Jones Library Trustees Work to Understand Fundraising Needs

At their December 22 meeting, the Jones Library Board of Trustees drilled down on Capital Campaign Co-Chair Lee Edwards’ report of November fundraising results.

Edwards announced that “New pledges and new gifts came in at a little over $36,000. In November cash payments, which reflect old pledge payments and new cash gifts came in about $48,000, almost $49,000.”

The trustees appeared uncertain about the exact meaning of “new pledges,” “new gifts,” “old pledge payments,” and “new cash gifts.”

Trustee President Austin Sarat said, “I’m trying to reconcile the $36,000 with the $48,000,”

Acknowledging that the report is difficult to parse, Edwards noted that “My understanding is that Sharon and Lisa may be negotiating a form that will suit everybody, but we’re still continuing to use the old form.”

“Sharon” is Library Director Sharon Sharry and “Lisa” is Capital Campaign Development Director Lisa DeGrace.

What was clearly indicated is that no additional funds have been remitted to the town toward the Library’s share of project expenses in the past month.  The Capital Campaign reports their obligation to the town to be $15,822,518.  To date they have paid $4,300,712, leaving $11,522,346 remaining to transfer to the Amherst Town Treasurer.

Uncertainty Over When Capital Campaign Will End
The trustees also sought clarity around how long the capital campaign would remain active.

Could you remind us of the proposed end date for the capital campaign?” Sarat asked Edwards.

“It depends on what you mean by end date,” she replied. “The MOU says that the library will turn over to the town whatever amount is needed to complete all the payments at the completion of the project which in my head is when the certificate of occupancy is actually issued for the new building.”

“Sharon, is that your understanding?” Sarat asked the Director.

“Uh, mostly,” she replied.  “There’s a lot of estimating and guessing going on.”

“It depends on when the MBLC gives us their last [grant] payment,” she stated.

She explained that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is not sure when it will be able to deliver the fifth and final installment of its $15.6 million grant “because we are so far behind and that is hurting them because they have already moved into another grant round.”

Asked when she anticipates being in the new building which will require a certificate of occupancy, Sharry responded, “February of 2027.”

Assuming, as Edwards implied, that the library payment will come due then, 14 months remain before the trustees and capital campaign must hand over $11,522,346.  The current value of the Jones Library endowment is $9.2 million.

Trustee treasurer Nat Larson reminded the board that fundraising would need to continue beyond when the library share is paid off.

“I thought at least earlier this year we were thinking that it’s possible that the entire additional $7 million would not be raised by the time the library [share is due]. And so we were prepared to use the library’s endowment to backstop that. It could be another 10 years or so that we continue to raise funds for the capital campaign to be able to pay back the endowment,” he pointed out.

Fundraiser with Amherst Forward Ties was Paid $100K in 2024
Examination of the Friends of the Jones Library System, Inc. 2024 tax return reveals that the organization’s highest paid employee was Capital Campaign Manager Virginia (Ginny) Hamilton.  She earned $105,750 for the year.

Campaign finance records show that Hamilton filed the organization papers for the establishment of the Amherst Forward Political Action Committee in 2018. She served as the group’s co-chair.

Through several elections, Amherst Forward has asked town council candidates their position on funding the Jones Library renovation-expansion and has offered an endorsement only to those supporting the project.

In addition to Hamilton, the Amherst Forward leadership team has included several professional fundraisers working for the library capital campaign, including co-chair Kent Faerber and Financial Development Agency executives Matt Blumenfeld and Claudia Canale-Parole.