, to pursue a project that meets the needs of the 2076 community.

He said he also hopes that the renovated and expanded building will inspire a passion for reading.

“I think we’re in a battle to preserve something very important in this society, that is reading, ” Sarat said.

He called on Sharry and staff to launch an outreach program, noting that as a professor at Amherst College he has students who haven’t picked up a book in years.

“Many of the kids I teach have not read a book in high school,” Sarat said.

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