Fridays at Jones Library saved by benefit
By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer
Published on October 09, 2009
Patrons of the Jones Library will once again be able to visit the library on Friday afternoons following a successful fundraiser.
The fundraising barbecue and concert at The Harp on Sunderland Road Sunday brought in $9,250, which is enough money to have the Jones Library be open on Friday afternoons through next June.
"We were very gratified about it," said trustees president Patricia Holland. "It's very heartening to see so many people come out and support our libraries."
Library trustees in June opted to close the main branch on Friday afternoons after Town Meeting approved a budget $34,704 short of what trustees had requested. This decision was made following a recommendation from library staff to close from 1 to 5:30 p.m. each Friday, rather than try to run the library on a skeletal staff during more hours each week.
Trustees have asked staff to try hard to open this Friday afternoon, but staff shortages may delay this a week. "It will definitely be open the following Friday afternoon, Oct. 16," Holland said.
Patrons should call 259-3090 Friday morning to learn if the library will be open in the afternoon, as well.
Holland said many people have suffered from having the library closed Friday afternoons in the last three months. They range from elementary and secondary students who appreciate having the library available after school, to job seekers who depend on the library's Internet and newspapers to search help-wanted ads. In fact, one Friday afternoon a woman without Internet access at home needed to apply for a job online. Holland said trustee Sarah McKee happened to be near the Amity Street building and directed the patron to a local business where she could use a computer.
Holland said the money was raised though the help of two challenge grants, the first for $3,000 and the second for $1,000. Both anonymous grants were matched more than dollar-for-dollar by those who attended the picnic, she said.
Many of the $20 tickets were sold in advance, but there were lot of people buying on the day of the event, too, Holland said. And these were not only Amherst residents, but people from other area communities.
Several town officials manned the grill, while Mark "Harpo" Power, who owns The Harp, donated all the food for the event. "Harpo contributed the entire cost of the food," Holland said.
Volunteers from Alpha Tau Gamma, the Stockbridge School fraternity, helped set up a large tent and platform for the bands to perform on. Bobcat O'Galahan and the Thundercats, Dan Kaplan and the No-Nos, and WildCat O'Halloran provided the entertainment.
Meanwhile, the library is preparing for special events that will take place later this month.
On Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the special collections room, William Pritchard, an Amherst College professor of English, will speak about "Frost's Mischievous Grip."
Then, on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. on the front lawn, the library will be dedicated as a Frost literary landmark.
"This means we will have an elegant plaque, more publicity, and, I presume, we're getting a great honor," Holland said.
The landmark dedication is sponsored by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. Frost's granddaughter Lesley Francis, state Rep. Ellen Story and state Sen. Stan Rosenberg are all expected to be present. After the dedication, a young people's theater will be in the library atrium reading Frost poems.
Select Board member Alisa Brewer said the town should be proud of the support it showed for the libraries.
Chairwoman Stephanie O'Keeffe noted this is all non-recurring money, which means the same budget problems are likely to return next July.
If additional money is raised beyond what is needed for Friday hours, Holland said it will go toward purchase of materials that were slashed this year.
