BPL Trustees Hold Quarterly Meeting

Summary of Trustees Meeting of March 26, 2024

Priscilla Douglas, Chair, opened the meeting and acknowledged the passing of activist and WBZ journalist, Sara Ann Shaw.

Strategic Planning

BPL President David Leonard introduced guest Tim Ritchie, who has served as President of the Museum of Science (MOS) since just before the pandemic.  Ritchie was invited to share the MOS’s strategic process.

Museum of Science President, Tim Ritchie

Ritchie described shared public infrastructure such as libraries and museums as “palaces for the people,” and proffered three guiding principles for their stewardship:  (i) honor, don’t worship, (ii) give yourself permission, and (iii) keep it simple.  He acknowledged the temptation to worship the past but warned that constant change calls for continuing innovation and permission to become something new.  He highlighted that offerings need not all be in person. 

MOS’s Vision 2030 strategic plan was deliberately kept simple to enable widespread support.  It identified two initiatives: (1) bringing science at the pace of change, not the pace of exhibits, and (2) reaching 100 million people with science education (the goal has since been reset at a half billion, as MOS reached 200 million + this year).  Under the plan, MOS committed to providing high quality, equitable access while remaining financially sustainable in carrying out its mission of inspiring a lifelong love of science in all. 

Ritchie opined that the role of leadership is to set an organization’s over-arching direction and principles, and to engage talented people to carry out day-to-day operations. He described MOS task forces formed to manage content and reach a broad audience through digital offerings, connections with schools, and in-person visits.  MOS formed five Centers for Public Science Learning, all focused on a key theme – for 2024, the environment (key question:  will we survive?), and for 2025, on being human (key question:  who will we become?).     

“Perspective is important,” Ritchie said. “You’re just the next link in the chain since 1848.  Be the strongest link that stands up to the problems/challenges.  Look at reality as a friend and be more powerful than ever before.”

In response to questions from the Trustees, Ritchie advised the BPL to “organize around [its] unique assets and combine them in unique ways.”

Asked about financial sustainability, Ritchie explained that because MOS’s earned revenue has not been covering its expenses, it will shift over the next decade from a 50% earned revenue/50% contributions model to a 33.3% endowment/33.3% contributions/33.3% earned revenue model, with cost reductions achieved through investments in technology. 

Ritchie noted that MOS still struggles with its equitable access goals and that the in-person population is not as diverse as it should be, but MOS reaches out to underserved, underrepresented members of the community through in-person heritage sites, digital offerings, and partnerships with schools. It has also implemented changes to signage, staff, and training to make the Museum more culturally relevant to a broader range of visitors. 

Strategic Plan Update

After thanking Ritchie, Leonard acknowledged Trustees Westra and Masso as Chair and Co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and welcomed members of Gensler, the design and strategy firm hired to assist in the development of the new strategic plan.  Patricia Nobre, Erin Corcoran, and Margaret Sullivan were introduced and shared their process and initial work.  They have begun planning a series of workshops to engage with BPL staff, leadership, and Trustees this spring, which will inform the creation of a plan by summer. Refinement of the plan will take place in the fall, with Strategic Planning Committee and board updates along the way.   

President’s Report

Hiring and onboarding continue to be the BPL’s biggest challenges, President Leonard said.  To date in in FY ’24, 14 people have been hired, with more than 40 positions still open.

Other items addressed by Leonard included the following:

 ·       The Transit Stop program encourages people using public transport to sign up, browse, and borrow. 

·       Providing nationwide access to banned books continues in collaboration with several major libraries, such as Seattle, LA, Brooklyn, and San Diego. 

·       The visit by Dennis Lehane, author of Small Mercies, in Rabb Hall was a big success with a full crowd as well as online participants.

·       The visit by Malia Lazu, consultant and author of From Intention to Impact: A Practical Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in conversation with David Leonard filled the Commonwealth Salon early in February.

·       Boston Public Schools are continuing to reinvest in their libraries; the recent gathering of BPS schools and BPL librarians was a great success and will be continued.

·       The Faneuil Hall Branch will be reopening soon; staff and the Friends group are involved with programming plans.

·       Literary Lights will be held again in April/May.

·       Next year’s annual focus will be revolutionary music and social change.

·       Construction on the Field’s Corner Branch will start in a few months.

·       The South End Branch is in an accelerated Programming Study phase.

·       The Eggleston Branch is moving into Design phase.

·       Chinatown, West End, and Upham’s Corner are mixed use projects, and their processes continue.

·       The McKim project has been submitted to the City and is awaiting inclusion in the Mayor’s 5-year budget in early April.

·       Simmons’ Women’s Leadership conference will be held on April 3rd.

Finance & Audit

CFO Emily Tokarczyk managed the process of obtaining the Trustees’ approval of two contracts: one to replace network switches with e-Rate and the other to procure security guard services from Allied Universal Security Services.

New Business

Each of the following was touched upon briefly:

Leventhal Maps – Getting Around Town

New Chef in Residence, Glorya Fernandez at the Nutrition Lab at the Roxbury Branch

Harriet Hayden exhibit at the Boston Athenaeum

April is National Poetry Month

Public Comments

Amber DiAngeles spoke about online and in-person opportunities for researching local and family history using BPL’s Genealogy resources.

Yvette Jarreau, President of the Friends of the South End Library, expressed delight that the Branch’s renovation is in the Programming Phase and advocated for key program elements favored by community members including:

FOSEL President, Yvette Jarreau

·       A full kitchen for education and hospitality

·       A café

·       A drop-in senior area for connecting, reading, and other activities

·       An appropriate space for built-in compost bins

·       Space for daily storage of patrons’ belongings

·       Storage space for teens and children’s toys and art materials.

The next BPL Trustees meeting will be on May 21st at the Central Library.

Word Book Day - Pop-Up-Event

In Celebration of World Book Day, come out and grab free books as the South End Branch staff hosts another pop-up event in the South End Library Park. Find out the Winner from the Book Madness Tournament.

New Library Feedback

BPL Trustees Hold Quarterly Meeting

The BPL Trustees held a meeting on September 26, 2023.

Chairperson Priscilla Douglas opened the meeting by announcing the departure of Trustees Jabari Asim, Ben Bradlee, and Linda Dorcina Forry.  They will be replaced by Jim Canales, Ray Liu, and Porsha Olayiwola.

Guest Speaker

Jose Masso, Chief of Human Services

Guest speaker, Jose Masso, Chief of Human Services for the City of Boston, gave an overview of his cabinet, which includes six departments: Boston Public Library, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Veterans Services, Age Strong, Youth Engagement and Advancement, and Office for Returning Citizens.  These departments work together, he said, to address social isolation, improve infrastructure and community center programs, reduce barriers to access, and provide quality services.  

As the Library is at the intersection of education, arts & culture and human services, Masso stated that it is a good fit for his cabinet.  He noted that the department’s current focus is on literacy, computers and technology, wellbeing, and youth development. 

Since taking on the role, Masso has toured libraries in the BPL system and has connected with staff and patrons.  He observed that BPL staff have a strong sense of pride in the institution, but would like to see improvements in variety of facilities issues.  For example, they noted a lack of meeting space for patrons and insufficient information on availability and access.    

Masso emphasized that the department welcomes feedback, input, and partnership from citizens on community centers and libraries. 

Recent Activity Highlights

Little Amal, a puppet of a Syrian girl and a symbol of human rights for refugees visited Boston.

Chairperson Douglas spoke next, highlighting some of BPL’s recent activities including the new Strategic Planning process, the Negro League Baseball Exhibit, Special Collections Samplers, her visit to the Helsinki Library (which she noted offers a Library of Things), the Little Amal visit to the Eggleston and East Boston branches, and the Book it Around Boston event.

President’s Report

BPL President David Leonard

BPL President David Leonard gave the President’s report, expressing gratitude for extraordinary contributions from the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, which has been used in part to support education about housing insecurity.  He also mentioned that Children’s Librarian Barbara Rhodes, a 40-year veteran of the Jamaica Plain Branch, was the recipient of the Shattuck Award, which is bestowed an unsung staff hero. 

Capital Plan Highlights

The Trustees stated that the Faneuil Hall Branch will reopen before the end of the year and that the Fields Corner Branch, which is in the final stages of design, will reopen in late spring/early summer of 2024. 

They gave the following additional updates:

The Eggleston Branch has selected its architect. 

The developer for the West End Branch has been selected for a multi-use building including residences. 

A private developer has approached the City for a multi-use project to include a mid-size or smaller library branch in a proposed new building in Fenway.  BPL is actively vetting their proposal with considerations about the density of the population and other existing nearby branches.

The South End Branch has selected an architect, Utile, and is finalizing a contract, with an accelerated programming and design start planned for early 2024.  

Temporary Services During Closure and Staffing

Leonard is in dialogue with the South End community about interim services at United South End Settlements, where BPL has rented space for Thursdays from 10am-12:30pm.  Other programs and pop-up activities have begun.

Several Trustees inquired about standard procedure for temporary services during branch closures.  Leonard explained that typically library staff plan programs prior to closure at nearby branches or community centers.    He noted that the South End Branch closure is unique and that BPL’s renting space is unusual.  It was agreed that more service are needed, including book transport.  One Trustee opined that the closure presents a good opportunity to sample other branches.      

Leonard stated that library usage by residents of the 02118 zip code has not dropped off since the closure.  He also announced an upcoming shuttle service through Age Strong, which will pick up people at the South End branch and take them to Central or another branch. 

Leonard then noted that there are 471 current BPL employees, including 130 new staff who have joined since July 2021 and 225 people in new positions due to internal moves and promotions.  There are 67 vacancies, including 24 for newly created positions. 

Audit

Trustee Arana-Ortiz reported that BPL’s recent year-end audit has been completed and showed no major issues or problems.  She is expecting the auditor’s management letter confirming this in the next few weeks.

Public Comments

Two meeting attendees requested that the Roxbury Branch at Dudley Square be renamed as Nubian Square Branch Library.  Chairperson Douglas responded by stating that the naming has already been voted on and is now a closed issue. 

One South End resident concerned about mobility asked the Trustees to do what they can to offer more than 2.5 hours of services per week.  Yvette Jarreau, speaking on behalf of FOSEL, echoed this concern, emphasizing the impact on people, particularly young children, who will enter grade school without having had a real library experience. 

Boston Public Library Joins Books Unbanned Initiative to Fight Censorship

The Boston Public Library (BPL) is joining the Brooklyn Public Library’s Books Unbanned initiative to fight censorship and book banning by offering teens and young adults across the nation free access to e-books and e-audiobooks from its digital collection. The BPL is the third library to enter the growing network, joining Seattle Public Library.  

Teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 who live in the United States can now sign up for a free eCard from the BPL, which allows them access to frequently challenged and banned e-books and e-audiobooks from the BPL's collection. The simple application is available at bpl.org/books-unbanned. 

"As we head into Banned Books Week, an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information, we are proud to stand with the Brooklyn Public Library and Seattle Public Library to uphold intellectual freedom and the right to read,” said BPL President David Leonard. “By joining this initiative, we embrace the opportunity to champion the principle of access for individuals across the nation who face limitations in reaching content and are unable to advocate for themselves.” 

“Since we launched Books Unbanned in April of 2022, we have heard from thousands of young people across the country who are witnessing the very demise of democracy as books rejected by a few loud voices are removed from the shelves for all,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We are excited to welcome Boston Public Library to Books Unbanned. Together, with our partners in Seattle, we will ensure that every young person in the nation has free and open access to books from all points of view.” 

Books Unbanned helps counter the series of increasingly coordinated and effective efforts to remove books from public and school libraries across the nation. The American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom reported that so far 2023 has seen a 20 percent increase in attempts to censor library books and resources. 

The BPL’s Books Unbanned initiative is funded through private support raised by the Boston Public Library Fund, the philanthropic arm of the BPL.  Individuals interested in how the Fund supports Books Unbanned can learn more at bplfund.org/booksunbanned/.  

"We’re committed to supporting the Boston Public Library in building a more informed, enlightened, and inclusive society, where the power of ideas knows no boundaries,” said Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund. “By funding the Books Unbanned card, we can invest in a brighter future by ensuring that younger generations aren’t faced with limitations to access.” 

The BPL’s Books Unbanned card is valid for one year and is designed to complement access to resources for teens in their local communities. Teens and young adults who sign up can check out a maximum of 10 titles at a time and place a maximum of 10 holds. The Books Unbanned card provides access to a collection curated from BPL’s digital holdings of more than 300,000 e-books and e-audiobooks. Cardholders can place holds and check out e-books and e-audiobooks on the BPL’s online catalog. 

In addition to launching Books Unbanned, the BPL is hosting the event Let Freedom Read: Statewide Read-In to Fight Censorship on September 30 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the Central Library in Copley Square.  Freedom to read is a fundamental pillar of upholding democracy; during Banned Book Week, libraries across the Commonwealth will celebrate the freedom to read with a statewide read-in. Patrons are welcome to join the silent read-in and demonstrate their support in the fight against book bans.

Author Talk with FOSEL's Own Sara DiVello!

Mysteries, mayhem, and murder! It’s officially spooky season, and although the South End Branch is closed, BPL Copley is diving in with a fun and fabulous night with true crime novelist, founder of Mystery and Thriller Mavens, and FOSEL Board member, Sara DiVello!

Sara will spill the tea on the crime of the century in conversation with New York Times Best Selling Author Laura Zigman as they discuss Sara’s 2023 thriller, Broadway Butterfly.

The authors will also discuss creativity, the writing process, and the wild, winding path to publication.

Following the conversation, there will be time for audience Q&A.

The talk begins at 6:00pm on Thursday, October 26 at the Copley Square and there will be an author signing at approximately at 7:00pm, facilitated by Trident Booksellers and Café.

This event is accessible to people with disabilities. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Christina Jones at southend@bpl.org, by Thursday, October 12. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Registration required. Please register here: bit.ly/saradivello

Author Sara DiVello

Event Date: Thursday, October 26, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Event Location: Central Library at Copley Square - Commonwealth Salon 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116 617-859-2129 | programs@bpl.org

Story Time with Librarian Margaret

The South End Library, in partnership with United South End Settlements, will be holding Story Time with children’s Librarian Margaret Gardener on Thursdays from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm on the following dates:

October 5, October 12, October 19, and October 26.

Story Time will take place at United South End Settlements’ 48 Rutland Street location.

Story Time welcomes babies to preschoolers and their caregivers for stories, songs, dance, art, and play time. This is designed to draw children to love books and to encourage interactive play with each other. Story Time’s October themes will include tales of fall, nature, leaf art, and more! 

All are welcome!

South End Library Services During Closure: A Reflection on the Loss to the Community and a Demand that BPL Take Action

The South End has been without a branch library since a flood closed the building in April 2021, and a second flood in February 2022 forced the permanent closure and replacement of the library building. No alarm systems were installed before the first flood, despite a complete renovation of the interior in 2019. And no alarm system was put in place after the first flood, either. As a result, the South End has not had library services since April 2021, and will not have full library services until three + years from now, when a new building is estimated to be opened.

 Here is a reflection on the loss of five years of library services to our neighborhood:

The South End Branch from Tremont St.

 a.      By its own numbers, in the first quarter of 2019 the South End branch had 94 programs; it had 20,632 visitors; it had 22,303 items in circulation; there were 738 wireless sessions and 2,845 computer sessions.

b.      Children and day care groups have lost their branch library, including those from Chinatown Access, Ellis Memorial, Castle Square and Pine Village Preschool, as well as from St. Stephens and the Blackstone Community Center.

c.      Children also don’t have access to the SE branch for the Summer Reading Club or the Read Your Way to Fenway contest; Read Boston won't come by for programs and book distribution; Countdown to Kindergarten won’t be there, either.

d.      A whole cohort of young children miss the rich experience and exposure to a library that builds lifelong learners in the formative years.

e.      Staff cannot provide traditional and modern services, such as reference; readers’ advisory; photocopying; or printing. 

f.        No meeting space for small or large groups, or just a place for people to be. Libraries are free, non-sectarian community centers that offer a safe space, with access to bathrooms, water, and air-conditioning. In the BPL’s 2012 Strategic Plan a branch library’s significance as a Community Gathering Place is the second most important goal listed.

 In late 2022, Friends of the South End Library conducted a survey of South End residents to assess the need for temporary library services.  Those results have been widely circulated and highlighted a consistent anchor space for temporary services.  A Working Group of some two dozen South End stakeholders was established in November 2022 to explore temporary library services with BPL leadership. It has been meeting every 1-2 months. Several locations and options have been discussed, most prominently a community space available at 566 Columbus Avenue, the location of the former USES headquarters. In addition, a comfortable, temporary, accessible mobile vehicle was considered, as well as a construction trailer that, like an accessible vehicle mentioned above, could be placed either inside in Library Park or on Tremont Street, at the cost of a few parking spaces, or on the sidewalk next to Library Park.

Despite numerous sessions to seriously explore how to meet the devastating loss to the community of library services, the BPL has just informed the community they will merely offer once-a-week programming at Rutland Street’s USES’s facility, on Thursdays from 10-12:30 starting October 5.

Given the loss of important library services for so many people in the South End, this once per week space does not come anywhere near our expectations or needs.  We need consistent, available, accessible, and adequate library services from now until the new building is opened, minimally 3-4 days per week and hours from 10-2 and 3-6, accommodating children and adults for programs and visits. 

Important programs and services urgently needed in the South End include:

Computer access with WIFI

Children’s story hour

Tax preparation assistance

Workforce development programs

Book club discussions

Children’s music programs

Homework help workshops

Technical help appointments

ESOL groups

A library of BPL’s stature and reach into the community should always be open to improve and enhance its services. A core principle stated on the BPL website says, “the BPL is a user-centered institution with services that anticipate and respond to neighborhood interests and the changing demographics of the City and Commonwealth.”  This principle does not seem to be guiding the BPL’s approach to the South End Library.

We insist that the BPL’s leadership up its game and provide adequate temporary space and services to the community of a closed library.  This may require a shift in its approach from Capital Projects focused solely on completing 5 major branch projects to a focus of Capital Projects and Temporary Replacement of Library Services. In other words, a citywide plan to build no more than 3 capital library projects and at the same time replace critically needed library services in a temporary location while a branch is closed for reconstruction.  We strongly recommend using the South End Library Branch project to create and implement a citywide template for temporary services during a library’s closure for reconstruction or repair.

Yvette Jarreau

Marleen Nienhuis

Stephen Fox

Celebrating the Contributions of Marleen Nienhuis to the South End Library

Marleen with Brianna Miller, Boston’s Chief of Community Engagement

On July 10th, South End community members gathered with FOSEL’s Board of Directors to celebrate FOSEL founder Marleen Nienhuis and her many contributions to the Library and the neighborhood.  The long-overdue celebration was intended to formally recognize the naming of the South End Branch’s Community Room for Marleen, which was finalized in early 2020.  One pandemic and two floods worth of delay later, the event finally took place and was fully enjoyed by all in attendance, which included FOSEL Board members, BPL staff, South End residents and Library patrons, Marleen’s friends and family, and several public officials. 

Marleen receiving a copy of the naming Resolution from City Council President Ed Flynn

City Council President Ed Flynn presented Marleen with a framed copy of the Resolution in support of the naming, and expressed his and the City’s gratitude for her tireless work, since 2008, to clean up Library Park, renovate the Library’s interior, bring children’s programming to the Branch, establish the popular South End Writes author series, and advocate for the survival of Branch libraries throughout Boston.    

State Rep John Moran presenting Marleen with a citation praising her civic contributions

State Representative John Moran, presenting Marleen with a citation on behalf of himself, Speaker Mariano, and the entire Massachusetts House of Representatives, echoed Flynn’s praise for Marleen’s stalwart efforts and civic contributions over the years.

Marleen thanking former Head Librarian Anne Smart for her contributions to the community

Many others spoke at the event as well, expressing appreciation for Marleen’s dedication and service, including FOSEL President Yvette Jarreau, FOSEL Treasurer Barbara Sommerfeld, long-time South End resident and former municipal judge Herb Hershfang, and former South End Head Librarian Anne Smart.  The speakers shared stories about the early days of FOSEL when Marleen wore all the hats at the nascent entity; building a membership, initiating a newsletter, setting up a website, planning programming.  They highlighted the neighborhood-enriching programs implemented under Marleen’s leadership, such as the Local Focus Window (featuring exhibits about activities of interest in the community), Book Award displays, Easter egg hunts for neighborhood children, and jazz and blues summer concerts in the Park.  Jarreau assured the group that, although the architectural plans for the South End Branch renovation are not yet finalized, the new building will feature a Marleen Nienhuis Community Room. 

Even a few who were not present weighed in through written comments read by Jarreau.  BPL President David Leonard sent his congratulations and well wishes, and acclaimed author, journalist, and academic Stephen Kinzer nicely summed up the evening’s sentiment stating, “We will never walk past the South End Library without thinking of Marleen Nienhuis.”

Marleen delivering a thank-you bouquet to long-time FOSEL treasurer Barbara Sommerfeld

Marleen herself addressed the crowd with characteristic aplomb and modesty, reminding the guests that her successes were achieved in collaboration with others, many of whom were in the room.  She presented bouquets to Smart, Sommerfeld, and Jarreau in recognition of their invaluable help, emphasizing the indispensability of their involvement.  She graciously thanked the FOSEL Board members and neighbors who assisted in projects over the years, from filling hundreds of Easter eggs with treats to planting bulbs in the Park.  And she reminded the crowd that there is still work to be done.    

Overall it was an uplifting evening filled with positive energy, and a fitting tribute to a dynamic local hero.

 For more about Marleen’s contributions to the South End, see: Tribute to Marleen Nienhuis

Photos accompanying this article were contributed by Kim Crucioli, South End and Bay Village Liaison for the City of Boston.

The South End Branch Gets a New Librarian as Renovation Plans Proceed

New Librarian for the South End Branch

The South End Library is delighted to welcome Christina Jones as our new Librarian. Christina has been with BPL for about five years as a floating librarian, doing stints in every department at Copley and at all but two BPL branches.  Just prior to starting at the South End on May 25th, she was overseeing the interlibrary loan process.  Before joining BPL, Christina worked in retail.  She holds a degree in Library Sciences from Simmons University, where she worked in the campus library.

Christina is excited about serving our community. She is investigating the bike bookmobile possibilities and preparing to implement interim services such as story times, author talks, and other valuable programming.  She can be reached at cjones@bpl.org.   

 Architectural Firm Selection

The Roxbury Branch redesign by Utile, Inc.

Four architectural firms made the short list for the Library renovation.  These include, in ranked order:

 1)   Utile, Inc

2)   Oudens Ello Architecture, LLC

3)   Annum Architects, Inc

4)   Schwartz/Silver Architects, Inc

The top choice, Utile, has significant experience with other branch libraries (such as Roxbury and Jamaica Plain), a strong community engagement process, and a design inclination toward transparency/natural light.

Fee negotiation with Utile has begun.  The project will likely be presented for formal approval to the Public Facilities Commission (PFC) at its mid-July meeting.  (Information re how to join this public meeting can be found on the PFC section of the boston.gov website.) 

Following approval, the City Hall contracting process will begin.  As the contracting process is expected to take 1-2 months, work on the study and design phases will likely begin in late summer/early fall.  The design process usually lasts a year, and construction about two years.

Community Engagement Process

As part of the study and design phases, the architects will reach out to the community for input on the project.  They will host four meetings for this purpose, which will also be attended by BPL staff, Public Facilities staff, and all interested community members.  It is expected that the first meeting will be virtual and subsequent ones will be hybrid.

In addition to these architect-led meetings, BPL staff will reach out to engage with the community, perhaps with specific groups, such as seniors, students, etc.  

As they begin their work, the architects will develop a project timeline, which will be published on the South End Branch page of the BPL website, as well as on FOSEL’s website and via links and through other social media. 

Interim Library Services

An example of a bike bookmobile

Because the South End Branch will be closed for a significant period of time during renovation, it is critical that BPL offers enhanced interim library services.  BPL staff are optimistic that the space offered by United South End Settlements may be usable as a fixed location to house temporary operations and programs such as story time, book clubs, and workforce development, as well as book drop-off.  As noted above, BPL is also looking into using a bike bookmobile.       

Summer Concerts Return to Library Park

The Friends of the South End Library are thrilled to invite all our neighbors to come out and enjoy summer concerts with Pat Loomis and Friends in Library Park on the following dates:

July 18

August 1

August 15

August 29

  PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS.

BPL Trustees Hold May Meeting

The BPL Trustees held a meeting on May 23, 2023.   

Staff Updates

BPL Central

President David Leonard began the meeting by announcing that Eileen Donaghey, BPL’s esteemed and beloved Chief Financial Officer, will be retiring in June.  Donaghey also oversees the Library’s Special Events and Human Resources Departments.  Her replacement has not yet been named. 

Leonard also introduced Joshua Rosenthal as the new BPL Director of Operations, noting Rosenthal’s extensive experience in operations, tech, and customer relations.

Guest Speaker

Leonard welcomed special guest Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries for the Austin Public Library, who recently received the Texas Library Association’s “Librarian of the Year Award” for extraordinary leadership and service.  Weeks was invited to speak at the meeting as part of the Trustees’ strategic planning initiative, which includes consultation with key library professionals from around the country. 

Weeks began his career at a small library in Houston providing computer training, and came to see the role of public sector library service as helping people improve their lives in various ways.    

Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries, Austin Public Library

The Austin Public Library has 20 branches and 22 locations and has just completed a 5-year strategic plan, with the mission “to inspire all to discover, learn, and create.”   Weeks outlined the plan’s goals as follows:

 ·      Offering community-centered programs;

·      Providing spaces for all;

·      Fostering stakeholder engagement;

·      Expanding library access including photo IDs for those that need them; and

·      Engaging all library staff.

In creating its strategic plan, the Austin Public Library engaged more than 77,000 community members over the course of a year.  Because their branches are too small to provide sufficient space for their communities to convene (about 8K sq. ft. on average), they decided to create larger regional libraries of about 40K sq. ft. until they can expand the branches. 

In response to questions from Leonard and the Trustees about how best to ensure that library facilities are designed and deployed equitably, Weeks emphasized the importance of creating customer service competency of library staff, offering a variety of programs that appeal to the whole community, and structuring the physical space to feel welcoming. 

Asked about current efforts in Texas and elsewhere to remove books dealing with certain subjects from library shelves, Weeks opined that bans are inconsistent with our country’s founding.  When confronted, he has told patrons, “If we don’t have material you object to, we’re not doing our job.”  Notwithstanding incidents of harassment (including one physical assault) and filming of library staff and “objectionable” books, the Austin Public Library has not succumbed to calls to pull books from its collection.  Weeks emphasized the importance of keeping staff safe through de-escalation training and a prohibition on cameras in certain areas and filming in general.   

Weeks stated that staff isolation was the biggest post-pandemic challenge his library confronted, which has been addressed by varying the types of work staff members engage in, increasing the number of development days they can take, and ensuring they are celebrated and appreciated. 

President’s Report

Leonard introduced Jose Masso, Chief of the City’s Human Services Department, to which the Library now reports.  Human Services is responsible for addressing mental health and social isolation concerns in Boston, problems the Library can help tackle by providing information, resources, and opportunities for connection.  Masso is a current member of the BPL Board of Trustees. 

Leonard also introduced Ashley Groffenberger, the City’s Chief Financial Officer.  Groffenberger, who was formerly the Budget Director in the San Francisco Mayor’s office, has been in her BPL role for 10 months.  Click for more info.  Groffenberger gave a quick rundown of the City’s operating budget, noting that it is up 6.8% over last year, with an increase of $600 million in the capital plan for libraries across the City.  She stated that investment in libraries is an important part of Mayor Wu’s focus on families.  She also stated that the City remains financially strong, as indicated by the reaffirmation of its AAA bond rating.

FY 2023 Accomplishments

Leonard boasted of rebuilding after the pandemic, with 100 new hires and fewer than 50 remaining vacancies, keeping equity at the forefront, serving the community’s needs in workforce development and career counseling, filling demands for collections, and working to close digital divides with hot spots and connectivity packets. 

FY 2024 Goals

Leonard reported that goals for the upcoming year will include:

 ·      Improving services to enrich lives;

·      Increasing access to special and research collections;

·      Enhancing operations and technology;

·      Advancing equity;

·      Enhancing community connections;

·      Improving stewardship of our collections; and

·      Celebrating, continuing, and completing capital projects.

Capital Projects FY 2024

It is expected that the following new capital projects will kick off this year:

 ·      Start of North End programming study;

·      Continuation of accelerated South End programming/design study;

·      Start/continue design process for Fields Corner, Chinatown, Uphams Corner, West End, and Eggleston;

·      Determine strategy and timeline for McKim Master Plan; and  

·      Determine direction for work needed at Hyde Park and Connolly Branches.

Photography/Filming Policy

The Law Department is continuing to review input from the last meeting regarding the Photography and Filming Policy.  The existing Policy will remain in place pending completion of the review. 

Browse, Borrow & Board Pilot

Printed decals will appear on 20 bus routes in Boston offering riders the ability to download a book to read while commuting.  Riders need not be BPL cardholders.  If the program goes well, it could be expanded to more buses and possibly to the T. 

Finance and Audit Committee Report

Evelyn Arana-Ortiz, Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, thanked Mayor Wu for her support for BPL’s biggest budget increase in years.  The increase will support two initiatives: (1) expanded hours at Central and several other branches, including staying open until 5pm on Saturdays, and (2) expanded ESL and bilingual social work capacity.

The Trustees approved the operating and capital budgets as well as proposed contracts as indicated in the meeting agenda. 

New Business

The BPL, together with several partners, will sponsor the “Breaking Barriers” exhibit honoring players who broke the MLB color barrier.  The exhibit will be hosted at Arts Emerson at 112 Boylston St. across from the Common from June 19th through August 4th.  It will be a walk-through exhibit with QR code guidance and will highlight Jackie Robinson and Pumpsie Green.  

Public Comments

Yvette Jarreau of FOSEL asked “When will the capital appropriation for construction costs for the South End Library Project be in the City budget?”  She was told she would receive a response after the meeting. 

A representative of the Friends of the Roslindale Library formally invited the Board to hold a Trustees Meeting at the branch so that the Friends can express their gratitude for the renovated branch in person.

Ellissa Cadillic, President of AFSCME1526 stated that in mid-April a union contract was agreed upon and ratified by members.  In late April it was sent to the Director of Labor relations to send to the City.  The contract has yet to be funded and union members are owed retroactive pay back to 2020.  Cadillic asked when they can expect to be paid.  She was told she would receive a response after the meeting. 

The Trustees expressed appreciation to Ellen Donaghey for her guidance, transparency, and expertise during her tenure as BPL’s CFO. 

Meeting dates for FY 23/24 were approved: 9/26/23, 11/7/23, 1/30/24, 3/26/24, and 5/21/24.

Branch Update May

MAY 2023 UPDATE

Architectural Firm Selection

The City’s Public Facilities Department (PFD) received Statements of Qualifications from 14 architectural firms seeking to be chosen to redesign the South End Branch Library. A list of the firms that responded is reproduced to the right of this text. A copy of the request can be seen here:

https://www.boston.gov/bid-listings/project-7289 (note the $20 million construction estimate).

A public meeting to review the 14 candidates was held in April. Present at the meeting were PDF Project Manager and personnel Rohn MacNulty, Alistair Lucks, and Carleton Jones, BPL Project Manager Alison Ford, and FOSEL’s Yvette Jarreau, as well as several representatives from the community and architectural firms.

The Selection Committee reviewed and ranked the firms based on several criteria including: community engagement, Boston location, experience with similar projects, the Chapter 149 development process, and urban projects, LEED certification, previous recent projects with PFD, and overall appropriateness for this project.  Based on these rankings, PFD Contracts Administrator, Laura Junior, produced a final, short list of candidates:

1. Utile, Inc

2. Oudens Ello Architects LLC

3. Annum Architects, Inc

4. Schwartz/Silver Architects, Inc.

On the whole, the review committee found the quality of the candidates to be very high and the PDF has past experience with many of them, so the committee has decided not to draw out the process by conducting interviews, which could take another month. 

Now that the top firm is identified, MacNulty will negotiate a fee and hopes to bring the selection before the Public Facilities Commission at their next meeting on June 14.   You can watch this virtual meeting on Boston City TV at Xfinity channel 24, RCN channel 13, Fios channel 962, and livestreaming on the Boston City TV website. 

After approval by the Commission, a contract will be drawn up, a process which ordinarily takes around two months.  Accordingly, we hope by late August, we will have top-notch, experienced architectural firm ready to get to work! 

Branch Librarian Search/Staffing

The new South End Branch librarian will begin on May 25th and will be available initially by email and phone. She will work on plans for additional interim services. 

Library Services

South End Settlements (USES) CEO, Jerrell Cox, a great believer in the importance of libraries to their communities, has generously offered to potentially allow use of USES space for some of the Library’s interim services. BPL President David Leonard and some of his staff have visited the available space to gauge its suitability. The location would not house books or other library collections, but could serve as the base for programs such as Story Time, Book Clubs, workforce development, etc., and book drop-off. Arrangements for this are ongoing.

Summer Concerts

FOSEL has received approval from the Parks & Recreation Department for four concerts in Library Park this summer. Attendees will need to bring their own chairs as the Library will likely not have furniture at that point.

South End Branch Update

South End Branch Renovation Update

The process for developing a new Branch Library for the South End has begun!  Public Facilities Department (PFD) Senior Project Manager, (Jay) Rohn McNulty reports that 14 architectural firms have submitted proposals for the redesign.  Most of the proposals have come from Boston-based firms, including a few located in the South End. Notably, one submission came from Mitchell Giurgola, the NY architectural firm that designed the current building. 

PFD and the Design Selection Committee are reviewing the full list based on criteria including professional experience, engineering and mechanical expertise, LEED experience (green buildings), previous urban projects, and experience with community meetings.  The ranking process will yield a short list of three firms by the end of April followed by a final recommendation to the PFD Commission.  After the selection, fees will be negotiated and a contract drafted and signed.  It is hoped that this phase will be complete by the end of June.  Once the contract is in place, the architects will begin community engagement to gain a full understanding of the South End and our residents’ needs.

We are pleased to report that FOSEL President Yvette Jarreau has been invited to participate in the Design Selection Committee, which will next meet on April 28th.

Branch Librarian Search

BPL is actively interviewing candidates and we hope to have our new Head Librarian on board before the end of May.  He or she will be dedicated to the South End, accessible to the community, and have a mobile office.  It is expected that the new Librarian will work with Priscilla Foley, BPL Director of Neighborhood Services, and BPL Community Learning staff to bring additional library services to the South End.   

Summer Concerts  

FOSEL is moving ahead with plans to hold concerts in Library Park again this summer.  Attendees will need to bring their own chairs as the Library will not likely have furniture at that point.  In the meantime, now that the weather is warmer, FOSEL has requested that the IT group bring back WIFI in the Park.

New Leader of Operations at BPL Introduced

Joshua Rosenthal has been appointed the new Chief of Operations for the BPL.  His responsibilities will span multiple departments, including Facilities, Buildings and Trades, IT, and Security.  He will also work on capital projects, including library renovations.  Rosenthal is a former resident of the South End with a background in commercial real estate and tech start-ups. 

BPL Trustees Meet, Discuss Whether to Allow Recording in the Library

The BPL Trustees held a meeting on March 21, 2023.  A discussion with Roosevelt Weeks, Director of the Austin Public Library, had been on the agenda for this meeting but had to be rescheduled. 

 President’s Report

BPL President David Leonard opened the meeting informing the Trustees that he has submitted both operating and capital budgets to the City for approval, which he expects to receive by April 12th.    

Leonard noted that the BPL’s biggest challenge remains staffing, both in terms of external hiring and internal movement.  The number of open jobs stands at 50, representing all types and levels of positions.  Many of the open jobs are in the interviewing and selection stages and it is hoped that the number can soon be reduced to 30 (a more typical level resulting from everyday moves, retirements, promotions, etc.). 

Leonard reported that the Lowell Lecture Series has been announced, with four conversations related to the environment.  Black History and Women’s History month celebrations are reflected in displays and events throughout the library.

Updated Photography, Filming, and Digital Recording Policy 

Sarah Zaphiris, Chief of Staff and Strategy, shared a proposed change to the library’s policy on filming of staff and patrons.  The current policy forbids filming inside any BPL library.  After consulting with the City’s law department, a new policy has been drafted that follows case law (based primarily on policing cases) allowing filming of public employees, as long as it does not interfere with staff duties or patrons.  It would remain impermissible to record Children under the age of 18. This change would align the BPL policy with those of national, Seattle, and Chicago libraries.  Cambridge Library has decided to continue its no filming policy, pending further review. 

A lively discussion ensued, with the Trustees expressing concern for patron privacy and safety.  It was suggested that prior consent to be filmed should be sought.

Sarah reported that the subject had been discussed at library staff meetings and the consensus among staff is that filming should not be permitted.  Both unions have asked for a formal discussion of the policy.  Leonard reported that BPL has asked the City’s law department to conduct further review and to report back at the May Trustees meeting.

Current Capital Projects Status

The capital budget/project list is not expected to change significantly in the upcoming capital budget process.

The South End branch remains closed while BPL and the City seek an architectural firm for the redesign project.

There are capacity issues in both the BPL project management and City facilities departments.  Usually a team of three, BPL’s project management department is down to one, but expecting a new person to start soon.

Leonard and Alison Ford, Major Projects Manager, reported on the following key projects:

Faneuil – A fall opening is anticipated.

Fields Corner – In mid-design phase, with two years of construction expected to follow (intended to be the first net zero building, producing more energy than it uses)

McKim Fire Alarm – In the design phase with construction expected later this year (some disruption anticipated as it affects the whole building)

Chinatown – A new 17K square foot library space within a building of 110 housing units is planned.

Uphams Corner – A new branch within a housing development is planned.  The developer is about to be selected and notified.

West End – A new building within a housing development is planned.  The Request for Proposal will go out in the next few weeks followed by a Programming Study with community meetings.  It is expected to be a one to two-story library with housing above.

South End – Our branch continues to be closed.  The Request for Proposal is out to architectural firms.  It is hoped that a firm with library experience will be engaged and the project can enter an accelerated, combined Programming and Design Study phase.

Egleston – A stand-alone branch is planned, and it is about to go into the design phase.

McKim Master Plan and Collection Storage – An update can be expected at the May meeting.

Finance and Audit Committee Report

Last week the Finance and Audit Committee met with BPL’s investment advisor, NEPC, who recommended the addition of corporate grade investment bonds of about $2 million (3% of the portfolio) to diversify and manage the risk/return balance BPL wants to maintain. 

Strategic Planning Committee

The Strategic Planning Committee held its first meeting, which was animated and robust.  The Committee is focused on timing, content, stakeholders, and what is doable.  A more detailed report will be provided at a future meeting.  These meetings are public and can be accessed through the BPL’s website. 

New Business

The BPL Fund report is out and describes many new initiatives.

A 1928 urban atlas from the current exhibit at the Leventhal Map Center. These atlases display property, street, utility, and building information—details which reflect their original purpose as maps for the fire insurance and real estate industries.

There is a great exhibit in the Leventhal Map Center.  If you download the Atlas app, you can see what Boston looked like at different times and places in its history.

The Literary Lights Gala is coming up, invitations are out to Trustees and staff; Jill Lepore will be the keynote speaker.

Joe Masso and WBUR celebrated 48 years of !Con Salsa!

Public Comments

Several BPL staff/union members offered public comments as follows:

Six people expressed concerned that appropriate Diversity/Equity/Inclusion vocabulary was not being utilized in staff interviews and that interviewers were not recognizing candidates’ life skills and certificates in lieu of college degrees.

Eleven individuals expressed concern about the potential change to the filming policy and its safety impact.

A suggestion was made to extend the time for public comment in Trustees’ meetings beyond the 9AM deadline to allow comment on the meeting content.

The meeting was adjourned shortly after 10AM.  The next meeting is scheduled for May 23rd.

BPL Trustees Hold First Meeting of 2023

On January 17th, the BPL Trustees held their first meeting of the year.  After the call to order, roll call, a reading of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement, and minutes approval, Trustees’ Chair Priscilla Douglas asked the chairs of the Community Engagement Committee, the McKim Building Capital Project Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee to say a few words about their work. 

Linda Dorcina Ferry acknowledged Jose Masso as her co-chair of the Community Engagement Committee and spoke about the draft charter for the Committee, which aims to elevate and amplify the work of BPL staff and the library branches.

Navjeet Bal, chair of the McKim Building Capital Project Committee, discussed enabling transformation of the existing designs/plans into reality by fundraising from the City, the State and private donors.  The Committee’s first meeting will be held in early February.

Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Christian Westra, explained that the key question for the Committee will be, “What does it mean to be an urban library in the 21st century?”  This will be the focus as the Committee  works with the Trustees, BPL staff, and community members to develop the BPL’s next strategic plan.  Their initial meeting will be in February.

President’s Report

To facilitate thinking about the next strategic plan, President David Leonard introduced invited guest, John Szabo, City Librarian for Los Angeles, which has 72 branches, to address the Trustees.  Szabo has over 30 years’ experience in public libraries.  

Guest speaker John Szabo, City Librarian for Los Angeles

Mr. Szabo began by acknowledging the Boston Public Library as an American treasure.  He then made the following remarks, before taking questions: 

I believe it’s possible that public libraries are more relevant today than ever.  They are more dynamic and able to influence people’s lives.  People seem to have a greater sense of the importance of the library and democracy.  Libraries are still trusted institutions and good stewards of public and philanthropic money.  They are throughout our communities, they serve all of us, whether poor or wealthy, housed or unhoused, youngest to oldest.  They are important to leverage to do good; to have an impact on our cities’ issues.  Libraries provide lifelong learning empowering people, and we have to communicate that.  We are essential to education and all corners of our communities.

Communications, marketing, and public relations are critical.  We have to be savvy, culturally competent, multi-lingual, have robust social media to drive traffic into our digital offerings.  We must consider how we are putting our brand out there digitally, through a diversity, inclusion, equity lens that involves staff, collections, policies, and procurement.

Los Angeles Public Library is doing all the warm, fuzzy elements as well as all the other work, with “electeds” as cheerleaders.  Serving immigrants is key, ensuring all immigrants know the library is for them.  The library must be approachable in every neighborhood.

STEM/STEAM is highlighted in all programs and preserving collections.  Children’s research and scholars’ research are equally important and exciting.  Our librarians must be able to speak about the innovative work of the library with enthusiasm.

Public libraries are extremely adaptive to change; this is particularly visible in how we have made tech available quickly to all.  We have high impact, serve everyone in our area, and deliver effective communications to all in our cities and neighborhoods.

Mr. Szabo then took questions from the Trustees (responses are paraphrased):

Q:  What about libraries as gathering locations?  What is the value of community space?

A:  We need more space for gathering in civic engagement; programming that celebrates neighborhoods and people’s backgrounds is more important than ever.  We experience a shift from traditional services to more social services and continue to navigate that tension. Currently we are engaging with twelve social service organizations for mental health.  Nonprofits are lined up at our doors.  We need to tie this to our mission of lifelong learning, areas we can ensure effectiveness, and alignment with our values. 

Q:  How have you developed your mission?  Is there anything you say no to?

A:  When we engage in a strategic planning process, we involve the public and all corners of the organization.  Empowering people is key to our mission.  Sometimes we have a capacity issue even though something might be within our mission.  Maybe we don’t have the money or bandwidth.  When we consider a new area, we are concerned that we do it well.  We like to hear “I can’t believe the library is doing that.”

Q:  We are all concerned about housing.  What ideas regarding the housing crisis and the library are front of mind?

A:  Our new mayor, Karen Bass, has made it her #1 priority.  Our first approach to unhoused people is to treat them with dignity and respect; they are our patrons.  Issues related to the homeless affect all our locations.  They use our spaces to be warmer or cooler and our information services are important to them.  We bring together at our staff trainings multiple social service agencies such as DMV for free ID badges, transitional housing services, Veterans Administration, and the Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System (the network that aligns homeless services to ensure that resources are efficiently and equitably distributed.)  One size doesn’t fit all so we need various tools in our toolbox and more often than not, this is not law enforcement.  We are hiring social workers and training staff as ambassadors who can help in de-escalating and providing information on housing services.  Some of our staff are trained in Narcan administration.  We make referrals to transitional housing and other assistance organizations.

Q:  What about traditional library use such as books and reading?  What is the impact of the digital revolution?

A:  We see a decline in print circulation; however, we are still investing in it.  Given the e-resource space it is challenging to balance major elements of the collection such as film, e-books, and audiobooks and make them available equitably.  We have WIFI and computers in our libraries and provide WIFI hot spots and loaner computers.  We have traditional literacy programs which are still very important and are aligned with school programs.  All school kids have library cards through our partnership with schools.  We offer a program called Read Baby Read which supplies a book and a sippy cup for early reading engagement.

Q:  How important are exhibitions for driving involvement?   We have been approached by the Negro Baseball Exhibition and are wondering about offering it. 

A:  Exhibitions are extremely important to us, and we are making more of them available throughout our system.  Exhibitions must reflect the neighborhoods we serve.  The Negro Baseball Exhibition is a traveling exhibit and we are delighted to have it in our Central Library right now.  We have a large photo collection. It is an artifact-based exhibit, and we are getting media coverage as well.

Q:  As President of Simmons University, I am interested in what we need to teach and how to attract students to library science.

A:  The professional ranks of our staff are not representative of all our communities, and we need to bring in more people who are reflective of our patrons/communities.  Students going into the field who at some point will become librarians will need to lead others, understand the impact of libraries, and speak with passion about their library’s mission.

Q:  How do you decide what to highlight in your marketing communications to your communities?  

A:  We have professional library staff in our PR/Marketing group.  They can pitch to and get earned media coverage.  We used to be central library focused but we hired three communications staff to cover the wider community to be more effective with ethnically diverse media and other larger channels.  We have over 1000 programs monthly (and sometimes I learn about them after the fact).  We look at programs we haven’t promoted previously and try to see what will appeal to other channels in which we don’t usually have a presence.

The Trustees expressed their gratitude to Szabo and he signed off.

Leonard mentioned that the March meeting will feature a guest speaker from the Austin Public Library.

Leonard continued with his President’s update, referencing a written, end-of-year wrap up, the challenge of building back staff to capacity (still a ways to go), participating in the unveiling of “The Embrace” on January 13th, and BPL’s continuing partnership with King Boston.  He also mentioned that the BPL was highlighted on CBS Sunday Morning for its research holdings, in particular the anti-slavery collection.

Finance & Audit Report

Finance Committee Chair Evelyn Arana-Ortiz stated that the Committee would be reporting on the FY24 Maintenance Budget Submission and on a request to increase thresholds for approvals.

Ellen Donaghey, CFO, stated that the Committee had a good initial meeting with the City’s Office of Budget Management and the Mayor’s staff to ensure the draft budget aligned with the Mayor’s priorities before making the formal budget request.  Donaghey noted that union settlements are under way and that collections will be affected by price increases.  More specifics will be provided at the March meeting, which the City CFO is expected to attend. BPL will present to the City Council in May.

Donaghey then presented the request for increasing approval thresholds as follows:  $0-$50K – no trustees votes required; $51K-$200K – Finance & Audit Committee votes required; $201K+ -- Finance & Audit reviews and recommends a vote to the full board.  The board approved this request subject to the approval of the BPL outside audit firm.

New Business

·       The next meeting of the trustees will be on March 21st at 8:30am.

·       It was noted that WBUR has a very good podcast about the unhoused population.

·       The new Leventhal exhibit is great.  BPL guided tours occur at 5:30pm on Wed or Fri and 11:30am on Sat.

There being no public comment, the meeting was adjourned.

South Enders Weigh In on Their Preferred Temporary Services During Library Shutdown

In late 2022, BPL and FOSEL circulated a survey to South Enders to determine which types of services the community would most like to have available during the closure of the Library for renovations.  We received 349 responses.  According to the survey results, the five services most in demand are the following:       

• Book pickup and return,

• Meeting space,

• Story time,

• WiFi in the Park, and

• Computer services with WiFi.

Survey respondents indicated a preference for the above-listed services to be made available at a temporary, staffed location, which could be visited on a daily basis.  Their second choice was to have a modular unit in Library Park, and third was a mobile unit, such as a bookmobile. 

BPL Central Branch

Now that it has heard from the community, BPL is working on finding ways to provide the prioritized services.  It is attempting to establish a shuttle service to bring South End residents with mobility challenges to the Central Branch, where tax preparation will be offered.  Tours will be offered for those who are new to the Central Branch.  BPL is also exploring the possibility of hiring a Mobile Services Manager, who would oversee temporary services not only during the South End Branch closure but during temporary shutdowns at all branch libraries.                

Taxi Vouchers Available For Purchase

Although the South End Branch Library will be closed for renovations for the foreseeable future, taxi vouchers for Boston residents aged 65 and over will be available for purchase:

WHERE: At IBA - 405 Shawmut Ave.

WHEN: The first Wednesday of every month from 11:00am to 11:50am. 

HOW MUCH: Each coupon book will cost $5.00 (CASH ONLY).

HOW MANY: You can buy two coupon books per month.

Jean Desgrottes, Taxi Coupon Coordinator, will be selling the coupons.  The coupons work in taxis licensed by the City of Boston.

Library Status Update; TAKE THE SURVEY!

THE SOUTH END LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND BPL WANTS YOUR INPUT ON WHICH TEMPORARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO PRIORITIZE

In late April, the Branch suffered a major flood in the basement that destroyed all the equipment that runs the branch. According to the engineering firm that evaluated the situation for Boston Public Library (BPL), the repairs are likely to cost about $1 million and take 18 to 20 months to complete.

The current South End Branch Library

Our South End Library has been in line for a major renovation / reconstruction for several years; the City’s capital budget already includes funding for a programming study as the initial phase of the process to create a state-of-the-art Branch Library.

In light of the importance of having library services restored as soon as possible in the South End, Mayor Michelle Wu, in collaboration with BPL, has decided to fast- track building a new South End Library, starting at the end of this year with the programming study, and completing the new library by the end of 2024.

The BPL has committed to offering temporary library services and programming in the community during the rebuilding process, where possible.

While the BPL would like to offer a range of temporary services during the South End Library's closure, staffing and space limitations will determine what is possible in the immediate future, which can be adjusted when more favorable circumstances evolve.

We need to know your thoughts about which services are most urgent to you and which locations make the most sense.

Please take a few moments to complete this survey so that the BPL can take your opinions into account. (The survey usually takes less than 6 minutes to complete.)

Here is a link to the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/9QQLDDV

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New Little Free Library in Library Park!

Like all our South End neighbors, we at FOSEL are anxiously awaiting the re-opening of our Library. The timeline for that remains unclear, but in the meantime, thanks to the generosity of FOSEL founder Marleen Nienhuis, we can all enjoy sharing books through a new Little Free Library box that has been installed in Library Park.

To start off, the box has been filled with books by South End authors, each with a bookplate designed by South Ender Reinhold Mahler, featuring FOSEL’s logo and an invitation to “take a book or leave a book.”

The door to the box is equipped with a counter, so we can track how many times it is opened.

Come on by and grab a book or leave one of your favorites for all to enjoy!

FOSEL President Yvette Jarreau in front of the new Little Free Library in Library Park

South Ender Walter Newman installed the new Little Free Library.