Jones Library director Sharry applauded for diligence, can-do spirit
![Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry received her annual evaluation last week. Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry received her annual evaluation last week.](/attachments/27/42032427.jpg)
Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry received her annual evaluation last week. FILE PHOTO
Published: 10-19-2023 10:36 AM |
AMHERST — Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry’s day-to-day oversight of the town’s library system, at the same time she continues to shepherd the project to expand and renovate the main branch building, is earning her praise in an annual evaluation from trustees.
The board voted unanimously on Oct. 11 to adopt a largely positive performance review, with trustees President Austin Sarat observing that Sharry has maintained an optimistic, can-do spirit, and continues to put high demands on herself and the staff since her hire in October 2011.
“I think the library director has done an extraordinary job for a very long time,” Sarat said. “She’s done it unfailingly and with immensely good spirit.”
Tamson Ely, the trustee who chairs the Personnel, Planning and Policy Committee, said that Sharry met or exceeded various goals, and that 17 comments submitted, including from the public, staff members, and trustees, were also positive.
“For those who submitted evaluations, Sharon received very high marks,” Ely said.
The written evaluation outlines some of the challenges Sharry and the library have faced over the past year, including a malfunctioning HVAC system, leaks and floods caused by the deteriorating atrium roof, the relocation of services at the North Amherst branch library due to the ongoing expansion there, and accelerated work on design development for the expanded Jones Library, with many meetings with architects, the owner’s project manager and town committees.
In addition, the evaluation notes Sharry worked diligently to secure additional federal and state funding for the building project, and met with staff, town and board committees on staffing plans, diversity, equity and inclusion issues, and the Friends of the Jones Library capital campaign.
In their specific assessment of the director’s five goals for the year, the trustees called Sharry’s effort and progress as “generally commendable with a few satisfactory ones noted as well.”
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The five goals included continuing to support the work of the Friends Development Committee to reach its $175,000 fundraising goal; continuing to work on the library project, including developing portable programming, securing an interim location and holding community outreach sessions; developing staffing plans for the building project; continuing to support the work of the Friends capital campaign, including meeting with and informing donors about the project, and helping the committee to reach their goal of raising $14 million; and continuing to work with the library’s Equity, Justice, and Inclusion subcommittee and diversifying the library’s staff.
“The board is pleased that this has been a successful year for the director and for the Jones Libraries. Thank you, Sharon!”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.