AMHERST — In recognition of what elected trustees say is her exemplary work overseeing the Jones Library system, and the planned expansion and renovation project at the main branch, Director Sharon Sharry is earning a significant salary boost.

Trustees voted unanimously Friday to follow the recommendation of its Personnel, Policy and Planning Committee to move Sharry three steps forward on the town’s revised nonunion salary scale, putting her at step 8, and meaning that she will earn $129,583 annually. That is up about 11% up from the $116,720 Sharry was paid in 2023, according to salary information posted on the town website.

The pay adjustment comes after trustees gave Sharry an exemplary annual performance review and also issued a separate statement of confidence at a meeting in September.

Trustee Tamson Ely, who heads the subcommittee, explained that until the new scale, Sharry was limited to a 3% annual pay increase. Ely said the subcommittee made the recommendation for the adjustment, with members feeling it was justified based on the work Sharry does and the need to provide a cost-of-living increase.

A report from the subcommittee states that the town’s Human Resources department’s initiative is “to provide more options, especially for many town employees stuck at the top level with no room to advance.” That report also cites information from Town Manager Paul Bockelman about the adjusted pay scale being long overdue, with many town staff underpaid in comparison with similar positions in other towns.

Ely told trustees, though, that sometimes it is hard to compare salaries across municipalities, noting that Forbes Library in Northampton typically paid its directors less.

According to Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners data for 2023, Amherst’s library director, for a 39,378 population served, was paid $115,191, while Forbes Library’s director earned $91,240 for a 23,448 population served. By comparison, South Hadley’s library director earned $87,467, Easthampton’s earned $70,871 and Belchertown’s was paid $83,000.

Trustees President Austin Sarat said Sharry, who has been the library director since 2011, has seen her responsibilities dramatically increase as a result of the building project, even as she continues to guide staff at the main branch and the North Amherst and Munson Memorial branches.

Sharry provided a brief update on the Jones expansion project.

“The process is going really smoothly,” Sharry said. This week, that process includes beginning the Section 106 review with a virtual meeting Wednesday. This review is needed due, in part, to federal grants coming for the library and the impact the project will have on the historic 1928 portion of the building.

Meanwhile, trustees also voted to send a letter to Amherst Historical Society Executive Director Liz Larson informing her of an archaeological survey on the grounds of the library’s 43 Amity St. site that will extend to the adjacent Strong House museum at 67 Amity St.

“I acknowledge that the board of the Amherst Historical Society and Museum agrees to allow this survey to be conducted on Amherst Historical Society and Museum property, with the understanding that any non-Indigenous objects found will be returned to the Amherst Historical Society and Museum after analysis by the commonwealth,” reads the letter, signed by Sarat.

The letter explains that the Amherst Historical Society will also receive both digital and hard copies of any reports or findings of the survey, and that photographs and information about the survey work can be posted on its website and social media.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.