Notes from the September BPL Trustees Meeting
The BPL Trustees held a meeting on September 28, 2021 and discussed the following topics:
New Committees
The meeting began with an announcement of the inauguration of two new board committees: The Strategic Community Engagement Committee, tasked with bringing various communities together, and the “Reformatted” Collections Committee, a revised version of the existing Collections Committee. Both will be formed on October 8th.
Programming
Michael Colford, Director of Library Services, then provided an update on programming. He addressed youth programs, a major focus of the BPL’s offerings, which include virtual and outdoor Story Times for children, Countdown to Kindergarten at 16 branches, Future Readers Club, kindergarten camps, courtyard events, and homework assistance.
Colford also reviewed adult programming, including a lecture series entitled Joy & Renewal for the winter/spring, and high-profile author talks. Tech Goes Home continues offering basic technology skills, with computer and WIFI access provided. Colford also mentioned ongoing ESL support, early literacy, playwriting boot camp, and three programs with Grub Street, a local nonprofit focused on writing and literacy.
BPL Fund Relaunch
BPL President David Leonard then addressed the relaunch of the BPL Fund (led by BPL Executive Director Paula Sakey) calling for a board vote on (1) a Memorandum of Understanding clarifying the relationships between and among the BPL, the BPL Fund, and the City, (2) a Gift Acceptance Policy outlining when and whether to accept a gift, and (3) a Named Giving Policy outlining naming rights for substantial gifts. These policies were unanimously adopted and will clear the way for communicating with potential donors to the BPL Fund.
Summer Utilization
Leonard reviewed summer utilization numbers, estimating there were about 500,000 transactions per month for July and August, including visits, book use, and program attendance. The numbers are not yet back to 2019 levels but are heading in the right direction.
Cybersecurity Incident
Leonard reported that in August, the BPL experienced a significant cybersecurity incident which forced many services offline for 6-7 days, and required staff to quickly pivot to paper-based services. There is no evidence that the personal information of patrons or staff was compromised and no reason to suspect internal wrongdoing. Data was restored with minimum loss. The board planned to discuss the matter further in a short executive session following the meeting. A public law enforcement investigation is ongoing. At the end of the discussion, Alyssa Cadillac, President of AFSME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO), offered praise for staff in stepping up to keep the library functioning and for IT staff who worked tirelessly to resolve the incident.
Pandemic Impact
Turning to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on current operations, Leonard mentioned that as of this summer’s reopening, the City requires all employees to report to work in person, and masks must be worn by staff and patrons at all BPL locations. Roughly 20% of staff positions (around 86) remain unfilled partly as a result of the 2020 Covid-initiated budget freeze, and retirements. Accordingly, ramping up staffing is a top priority at this time.
Branch Activities
The McKim courtyard fountain project is complete and several concerts have been hosted there. The Hyde Park Branch reopened in early summer after challenges with construction and supply issues. The Adams Street Branch had a ribbon cutting this summer as well.
A Roxbury Branch at Nubian Square opening ceremony will take place on October 23rd and the Roslindale Branch is opening is delayed due to shelving availability issues.
The Programming Study for our South End Branch is planned for this fiscal year, which runs from July ‘21-June ’22. Leonard indicated that the City Facilities Director has confirmed it will be started during this time period.
Agenda Items for Future Trustees Meetings
Future Trustees meetings will focus on racial equity, and will welcome representatives from the nonprofit DEI organization YW Boston. The McKim Master Planning (and capital) Campaign is also on the agenda for future meetings.
Financial
Evelyn Arena-Ortiz, Chair of the Finance/Audit Committee, introduced Matt Hunt from the audit firm to update the board on the recent financial audit, which resulted in an unmodified opinion. The review was free from any material errors or issues. The general fund is up 6% over last year with a 25% increase in expendable trust funds due to stock market gains.
Public Comments
Public comments focused mainly on the concern among many branch librarians that the current collections process does not allow them to align branch collections with their communities’ unique needs (10 of the 14 commenters addressed this).
Marleen Nienhuis, founder and former President of FOSEL, spoke about recent staff changes at the South End Library, and the importance of considering the needs and interests of library patrons and the broader community in making such decision. Nienhuis said:
I hope my comments will inspire you to reconsider the notion that what happens to local libraries and their staff is not just an internal matter. Branch library staff everywhere in Boston have long-standing relationships with library users based on mutual trust and understanding…I and many other patrons hope you will reconsider how to respect and value the importance of the relationships between branch staff and library users.
Sadiki Kambon of the Nubian Square Coalition spoke about the naming of the Roxbury Library at Nubian Square and requested that the BPL declare the naming vote null and void and schedule a session to allow sufficient input from the community.
The next Trustees meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2021 at 8:30 am.
Volunteers Wanted for Planting in Library Park
Volunteer for Fall Planting at Library Park!
The South End Library's Park has been weeded and mulched and is now ready for fall daffodil and hosta planting in preparation for spring 2022. Many thanks to all who helped - Chris Fagg, Barbara Faires, Reggie Ellenwood, Derek Plessing, Nancy Downer, Yvette Jarreau, and special thanks to Chris Neff of the Parks Department who provided the mulch in two big deliveries.
Please click HERE to volunteer for planting, likely in October. It is sure to be a fun community activity that will bring big smiles to the neighborhood in the spring.
Staff Changes at our South End Library
After many years of devoted service to the South End community, Head Librarian Anne Smart has retired. FOSEL enjoyed a very congenial and collaborative relationship with Anne since its founding over 14 years ago, and we wish to express our profound thanks for all she has done for the Library and the community. Anne, we wish you the best in this new phase of your life. We will miss you!
Anne Smart in front of the South End Library
Matt Krug, another beloved Librarian at our branch since 2013, has also left with hopes of bringing his energy, creativity, and passion for service to a new organization in the Boston area. FOSEL offers our gratitude for his service and wishes him all the best as he navigates new “waters.”
Matt Krug
Volunteers Wanted to Help Prepare Library Park for Summer Concerts
FOSEL is excited to once again be able to present our summer Jazz & Blues concerts in Library Park this August. FOSEL President Yvette Jarreau, with the help of Chris Fagg, has been hard at work getting the Park ready, weeding, pruning and cleaning the garden. They have made good progress but there is more to do.
FOSEL invites all interested friends and neighbors to come to the Park and lend a hand, spend some time outdoors with other volunteers, and ensure the Park is looking its best for the upcoming concerts.
If you are interested, please contact us at info@friendsofsouthendlibrary.org.
South End Writes Summer Break
South End Writes Summer Break
After a full winter/early spring season, South End Writes will take a summer break in July and August, and hopes to come back in September to finish out the year with in-person author talks! We can’t wait!
Have a Great Summer!
BPL Trustees Meet and Review Accomplishments
The BPL Trustees meeting held on May 18, 2021 began with a reaffirmation of the BPL’s commitment to value the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, to embrace the goal of being an antiracist organization, and to acknowledge that BPL is located on indigenous peoples’ land.
President David Leonard then gave his report, highlighting BPL’s key recent achievements, including the following:
Programs and services were successfully continued during the pandemic (hotspots were provided for digital equity; Wi-Fi improvements were made; chrome books, book bundles, craft kits, and virtual access to the McKim building were offered).
Demand for services has remained robust, with a record 5.2 million items borrowed in 2020, 100% increase in digital borrowing versus three years ago, and 77,000 new ecard patrons.
A Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement and Action Plan was formally ratified and a new $75,000 grant was received to increase the library’s antiracist collection.
Improvements to neighborhood branches were made, with the opening of the Roxbury branch and planned openings of the Adams and Roslindale branches.
Leonard touted additional BPL programs such as Tech Goes Home (offering beginner level instruction for new computer and internet users), ESL conversations, online homework assistance, future readers club, and Repairing America programs. He also pointed to developments in the digital realm, with expanded online access to collections and rare books and manuscripts, and other accomplishments in the areas of youth engagement, workforce development, and out of school programming.
In an important step toward more equitable availability of the library, the Trustees voted to permanently eliminate fines for overdue items.
Leonard reported that going forward, the BPL’s focus will be on staff development, hiring an Equity Coordinator, enhancing strategic partnerships, increasing Trustee engagement, and reopening branches. Although no announcement was made regarding reopening dates, Leonard indicated that there would be news soon, and that many locations will continue to have restrictions when opened. Remote options will continue to be available, resources permitting.
Leonard stated that Capital projects for fiscal year 2022 will include the kick off of the Programming Study for our own South End branch. Funding for the Study has been rolled over from the previous budget.
For those interested in reading more, a 17-page document detailing the BPL’s recent accomplishments and initiatives is available at: https://www.bpl.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/board-meeting-schedule/.
Library Park is in Bloom!
Hokus Crocus adorn the Library Park gardens and usher in spring.
At the end of October 2020, a small group of Library Park aficionados, including FOSEL founder Marleen Nienhuis and dedicated volunteers Chris Fagg and Walter Newman, chased away the pandemic and election-season blues by taking planting tools and 3,000 bulbs to Library Park. Buffeted by cold weather, rain, high winds and three inches of the season’s first snow, they raked the leaves, removed the fallen branches, dug holes and planted until the last bulb was covered. As we head into spring, their work is paying off. The crocuses, daffodils, and tulips are in full bloom and the grape hyacinth are beginning to peek through. Stroll by the Library and have a look for yourself!
Celebrating getting the last bulb into the ground in the fall
The new tradition of planting thousands of spring bulbs in Library Park began in the fall of 2018, when FOSEL learned that City funding for the Park’s re-design would exclude plantings. Rather than leave the Park’s garden with nothing to show for the makeover, FOSEL brought in the first round of plantings that fall and watched them bloom profusely in the spring of 2019. During that 2019 summer, with the help of South End State Reps., Jon Santiago and Aaron Michlewitz, FOSEL secured $25,000 for soil improvement, perennials, an irrigation system and new low-level interior fencing as well as exterior fence repair.
Big Up tulip blend in bloom
Another 3,000 bulbs were ordered and placed in the ground in the fall of 2019, which in 2020 provided much appreciated visual relief from the gloom of the pandemic that forced many South Enders to stay close to their homes. And now once again, as a result of the hard work last fall, the Park has come alive with color and cheer, a harbinger of hope after a long and difficult year.
Spanish Bluebells are expected to bloom in June.
BPL TRUSTEES MEET - PREPARE FOR REOPENING AND A "NEW NORMAL"
Outgoing BPL Board of Trustees Chair, Bob Gallery (center) and BPL President, David Leonard (right)
The March 23 meeting of the BPL Board of Trustees opened with Acting Chair, Evelyn Arana-Ortiz, thanking Mayor Walsh for his service and welcoming Acting Mayor Kim Janey and all the new BPL Trustees: Navjeet Bal, Joseph Berman, Joyce Linehan, Michael Rush, and Christian Westra. A farewell to outgoing Chair Bob Gallery followed. Arana-Ortiz characterized the Board as one of the strongest and most diverse in the Commonwealth, and praised Gallery for his contribution to creating a more unified and cohesive community among the Trustees, the libraries, and the associated Friends groups. Gallery expressed his gratitude to the Board for their collaboration and his intent to stay involved.
Governance & Development Committee
Trustee John Hailer provided an update from the Governance & Development Committee, noting the nomination of Priscilla Douglas to serve as the Chair of the Board from March 23, 2021 through May 18, 2021, the date of the next annual meeting and formal election process. The Board voted unanimously to accept this nomination.
President’s Report
BPL President David Leonard began the President’s report by expressing his wholehearted support for Douglas’s nomination and his desire to collaborate with Douglas and the Board going forward.
Douglas spoke briefly, indicating her strong approval of the BPL’s performance during the pandemic and emphasizing the seamless, continuing service being provided to existing patrons as well as expansion to new patrons. She acknowledged the need to recover from Covid, racial inequities, and economic divides, and achieve a “new normal,” in which the library will meet people wherever they are.
Continuing his Report, Leonard welcomed City Councilor Frank Baker, who proposed the dedication and renaming of the community room at the Adams St. Branch Library as “the Pat O’Neill Community Room.” O’Neill was a neighborhood association leader in Dorchester who worked energetically and selflessly for the betterment of the library, neighborhood, and City. She passed away last spring.
Leonard denounced the violence in Atlanta and Colorado, and highlighted the need for the nation to confront and address the issues of gun control, misogyny, and racism (including anti-Asian discrimination). He noted that bringing a permanent Chinatown library branch to fruition is a key BPL priority.
Leonard introduced two new BPL managers, John Towle, Chief of Staff & Strategy, and Brett Curry, Facilities Manager – Branches. With the City’s hiring freeze lifted, he stated that other open positions will be filled as soon as possible. Although BPL’s push for early vaccine eligibility for library staff was unsuccessful, Leonard noted that all personnel will be eligible on April 19th. Although the vaccine is not a precondition for reopening, it will bring a sense of safety to many in the coming weeks. Leonard expects to have more news about reopening at the May Trustees’ meeting. In the meantime, there will be modest additions to services across the system.
Leonard discussed the evolving Strategic Road Map, the BPL’s five-year plan, which will be presented at an all-staff meeting the week of March 29th and will be brought up for a vote of the Trustees at the May meeting. Key focus areas are
· Becoming an antiracist organization and building a culture of respect
· Offering programming and services that build and maintain equity
· Building, maintaining, and activating collections
· Expanding reach, awareness, and impact with fiscal sustainability
· Creating inspiring spaces, well maintained and modern infrastructure
· Creating patron and staff connections and services through technology
· Continuing to expect the unexpected
There will be four phases to be implemented over the next five years.
Finance & Audit Committee Update
Kurt Mansperger, BPL Chief Technology Officer, presented the BPL 2021 Technology Plan. The following is a list of its key goals:
· Focus on impact and outcomes using data analytics
· Extend the library’s reach equitably, with external WIFI, Chrome Book lending, hot spot program, etc.
· Expand educational opportunities – extend technical training for staff and patrons
· Develop spaces that meet evolving patron needs – more comfortable and after hours, improving video conference capability at all branches
· Enable One Library through a communications platform, internal document management, and relationships
· Drive organizational efficiency – improve existing work flows, onboarding, promotions, etc.
· Improve IT fundamentals – staff development, data center, information security
The Board voted to accept the Plan.
Investment Performance
Arana-Ortiz reviewed the investment funds’ performance, noting an 18% year-to-date return as of the end of January 2021, and more than an 8% return over the ten year period for the $73 million currently invested. Some re-allocation among funds is planned.
New Business
The Trustees wish to have a separate, more in-depth discussion of the library’s antiracist evolution and the issues related to the library’s stance on keeping “publisher-removed” Dr. Seuss books in special collections and available to patrons.
Public Comment
David Vieira of City Friends welcomed the new Trustees and expressed his personal opinion that the BPL should not provide commentary about any books including the “publisher removed” Dr. Seuss books.
Individually, the following people expressed their concern about the process of naming the former Dudley Square Branch the Roxbury Branch and their desire to have the library rename the Roxbury Branch the Nubian Square Branch.
· Paula Coar of the Roxbury/Nubian Square coalition
· Jamada Smith
· Samuel Pierce
· Marie Ferman, resident of Roxbury and President of the Black Business Development Group
· Dr. Reginald L. Jackson, a member of the Roxbury/Nubian Square Coalition
Nora Vincent, resident of West Roxbury, spoke about the use of the words “Becoming an anti -racist organization and building a culture of respect” and stated the importance of using the word “becoming,” citing the need to continue the evolution.
The next meeting is set for May 18th at 8:30am.
BPL Holds Annual Friends Group Breakfast Meeting (Virtually)
March 6, 2021
Each year Priscilla Foley, Director of Neighborhood Services for BPL, and David Leonard, BPL’s President, host a BPL Friends group breakfast. This year’s get together was well-attended in spite of being virtual, without the usual delicious food.
Leonard kicked things off with an acknowledgement that it has been a full year since the library was closed, and segued into an announcement that he anticipates a staggered, safe reopening in the coming months. He mentioned the modest change to Friday hours to accommodate our Age Strong community’s needs, and reiterated the imperative of balancing health and safety with increased services.
Although no specific reopening date has been set, BPL staff are scheduled to meet later in March with the City’s Health Commission to hash out a limited and cautious plan. Leonard’s expectation is that the library is likely to begin opening in late spring/early summer with more robust in person access in the fall. There will likely be capacity constraints, masks required, staff appointments, and limited computer usage. The plan will take into consideration differences in branches and their capacities. Some branches may even have evening hours and accommodate walk up services.
Leonard also discussed the need for greater clarity around the characterization of library workers as educators or essential workers for vaccine eligibility purposes.
Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the BPL Fund, was up next. Long connected with the public library, Sakey characterized her stewardship of the Fund as “Chapter Two,” following her predecessor’s 2019 relaunch of the Fund. As the primary philanthropic arm of the BPL, the Fund raises money for the system as a whole, while also providing opportunity for philanthropists to support special purposes/collections.
Sakey introduced the Fund’s team: Anna Harris, Development Associate; Beth Barcklay, Individual Giving; Theresa Meckel, Finance; Benjamin Wind, Corporate & Foundation Relations; Ayodale Abinusawa, Development and Communications Intern; and Angelina McCoy, Business Operations.
Sakey and her team can already boast of significant accomplishments, including surpassing their $1 million goal for broad-based, multi-channel individual giving, and establishing The 1848 Society for estate and life income gifts, with $750K in future gifts. The Fund is seeking restricted gifts to support Youth programs, Workforce Services, and Equity. Overall, they have raised $2 million to date.
The next agenda topic, Adult Summer Reading, was led by Veronica Koven-Matasy, who reviewed the bingo card style program encouraging adult reading in a fun format. The program is carried out in multiple languages with gift cards to local bookstores. In March 2020 it went virtual, but it is still accessible to people not using digital platforms. It has grown significantly from 2018 to 2020 with the expectation of continued growth in 2021. The program can be accessed at bingo@bpl.org. Funding for this program has been provided by Friends organizations.
Capital Projects Update
Priscilla Foley then gave an update on BPL capital projects, starting with a quick overview of the standard capital project process, which includes three phases:
Programming Study: Approximately 1 year, with 3-4 community meetings & surveys
2. Design phase: Approximately 1 year, with 3-4 community meetings including input from Friends groups and the community
3. Construction: Varies depending on the complexity
Foley then reviewed the status of current projects in the pipeline:
· Adams Street Branch – doubled the 7500 sq ft size; commitment to a key shade tree, no opening date yet with interior work continuing
· Roslindale – expansion of the community room, move the children’s art to the back, great input from the Friends group, hoping for completion by end of summer/ early fall
· McKim Fountain – maintenance underway
· Rare Books – interior project at Central with a reading room and welcoming access
· Faneuil Branch – design is completed for one of the smallest branches. Created an accessible entrance for everyone, added kids’ room in the back and accessible bathrooms.
· Eggleston & West End – Programming study is underway as a joint process, held two community meetings with great feedback received, considering the potential of housing with the library
· Codman Branch – starting programming study to consider housing and library
· Chinatown – looking for a permanent site
· Uphams Corner – programming study
· Roxbury –completed with staff getting a virtual tour in September
· Central Library Roof & Skylight – completed
· Hyde Park waterproofing – to be completed in April
· North End & South End – programming studies for each likely to begin this calendar year; awaiting assignment of city facilities project manager
· Fields Corner – entering design phase
Community Room in the South End Library Named in Honor of FOSEL Founder Marleen Nienhuis
Following an October 2020 City Council Resolution and approval by the BPL Board of Trustees, the second-floor community room in the South End Library has been named, “The Marleen Nienhuis Community Room,” in honor of the Friends of the South End Library’s founder. The move was initiated by FOSEL’s current board of directors upon the conclusion of Marleen’s tenure with the organization last fall, as a way to express appreciation for her vision and leadership over the years. As indicated in the Resolution, FOSEL has succeeded in making the South End Library a more relevant community resource under Marleen’s tutelage. Her accomplishments are many, from establishing a variety of popular programs at the Library, such as The South End Writes author series, annual Easter Egg hunts for neighborhood kids, and summer jazz and blues concerts, to transforming the Park into a welcoming community green space with a central plaza, new perennial plantings, a butterfly garden, and an automated irrigation system. The Resolution also acknowledged Marleen’s work with the City and the BPL in planning the recent improvements to the Library’s interior, and in teeing up the branch for a full renovation over the next few years.
The final stage of the commemorative tribute was completed last week with the installation of elegant silver lettering on the wall. Although the pandemic has kept Marleen from visiting the newly named space, she expressed her surprise and gratitude for the gesture, noting that she was “deeply touched” and calling the lettering “gorgeous .... so simple and stylish.” FOSEL looks forward to the day in the not-too-distant-future when all will be welcomed back into the Library to see it for themselves.
Marleen Nienhuis
The current leadership of FOSEL is thrilled to recognize Marleen’s hard work on behalf of our mission and community in this way. As stated by board member Marilyn Davillier, “What a wonderful thing to see after all this time of [her] tireless and many contributions to the Library. [She] has enhanced and enriched a worthy institution. We are all very grateful.” And Advisory Board member Maura Harrington summed it up well, calling the naming of the room “a fitting tribute to a visionary whose commitment, persistence and hard work made extraordinary plans a reality.”
For more about Marleen’s contributions to the Library and the neighborhood, click HERE.
BPL President Condemns Attack on US Capitol and Introduces New Program
The US Capitol under siege on January 6th
At a meeting of the BPL Trustees held on January 12th, BPL President David Leonard reflected on the events that took place in Washington a week earlier. Leonard shared with the Trustees the message he had delivered to his staff the evening of the attack, in which he called the insurrection “frightening and disturbing,” and expressed his sincere hope for an immediate end to the violence and for accountability for the perpetrators. Quoting the inscription beneath the cornice on the McKim Building, Leonard highlighted the role of “education of the people as a safeguard of order and liberty.”
BPL President David Leonard
Heeding the wisdom of that idea, Leonard introduced Repairing America, a new BPL programming series created by the Library Services team to help bridge the gaps that divide America. The series will include programs and services ranging from a high-profile speaker series and community services to a yearlong reading challenge and several equity related initiatives.
Leonard reported that key themes for the program will include:
· Economic recovery
· Civic engagement and discourse
· COVID-19 recovery
· Racial equity
· Workforce development
· Youth engagement
More detail on the program will be available on BPL.org in the Trustees section when draft minutes of the meeting are posted.
FOSEL Delights Neighborhood Children with First Ever Book Giveaway
2020 has been a difficult year for all, and with limits on gatherings in place, FOSEL was unable to lighten the mood with its annual Holiday Party. Instead, we aimed to spread a little much-needed cheer by making gifts of books to neighborhood children. Despite a gray and rainy day on Saturday, December 12th, the event opened with a line of parents and their children, masked and socially distanced, waiting to be the first recipients of the Library’s gift books. Tables with new, carefully selected titles, organized according to age, were set up in Library Park and children were invited to choose their favorites to take home in brightly colored book bags emblazoned with the FOSEL logo. A handful of chocolate kisses were tossed in with each bag, adding a touch more sweetness to the treat of reading.
Among the books on offer were classics for the very young, including board book versions of Corduroy, Pete’s a Pizza, The Snowy Day and Snowmen at Night, and popular picture books for 4-10 year-olds including Library Lion, Strega Nona, and A Bad Case of Stripes. Also available was artist/activist Faith Ringgold’s beautifully illustrated Tar Beach, loved by adults as well as children. For slightly older kids, there were two chapter books, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot and The Unicorn Rescue Society’s The Creature of the Pines (described as “the perfect fit for newly independent readers”). And for kids who prefer to read in Spanish, the program offered No dejes Que La Paloma Conduzca el Autobus by beloved children’s book author and former Sesame Street writer Mo Willems, and Un Caso Grave de Rayas.
Tracey Bolotnick, FOSEL board member and one of the organizers of the program, notes that the gifting of books to children living in the South End is a first for our Library. “It’s been a tough year for our community. An event like this brings us together, gives us something we can all joyfully anticipate, and promotes reading to boot.”
Regretfully, the planned second weekend of the Holiday Book Giveaway had to be cancelled due to Boston’s intensified Covid restrictions, but FOSEL is committed to distributing the remaining books to neighborhood kids and plans to partner with the Boston Public Schools to do so. The librarians will hold back a portion of the remaining gift books to hand out to families who come by the Library while supplies last.
All images courtesy of Hermine Muskat
FOSEL Begins Community Research in Support of the Upcoming New Library Process
With the full support of Mayor Walsh and all of our other local and state elected officials, the Boston Public Library (BPL) has planned and executed major renovations and rebuilds to the Central Library and several other BPL branches over the past few years. In the next 3-5 years, the South End Library is slated to undergo transformative change to meet the needs of current and future growth in the community. FOSEL is excited to collaborate in planning the reinvention of the South End Library with the BPL, Boston’s Public Facilities Department, and you, the South End community.
An intensive Planning Process for the Library overhaul is scheduled to begin next year. It will be sponsored by the BPL and the City and will start with a Programming Study, to be funded in the FY 2020-2021 budget. In accordance with past practice, it is anticipated that the BPL and the PFD will hold a public information-gathering meeting with South End residents to inform the Study.
In preparation for the Program Study, FOSEL hopes to enhance the planners’ understanding of our diverse community with basic qualitative research about the residential and commercial demographics of the neighborhood, the various aims of South End-based nonprofit organizations, and the needs and expectation of South End residents vis-à-vis their use of the Central Library and the South End Branch.
A New Library Committee comprised of FOSEL board members and volunteers has begun to reach out to our various South End neighborhood associations, churches, schools, and charities and is gathering information to inform the Planning Process. Committee members include Joe Rondinelli, Yvette Jarreau, Dorothy Kelley, Russ O’Haver, Michael Hinchcliffe, and Derek Lessing.
We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about how to best improve our library. To contact us email info@friendsofsouthendlibrary.org.
FOSEL Planted Another 3,000 Spring Bulbs in Library Park, Aiming for Colorful Blazes of Flowers that Bloom in Timed Sequence
FOSEL assistant Chris Fagg, Library Park regular Reggie, and volunteer Walter Newman planting spring bulbs in Library Park
At the end of October, a small group of Library Park aficionados chased away the pandemic and election-season blues by taking planting tools and 3,000 recently delivered ‘harbingers of spring’ to Library Park. Buffeted by cold weather, rain, high winds and three inches of the season’s first snow, they raked the leaves, removed the fallen branches, dug holes and planted until the last bulb was covered.
Hokus Crocus will spring into flower in early March 2021
Spanish Bluebells will be the ‘blue finale’ in June 2021
Big Up tulip blend will pop in May and June 2021
As in previous years, the choice of tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, crocuses and Spanish Bluebells was made based on a timed sequence of anticipated blooms, so that from March through June something will be in flower. Expect the blue-hued Hokus Crocus and Grape Hyacinth Muscari Latifolium, along with daffodil selections Gold Shoulder and Spring Loaded, to usher in the Spring in March and April, followed by two kinds of tulips - Big Ups and Twin Peeks - in April and May. More tulips -- Angeliques and French Blends -- will bloom in May and June, together with more blues and purples -- Grape Hyacinth Blend and Spanish Bluebells -- in June. Charm Offensive, Cheerfulness and other bulbs in the Spring Loaded daffodil blend will join the tulips in May and June.
Charm Offensive daffodils are scheduled to flower in May and June 2021
The final 500 bulbs were in the ground…
The new tradition of planting thousands of spring bulbs in Library Park began in the fall of 2018, when FOSEL learned that City funding for the Park’s re-design would exclude plantings. Rather than leave the Park’s garden with nothing to show for the makeover but a thin layer of brown mulch where plants used to be, FOSEL brought in the first load of 3,000 bulbs that fall and watched them bloom profusely in the spring of 2019. During that 2019 summer, with the help of South End State Reps., Jon Santiago and Aaron Michlewitz, FOSEL secured $25,000 for soil improvement, perennials, an irrigation system and new low-level interior fencing as well as exterior fence repair.
Another 3,000 bulbs were ordered and placed in the ground in the fall of 2019, which in 2020 provided much appreciated visual relief from the gloom of the pandemic that forced many South Enders to stay close to their homes. Subsequent Park improvements necessitated temporary removal of all plantings from the soil, including the bulbs. But the now-completed October project to replace them will ensure that the Park again comes alive with color and cheer in the Spring of 2021 and offers all passers a respite from the bleak, winter-beaten city streets.
Kimberly Crucioli Succeeds South End Liaison to the Mayor's Office, Faisa Sharif, Who Was Promoted to Deputy Director of Neighborhood Services, October 26
Faisa Sharif will be transitioning out of her role as Mayor Walsh’s liaison to Bay Village and the South End, and will become the new Deputy Director in the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Mayor Walsh has appointed Kimberly Crucioli to step into liaison the role effective Monday, October 26th.
Faisa Sharif
Faisa had the following to say about her departure: It has been an incredible three years working with neighbors, civic groups, businesses and institutions on issues large and small. We may not have had time to accomplish every single thing before us but I’m proud of the collaboration and progress we made. I learned so much from all of you about our neighborhoods and your advocacy has personally benefited me as a resident of the South End. I never took that for granted.
Many thanks to Faisa for all of her work with FOSEL and the South End Library and a warm welcome to Kimberly!
BPL ADAPTS TO THE PANDEMIC AND REDOUBLES EFFORTS TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION
As we enter the seventh month of the COVID-19 pandemic, library operations adapt and move forward, as discussed at the September 29, 2020 meeting of the BPL Trustees.
At the meeting, BPL President David Leonard announced three new appointments: John Craven, a lawyer with significant labor and human resources experience, has been named Head of HR and Labor Relations; Angela Veizaga, formerly the Assistant Manager of Youth Services for the BPL, has been promoted to a new Director of Strategic Partnerships position; and Lina Raciukaitis will serve as the new Youth Education Specialist. Among Raciukaitis’s first priorities will be establishing a mentoring program on Zoom to assist school kids with remote learning.
Leonard reported that the BPL has done a good job of evolving to operate and stay relevant in the current reality, boasting of 40K new e-card registrations, almost 111K books on hold, and 1.9M items borrowed across digital formats (exceeding borrowing for the entirety of last year even though there was a gap between the March 16th closure of the physical libraries and the June 22nd start of TO GO service).
The BPL is currently offering more than 800 programs online with a full sortable calendar on bpl.org, including programs for kids, teens, adults, and seniors. The Dan Rather Arc of History program alone has hosted over 1,000 people.
BPL President David Leonard
Other available services include recommendation lists curated by librarians, personalized shelf service, book groups, suggestions for purchase, BPL TO GO (books on hold), printing TO GO in 24-72 hours, museum passes TO GO, and computer use at the Copley location (8-10 computers). Other branches may be able to offer computer use with advance reservations as required by Health Department protocols. External WIFI has been expanded at nine branches, including the South End – supported by the BPL Fund. Several new Hot Spots have been added with 75 more to come, and Chrome book lending continues. Leonard reported that one of the biggest challenges now is reaching underserved patrons.
As November draws near, BPL will be highlighting the importance of civic engagement by promoting the Census, offering two locations for early voting, designating several branches as polling places, providing ten ballot-box drop off locations, and offering educational programs about voting and democracy.
BPL is also doubling down on efforts to operate as an antiracist organization. The Trustees have approved a Racial Equity Statement, a copy of which is available at BPL.org/racial-equity. Recruiting, hiring, and collection development processes will all be adjusted to align with the Statement. BPL is also engaging YW Boston for an organizational assessment and staff diversity training.
Leonard outlined the following additional near-term priorities:
Youth Engagement
Workforce Development
Equity work – marketing outreach, digital equity, reaching vulnerable and hard to reach patrons
Capital Improvement – on track, back underway
Fiscal Discipline
Progress on capital projects is moving ahead as well. Construction at the Roxbury branch is complete, and Leonard expects a hybrid opening in late October/early November. Adams and Roslindale are on track for completion in the spring or summer of 2021, Hyde Park will be completed by summer 2021, and the design for Faneuil is complete, with construction set to begin in January 2021.
No major financial issues were uncovered in the BPL’s audit. Significant differences in revenue and spending from prior years are a result of changes in operations related to Covid-19. Special event spending is down, contributions and gifts are up, fees and fines are down, there is more spending on books and less on contractual services. The Audit/Finance Committee discussed including racial equity statements in all contracts going forward.
The largest contributors to the BPL last year were:
BPL Fund $1,019,799
The Associates of the BPL $663,004
City Wide Friends $41,030
FOSEL $43,872
FOSEL’s contribution came from its Capital Campaign, and made possible new furnishings and furniture as part of last fall’s “refresh.”
During the public comments portion of the meeting, David Vieira, President of City Wide Friends, acknowledged the South End, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and Eggleston Square branches as significantly expanding patron support. Viera also acknowledged Marleen Nienhuis for her 14 years as the FOSEL leader and thanked her for her dedicated service to the system.
Viera noted the “elephant in the room” – potentially large holes in the coming city and state budgets, and Leonard assured him that BPL is closely monitoring the situation, has imposed a partial hiring freeze (only essential positions), and has been reaching out to donors. The budget will be addressed in greater depth at the November meeting.
Louisa Stephens, Executive Director of The Associates of the Boston Public Library, announced an exciting fundraiser -- an online auction to be held from 10/16-10/25. Items for sale will include Zoom sessions with famous authors, a signed Downton Abbey script, inscribed books, and the opportunity to be named in the next thriller by Bender. You can check out biditbookit.org for more info.
The new Roxbury Branch is expected to have a hybrid opening later this month.
Paula Cove of MLK Blvd and Jamada Smith expressed disappointment about the decision to name the branch library in Roxbury the “Roxbury Branch” rather than the “Nubian Square Library,” and about the lack of community participation in the decision. BPL trustee Linda Dorcena Forry noted that there had been several community meetings held in Roxbury at which people supported both sides. For the record, she stated that the community process did indeed take place before the vote was taken by the Trustees.
Other announcements
Fine forgiveness will continue until December 2020.
There is a new Art & Architecture virtual booklet celebrating 125 years of the McKim Building, paid for in partnership with Bank of America. It is available electronically at apps.bpl.org/tourbooklet/.
Paula Sakey joined the Boston Public Library Fund as its Executive Director in June of 2020 to continue to broaden and enhance private philanthropy toward helping maintain and expand the Library’s free services.
An executive session followed the public meeting for discussion of the Quincy mayoral request for the John Adams Collection to be returned to Quincy. The Adams Collect is currently held in the BPL Rare Books Collection. Actively used by large numbers of historians and scholars, about 3,000 of the 3,500 volumes in the Collection have been digitized.
Upcoming Board of Trustees Meetings
*All meetings for 2020-21 anticipated to be held virtually via Zoom and may be subject to change.
November 17, 2020, 8:30 a.m , Location TBD
January 12, 2021, 8:30 a.m., Location TBD
March 23, 2021, 8:30 a.m., Location TBD
May 18, 2021, 8:30 a.m., Annual Meeting, Location TBD
A TRIBUTE TO FOSEL'S FOUNDING DIRECTOR, MARLEEN NIENHUIS, AS SHE STEPS DOWN
WITH KIND APPRECIATION FOR MARLEEN NIENHUIS
“A hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” -- Maya Angelou
Marleen next to the Little Free Library Box she installed in front of her home after the pandemic caused the closure of the Library
The Friends of the South End Library (FOSEL) offers warm thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Marleen Nienhuis for all she has done for the South End Library (SEL), Library Park and the neighboring community. As a direct result of her dedication and hard work, the SEL has become a more relevant, attractive, and welcoming place for all.
Back in 2008, believing libraries to be among “the most important civic institutions of a democracy” and seeing the unfulfilled potential for the SEL to be a vibrant community resource, Marleen spearheaded the creation of FOSEL with the aim of renovating the Library’s interior, reorienting the Park from a site of neglect to a safe green space, and creating programs for the enjoyment and benefit of the neighboring community.
When shortly thereafter the City announced a plan to consolidate and eliminate branch libraries, Marleen and FOSEL tabled these initial goals and redirected their efforts toward advocating to save the library. Happily, they were successful.
Once the threat of closure had been averted, Marleen re-focused her energies on making improvements, beginning with the outdoor space. Together with like-minded volunteers, Marleen set about cleaning up the Park, cutting back overgrown shrubs, replanting with donations from local nurseries, ensuring reliable trash collection, and organizing programming for both children and adults. This work eventually led to a full redesign of the Park area to include a central plaza with seating, an overhaul of the soil, a new butterfly garden, and the installation of an automated irrigation system. In the fall of 2019, before the landscaping was completed, Marleen oversaw the planting of thousands of bulbs, which provided some much-needed delight to the neighborhood during the 2020 spring bloom.
Under Marleen’s leadership, FOSEL established a variety of successful programs including the popular author series, The South End Writes (bringing in celebrated authors to discuss their books), Local Focus Windows (featuring exhibits about activities of interest in the community), periodic Book Award highlights and displays, Easter egg hunts for community kids, jazz and blues summer concerts, and children’s performances. In addition to creating these programs, Marleen managed their publication and promotion, building a membership for FOSEL, developing a newsletter to stay connected, and creating this website.
In 2016-17, when the Walsh Administration demonstrated an interest in renovating Boston libraries, including branches like the SEL, Marleen sprang into action, coordinating a proposal for a multi-phased plan to improve the Library’s interior with funding from a public/private partnership between the Boston Public Library and FOSEL. Under the first phase of the plan, the existing interior of the Library would be “refreshed” and updated, with the following phase to see a much bigger renovation/expansion of the entire building. The refresh was successfully completed in February 2020. Today the Library looks wonderfully cheerful, comfortable, and inviting, thanks in large part to Marleen’s tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to energize the community.
Marleen took a personal, hands-on approach to the planning and execution of all of these programs and improvements, generously deploying her many talents as a trained journalist, accomplished artist, charismatic speaker, and even competent seamstress (at one point taking up a sewing needle to make new cushions for a seating area in the Library). She regularly put in full time work weeks on a purely volunteer basis.
As she prepared to step down from FOSEL, Marleen took pains to ensure the organization would be well situated to move ahead without her. She undertook a successful campaign to expand the board and recruit volunteer directors to continue the work she started. She also played a key role in establishing a large advisory board, comprised of talented and committed individuals with a wide range of skills, who graciously lend FOSEL their expertise as needed.
Marleen’s contributions to the South End community extend beyond her efforts on behalf of the Library. In addition to serving as the membership chair of the Rutland Square Neighborhood Association for several years, she was a key player in the transformative renovation of Titus Sparrow Park, working for years to make it an essential hub of family and recreational activity for South Enders.
Throughout her many years in the community, wherever she saw room for improvement, Marleen stalwartly took up the challenge of making the South End a better place. We salute her many contributions and celebrate her achievements.
-The Board of Directors of FOSEL, 2020-2021
Library Park's Long-awaited Renovation Has Been Completed, Pandemic or Not, with Funding from City and State, and Private Donations
In June and July, with the City still in a lockdown except for permitted construction work, Blade of Grass landscapers and Henry Hafenrichter, a local fencing contractor, completed the multi-year renovation of Library Park. Three years ago, the Parks Department agreed to redesign the park, rather than just repair what was broken (which was just about everything). The most important change, neighbors said in a local meeting about various proposed plans, was that the park offer an open plan, visible from all corners, with a variety of seating arrangements and a welcoming feel.
After the redesign, no money was left for landscaping the park but a $25,000 earmark from the State, requested by the then-newly sworn-in South End State Rep. Jon Santiago, and supported by our other State Rep., Aaron Michlewitz, came through in January 2020. That allowed FOSEL to contract with landscapers and fencing contractor, get approval from South End Landmark Dictrict Commission, and overcome the additional hurdles of Covid-19 permits in time to spend the State’s money before June 30, the end of their fiscal year. If it had not been spent by that time, the State would have taken back the earmark. Fancy footwork, assisted by knowledgeable employees of the BPL, helped to make it all happen in time. Additional renovation costs were covered by capital funds FOSEL had raised in 2017-18.
Library Park will only look better as the plantings settle in over the next year or two. They include Veronica, Echinacea, Buddlea, Amsonia, Liatris, Rudbekcia, Carex, Ginger, Ferns, Woodland Phlox, Hosts and Hydrangeas. The butterfly garden along Tremont Street has already shown its lovely colors. A timed drip-irrigation system was installed as well, to help the plants survive the latest drought. And FOSEL’s board has approved additional funding for another round of spring bulbs to make the spring 2021 habit of Library Park as beautiful as it was before. We’re culling the catalogues now, will order in the bulbs in the next week and plant in late fall.
Chances are, when abloom again, we and the park will live in better days.
The South End Library Staff Misses You: Please Visit the Reopened Branch for Pick-up, Drop-Off and a Masked Chat
Anne Smart
The staff of the South End library misses its patrons and hopes you will stop by for services, neighborhood updates (gossip is fine, too) or a chat. The South End branch has been open since July 13 for limited library services, specifically, holds and pickups of books, DVDs, and CDs placed online, over the phone, or via an app.
Euronna Taylor
There is no browsing. But library staffers Anne Smart, Matt Krug, Euronna Taylor, Carol Glass and Margaret Gardner are happy to take your phone call or hear from you by email. The general phone number is 617 536-8241. Press ‘0’ and you’ll get a live librarian.
Their emails are: Anne (asmart@bpl.org), Matt (mkrug@bpl.org), Margaret (mgardner@bpl.org). Euronna (etaylor@bpl.org). Carol (cglass@bpl.org).
Matt Krug
In addition, BPL has announced Printing To Go, a new print-on-demand service at the Central Library. You can upload documents that need to be printed by filling out a form at bpl.org/printing-to-go, and pick up the print jobs 24 hours later at the Central Library in Copley Square. The printing service, provided for free, is limited to 10 pages per patron per day. Documents will be printed in black and white, single-sided, on 8.5" x 11" paper, and should not include personal information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or other similar information. Print requests must comply with the Library’s Internet Use Procedures and Guidelines.
When your items are ready, you will be notified and be asked to schedule a time to come to your preferred location. You will be able to pick up your items from the the South End library Monday through Thursday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM; Fridays 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; the branch is closed on weekends. At the Central Library, one can pick up reserved items from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday throughThursday, and from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Friday and Saturday.
Carol Glass