Jones Library Trustees Launch New Fundraising Arrangement for Expansion Project

Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Trustees, Sept. 10, 2026

This meeting was held via Zoom and was recorded.

Present: Austin Sarat (president), Lee Edwards, Farah Ameen, Nat Larson, Tammy Ely, and Eugene Goffredo

Staff: Sharon Sharry (library director)

Friends of the Jones Library Join With Trustees in New Capital Campaign Committee

As reported in May, the Jones Library Trustees decided to reconstitute the joint Friends of the Jones Library-Jones Library Trustees Development Committee, which has not been active since 2021, in a new structure for the capital campaign for the renovated library, which still must turn over another $8.5 million to the town toward the library’s $13.8 million share of the project.

Previously, the Friends’ contributions had been “used to purchase books, audiobooks, movies, magazines, newspapers, and research databases (available in both analog and digital formats), as well as for free or reduced admission to area museums, public computers, children’s reading activities, lectures, classes, poetry readings, films, ESL tutoring, and more.” Their annual fund fundraising was separate from the capital campaign.

The new capital campaign committee will include two members of the Friends and two members of the Trustees (Lee Edwards and Eugene Goffredo). It may also include community members. The Friends voted to allocate $350,000 for two development positions. Former Capital Campaign Chair Lisa DeGrace is helping to write the job descriptions. The positions will be posted this week. The reformulated capital campaign committee will meet for the first time on Sept. 15.

Friends President Marian Walker also spoke of hiring an events manager to help bring back public programs such as the Sammys (the Samuel Minot Jones Awards) and “other fun events that happened throughout the year and involved lots of different people.” Those events were paused during the pandemic and never restarted. It is unclear whether the events manager would be one of the two development hires or a third position.

The Friends are planning to have a table at the Sept. 17 block party and are planning their third annual pickleball tournament fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Hatfield Rally House, 255 West St., North Hatfield. Registration is now open. All proceeds will support programs and services at the Jones Library’s three branches. The group has already received $12,000 in sponsorships, Walker said.

Edwards also announced a fundraising house party at the Drake on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Survey on the Library Yields Scant Responses

Walker reported that a survey on library use and priorities was sent to the Friends’ 2,800 members but yielded only 100 responses, 60 of them from people 65 or older. She said the Friends are trying to make the group more dynamic, age-inclusive and social, and she hoped an events manager would help achieve that goal.

Capital Campaign Receives $550,000 in New Pledges Last Month

Edwards reported that the capital campaign had a successful month, receiving $550,000 in new pledges, $365,548 in payments on previous pledges, and $1,122 in cash gifts. The campaign spent $16,240 on personnel and other expenses last month.

While Town Finance Director Sean Mangano reported that, as of Aug. 31, the town had received only $5.4 million from the library toward its share of the building project, Edwards’ report puts the figure at $6,956,659. Edwards’ report also lists almost $7.9 million in cash received by the campaign. It is unclear why the town has been paid $2.5 million less than what the library reports paying.

Using the larger figures and the more than $2.3 million in outstanding pledges, Trustees President Austin Sarat said the library has raised over $10 million toward its $13.8 million goal.

The Jones Library endowment stands at $9,542,900, and the Woodbury Fund has $343,952. Expenses for fiscal 2026 came in about $100,000 under budget, so that amount will be carried over to the fiscal 2027 budget.

Director Receives Positive Annual Evaluation

Trustee Tammy Ely reported that most responses to Library Director Sharon Sharry’s annual evaluation were positive. She was disappointed that, despite repeated requests, the town manager and human resources director did not respond.

Seven staff members and 21 community members submitted evaluations. A few staff members offered constructive criticism, saying Sharry was not responsive to their needs. Trustee Nat Larson said the Trustees see only part of what Sharry does and that it was impressive to learn about the full scope of her job. Farah Ameen praised Sharry for her patience in dealing with difficult situations.

The evaluation concludes, “Sharon has been persistent and gracious as she has worked effectively with the Trustees, the Library staff, town officials, the community and construction managers to move the renovated and expanded Library forward. For all her outstanding efforts and achievements this year, the Board applauds Sharon’s exceptional leadership.” The Trustees accepted it unanimously.

Ely said she will go over the comments received with Sharry.

First Listening Session Yields Some Positive Suggestions

Ameen reported that about 20 people attended the first library listening session, held at the Munson Memorial Library on Sept. 9. Most were “retired people,” but she hoped subsequent sessions would draw a more diverse group.

Suggestions included accessible parking closer to the building, since access from the CVS lot can be difficult for those with limited mobility; parking on North Prospect Street or Amity Street was preferred. Attendees also recommended having wheelchairs or walkers available in the lobby for use in the library.

Another suggestion was to add signs in languages other than English. Sharry liked the idea but was unsure whether funding would allow it. She said the architects pointed out that signs printed in multiple languages are larger and more expensive. Sarat said he wanted this to be a priority for the library if possible.

Other listening sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant St., and Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the Bangs Community Center. The library will hold a separate session for middle school and high school students. The library’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee organized the sessions, and Dr. Pat Romney and Angelica Castro moderated them.

Director’s Report: Technology Grant Received and Book-Tagging Project Underway

Sharry reported that the library received a Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) grant for seven new large-screen televisions and five new laser printers. These are in addition to the 27 desktop computers and 72 laptops the library already owns. With the new building, she said, there will be room for the additional technology.

Staff are working to put RFID (radio frequency identification) tags on the library’s 500,000 items so all of them can be checked out using the RFID system once the new building opens.

She also told the Trustees that 49 patrons are currently enrolled in the homebound program: residents tell the library what interests them, and staff deliver books to them accordingly. No one asks why they want the service.

Sharry also announced that the North Amherst Library and Munson Memorial Library branches will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 3, because both are polling places.