OPINION: A RADICAL IDEA FOR THE JONES LIBRARY
Jones Library. Photo Art Keene.
The Indy’s excellent May 2 article, “Council Hears Reports from Library and Health Directors on Responses to COVID-19,” states: “The library is still planning its large renovation project, however. The Trustees are not allowed to submit a smaller project to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.”
Not so fast! On the contrary, the Massachusetts public library construction regulations provide that the Jones Library Trustees can make significant reductions to their proposed, 65,000 square foot demolition/expansion project.
This proposed Library project is excessive. It is designed for a “service population” of 51,000. However, the Library recently stated that Amherst’s population, “normalized” to correct for the student population, is only 18,593. The relevant regulation is short and sweet: “Any significant reductions in the project’s program require prior approval.” (See Chapter 605, Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR), Section 6.05 (2)(c)18.)
In other words, this regulation provides for “significant reductions” in the current grant round. The one requirement is “prior approval” by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).
It gets better. The only increase required for the grant for which Amherst applied is: “an increase in the overall external dimensions of a public library facility.” (See 605 CMR 6.02, “Addition, Expansion or Extension.”)
As a former President of the Jones Library Trustees, and a lawyer (D.C.), I wondered about that “increase in the overall external dimensions.” Was a minimum increase required? Also, the atrium’s glass roof has leaked irremediably since 1993. If we just increased the “overall external dimensions’ of a new atrium roof, would that qualify?
A few years ago, I asked an MBLC architect who knew the Jones Library project. She confirmed that (1) any increase whatsoever would comply with the regulation, and that (2) increasing the “external dimensions” of a new roof for the atrium would be enough.
So I am glad to see from The Indy that the Trustees are also getting an estimate for what the article calls a “rehabilitation project.” I am therefore going to make a radical suggestion.
First, to meet the size requirement for an “Expansion” grant, make the “external dimensions” of the new roof on the Atrium larger than those of the present roof. Then, ask the MBLC to approve a “significant reduction” –it’s about 20% — in the Library’s program, that is, approve the “rehabilitation project.” This will be based on the Library’s present 51,000 square feet, if all space is used optimally. Finally – and here’s what is radical – based on this “significantly reduced” project, ask the MBLC to reduce the amount of Amherst’s construction grant.
Yes, the MBLC loves large libraries. At least, it loved them before the effects of COVID-19 crushed state and municipal budgets. But that is, or was, a preference merely. It was not a requirement.
As mentioned above, the regulations already provide for making “substantial reductions” to a project that the MBLC has approved. Amherst’s radical innovation would be this: ask for less money. I see nothing in the regulations to prevent it. If we persuaded the MBLC, it would benefit the Town substantially.
For instance, if a project’s total eligible costs are $15 million, and if the MBLC approves a reduced grant, the MBLC would provide $6,750,000. The Town would be responsible for the remaining $8,250,000. (Calculations provided in notes below.) For the Trustees’ proposed demolition/expansion project, however, the Town’s share, including interest, is $35.2 million. That’s more than 3 times as much. I accordingly think that the approach suggested here is worth serious consideration by the Town and, one hopes, by its allies.
On Tuesday, May 11, Town Manager Paul Bockelman will announce the Library budget figures for FY2021. We know that belt-tightening is in order. So the suggestions made here are timely. A within-footprint Jones Library project has additional advantages. In a later opinion piece I’ll discuss some of them.
Notes
For a Library Construction Project in a Single Municipality, the MBLC Funding Formula is:
Eligible Cost Incremental State Share
First $3,000,000 60% of amount up to $3,000,000
$3,000,000 – $6,000,000 45% of amount between $3- 6 million
$6,000,000 – $15,000,000 30% of amount above $15,000,000
Source: 605 CMR 6.07 (7)
Accordingly, the state’s share for a project with a $15,000,000 eligible cost would be:
First $3,000,000 $1,800,000
$3,000,000 – $6,000,000 $1,350,000
$6,000,000 – $15,000,000 $3,600,000
$6,750,000
Sarah McKee is Past President, Jones Library Board of Trustees; Former General Counsel, Interpol U.S. National Central Bureau, Washington, D.C.; Member, D.C. Bar.
During an early public meeting on the Proposed Jones Library project I asked what was the minimum expansion needed to qualify for a state grant. It’s a lawyers question. I asked it twice. It seemed to me that most of the Jones’ space problems are internal but it would be good to get into the state grant program. No one answered my question directly . The state employee at the meeting kept answering the square footage of the library project depended on the library’s programming. If any expansion, no matter how small, triggers the state funding, let’s make sure the proposed project is right-sized and something Amherst taxpayers can afford.