BPL Hosts 4th South End Library Community Meeting on December 4th

The 4th Community Meeting hosted by BPL and facilitated by Utile, the architectural firm charged with designing the new branch, was held virtually on December 4th and attended by more than 80 people including BPL staff, City Public Facilities Department staff, representatives from City Councilors’ offices, our South End Liaison to the Mayor’s office, team members/presenters from Utile, their landscape partner firm Arcadis, and many members of the community. 

A recording of the meeting and the presentation slides are available on the South End Library page of the BPL website found here.

Project Schedule

After the welcomes and introduction, Brett Bentson, project lead from Utile, shared the agenda which included the schedule for the project indicating we have entered the 12-month Design Phase to be followed by the Construction Phase, typically 20-24 months. 

Claudia Porras of Utlle recapped the previous three community meetings for any attendees who are new to the project.  Slides and recordings of these can be found on the South End Branch of the BPL website mentioned above.

The Park/Landscaping

In reviewing their approach to Library Park, James Kros of Arcadis, Utile’s landscape partner, explained they plan to preserve as it is with two exceptions:  expansion of nine feet into the park toward Rutland Street and three and a half feet into the alley to accommodate a somewhat larger building footprint.  Kros shared a diagram of service truck access via the alley and indicated that these footprint expansions will not affect existing access to the alley. 

The arborists report the trees are in good condition and they want to preserve the current vegetation and continuity of materials.  Plans include expanded seating (some paving changes required by the new building footprint), the planting of a magnolia tree at the new entrance, and plantings on the alley-side in place of the current sidewalk with potted trees. There is no plan to move/change the fences. 

The park will have to be closed during construction.  To protect it during this phase, there will be chain link fenced zones to separate mechanical vs manual earthwork areas for preservation of trees, roots, and the irrigation system which is still in use.  FOSEL will need to provide them with “as built” drawings of the irrigation system.

Shadow Analysis

Presentation of a shadow analysis of the proposed building for our four annual seasons indicated there will be no meaningful increase of shadows in the neighborhood.

Floor Plans

Porras shared the preliminary floor plans noting a 40% overall increase in space distributed across various areas such as the community room, the collection/reading zones, and central services.  The entrance door will face Tremont Street, and visually communicate its presence.  Just inside there will be a ramp of two and a half feet to bring the first floor up to the required flood zone level.  An elevator will be available just inside the door to bring people to either the first or second floor, where they will be greeted by staff stationed on both floors.

A significantly enlarged community room (double the current room with 104 seating capacity) and a large children’s room will occupy the first floor with the children’s area facing Tremont Street and the community room backed up to the wall adjacent to the alley.  Community members asked that attention be paid to balancing safety/security of the children with the desire to allow visibility in and out of the library through windows facing the street.  The Community Room will have storage, a sink, and water available, but there will be no kitchen facilities in the new building.  This is disappointing to FOSEL, particularly because the branch has a long history of including food at its programs.

The teen space will be on the second floor along with the adult collection/ reading areas adjacent to a staff desk so that these spaces can be properly monitored for safety and civility.

There is a third floor that consists of space for mechanical and electrical equipment and a staff storage area for library materials.

Sustainability

The overall goal is LEED Silver which is defined as a recognition of the project's initial steps toward minimizing its environmental impact. (Silver 50-59 points. The Silver certification level indicates that a project has surpassed the basic LEED requirements, achieving more than 50% of the available points.) 

 Specific goals mentioned include all electric (no fossil fuels), roof-ready for solar panels which will be installed after final construction, highly insulated structure, triple-glazed windows, and storm water capture to underground chambers for preserving wood piling foundations in the neighborhood.  Demand Ventilation based on room occupancy will be used for spaces within the building to ensure efficient use of HVAC.

 Q & A

What about a food pantry?  Some branch locations have this capacity, it was not yet clear if SEL would have this.

Art display is important and there will be walls and picture rails that will allow for this.  Rotating art exhibits are desirable.

Natural light is crucial and there will be lots of visual connections to the park, as well as from the outside to enable people to see what’s going on inside.  The façade on Tremont Street will have windows with natural light along the street and along the park.  The entrance will be visually evident from all angles and welcoming.

The SE History Collection will be housed in the adult area and easily accessible to patrons. Currently it has been moved to Central where Paul Wright can meet with Melissa Andrews, Collections Director, to help assess what’s there and how it might be made available in the new building.  The hope is for local authors and history materials to be “front and center” at the branch.

What about a Library of Things?  Central and other branches are incorporating this concept.  Foley mentioned telescopes and sewing machines as examples and suggested community members access the link on the branch web page to offer suggestions/ideas for what might be included in this exciting concept. https://www.bpl.org/library-of-things/

Utile explained in more detail how the bathrooms will be set up.  Both floors will have all-gender bathrooms which include two fully private, accessible ADA rooms plus individual private toilet rooms, and communal sinks.  In the children’s area there will be a family bathroom accessed within that space.

There will be additional community meetings as the design progresses, although no specific target dates were identified.

Summary of BPL Trustees Meeting on 11/19/24

Board of Trustees

The Boston Public Library Board of Trustees oversees the Library’s operating and administrative policies, votes on and establishes Library policy, sets the institution’s strategic goals, and acts as an agent of public trust governing the Library.   Trustees are appointed by the Mayor of Boston. (from BPL website)

 At the Mattapan Branch Chairperson Raymond Liu opened the meeting, shared the BPL Diversity Statement and initiated a vote on the minutes of the last meeting which passed.  He also highlighted that the meeting would focus on the final draft of the BPL Strategic Plan with discussion and feedback by the trustees.  On December 4 it will be voted on by the board.

President’s Report

Maurice Gordon, Branch Librarian, opened with slides and a description of library activities and service at the branch.  He shared pictures of staff and mentioned that the Friends of Mattapan Branch had restarted after a long hiatus.

 President Leonard introduced new staff:

Jonathan Eshel, Chief of Operations

Jake Jacevicius, Facilities Manager for Daytime and Trades Staff

Mayor Wu and Chief Jose Masso of Health and Human Services spoke next.

Mayor Wu spoke briefly about the draft Strategic Plan and her delight at its foundational infrastructure for all the City tries to do.  She highlighted the four core roles as powerful with specific mentions of services and spaces which lead to being a trusted partner.  Earlier in the day she had met with seniors in Mattapan who expressed anxiety about what’s ahead.  Mayor Wu shared with us the importance of the BPL as a trusted institution offering a sense of history, engaging with the community and helping to connect people.

 Chief Masso spoke about is pleasure at being involved in the work leading up to this point in the plan.  Highlighting the “spaces and places” focus in the plan, he spoke about the career fair that took place at the Mattapan Branch last week for returning citizens with several potential employers and many people waiting in line to connect with them.  He summed it up by saying that the strategic plan aligns with all we are doing in the city.

 Strategic Plan 2025-2030

 Christian Westra, Strategic Planning Committee Chair, spoke about the collaborative process that has been underway for the development of a new strategic plan.  Trustee Jose Masso stated his gratitude for the broad input to the plan, inclusive of all stakeholders

 High level review of the Strategic Plan by Margaret Sullivan of Margaret Sullivan Studio and Erin Corcoran of Gensler.

Starting with the question “Who are we?”, Margaret Sullivan led off with three key points:

·      BPL is free to all

·      Good strategy comes from strengths

·      Strategy for social impact is a relatively new industry that involves learning together

Erin Corcoran provided context stating that the role of the Library has changed since its founding.  It has developed strengths and uncovered challenges.  Its core value of “Free to All” drives a variety of others such as discovery, learning, exploring, imagining, connecting, creating, reading, thinking, and choosing.

These drive the Vision:  curiosity, inclusivity, connection, pursuit of knowledge, and the Mission:  discovery and learning to enrich every life.

Integral to the new plan are BPL Strategic Roles:

·      lifelong learning and research partner,

·      welcoming destination,

·      trusted resource, and

·      community engager.

 

As a lifelong learning and research partner, BPL will hold a focus on youth. 

Destinations will be inclusive, embrace diversity and be future-ready to support our evolving communities.  Part of this will be reimagining the McKim Building as a vibrant library space.

As a trusted resource, its focus will be truth and knowledge, through a partnership model integrating communities, and empowering digital access.

As a community engager, BPL will need to better understand its communities’ needs by amplifying community voices, and providing data- informed outreach, programs, and services.  It will also foster civic engagement.

Trustees expressed gratitude for the inclusion, structure, and clarity of the plan.  President Leonard stated there will be a 3–6-month period for implementation planning; the first year will be the first year’s work so that staff can live the values more deeply, understand the details involved in living the initiatives, and engage in effective project management.

A concern was raised about the Special Collections not being highlighted sufficiently in the plan. 

Mayor Wu and Chief Masso will be important advocates to ensure connection with others in City Government. 

To support the plan fundraising is key, in general, and specifically, regarding the McKim space.  BPL needs to move from a transaction model to a transformational model.  Trustees can help enable the plan by supporting this shift and staying engaged early on regarding the priorities.

In response to how EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) will be integrated into the plan, President Leonard indicated BPL will be taking EDI into its next steps by consideration in all initiatives developed from this Strategic Plan.

The Trustees’ questions and feedback will be considered in the finalization of the plan and its board vote on December 13, 2024.

Finance & Audit

Evelyn Arana-Ortiz, chairwoman of the committee, announced that NEPC, BPL’s investment consultant just got acquired by another firm, so they are on the committee’s watch list, although the portfolio is doing quite well.

Chief Financial Officer, Emily Tokarczyk gave a rundown of the fiscal year Gift Report which is a small part of the total revenues.  She also explained the new policy on Foreign Wire Transfers and the trustees voted to approve it.

New Business

Trustee Julie Kim, President of the U.S. Business Unit, U.S. Country Head and member of Takeda’s Executive Team, was acknowledged for her recent Pinnacle Award.

Public Comments

Alice Lee, Board Chair of the BPL Associates acknowledged good work on the strategic plan and looks forward to the implementation and amplification of themes such as Women’s Black History, 

Elissa Cadillic, AFSCME President, expressed happiness that this Strategic Plan is holistic and will help to minimize siloes.  She acknowledged it will take funding for positions and funding for systems, giving an example of a management system. 

Joseph Eubanks, representing neighborhood associations, emphasized that the Eggleston Branch Library must be completed on time.

Janice McManus spoke of BPL as the oldest and largest library and the importance or literacy given her ancestors’ life on plantations.  Her specific statement “We don’t know where Mr. Knight is”, presumably refers to Librarian Knight of the Roxbury Branch who has been on leave.

On December 13, the trustees will vote on the Strategic Plan.  The next regular Trustees Meeting will be January 28 at Honan Allston at 3pm.

 

 

 

 

Exciting South End Library Fall Author Series

October in the South End was a fun month for fans of fascinating books!  Friends of the South End Library (FOSEL) sponsored author talks with four authors who shared insights from their recent books. 

 On October 15th we hosted best-selling author, Dawn Tripp who spoke about her latest achievement, Jackie, an historical novel about the “inside” woman, how the thought and felt. 

 Two acclaimed authors: Danielle Trussoni, writer of The Puzzle Box, and Adam Sikes, who wrote The Underhanded were with us on October 23rd with Sara DiVello, FOSEL board member and author herself of Broadway Butterfly, who hosted a stimulating and entertaining conversation with both authors.

Our final session for the series on October 30th was perfect for the spooky season, The Poisoner’s Handbook, a non-fiction work written by Deborah Blum, a Pulitzer prize-winner who heads the science journalism department at MIT. 

 All three book events were held at the Union Church at 485 Columbus Ave, a wonderful, iconic venue, central to the South End with caring staff, and lovely space for both authors and audiences.  We were delighted to have Parkside Bookshop, our new independent bookstore on Shawmut, with us to offer books for sale and signing. 

 Many audience members expressed their desire and hope for more of these fun events that included refreshments of wine, sparkling water, and yummy snacks.  If you attended, we are grateful for your presence and enthusiasm, and if you missed these, get FOSEL on your radar, as we are thinking about plans for 2025.

Summary of BPL Trustees Meeting on 9/24/24

Board of Trustees

The Boston Public Library Board of Trustees oversees the Library’s operating and administrative policies, votes on and establishes Library policy, sets the institution’s strategic goals, and acts as an agent of public trust governing the Library.   Trustees are appointed by the Mayor of Boston. (from BPL website)

The new Chairperson Raymond Liu opened the meeting, shared the BPL Diversity Statement, and spoke about his hopes for more connective tissue between BPL Trustees, staff, and the public. 

He introduced new trustee, Jonathan Lavine, Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital and Chief Investment Officer of Bain Capital Credit, and Julie Kim, President of the UB Business Unit of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, who was recently appointed by Mayor Wu.

President’s Report

President Leonard introduced new staff:

Judah Hamer, Human Resources Manager

Nicole Santiago – Manager, Research Services

Audrey Wynne – Legal Liaison/Policy Advisor

Room Dedications

Grove Hall Branch presented the proposal for naming of the Mezzanine Community Room after Mimi Jones, a revered civil rights activist who passed away in 2020.

Jamaica Plain presented a proposal to rename the Children’s Room after Barbara Rhodes, children’s librarian who worked for BPL for over 40 years.  They also announced a Barbara Rhodes endowment fund for children’s books and programming after a successful fundraising appeal of four months to meet the BPL Fund $50K threshold.

Both proposals were supported by various Trustees and were unanimously approved by the board.

Governance Update

President Leonard shared that current vacancies are at 51 and a staff of 390.  They continue to hire due to retirements and departures (moves out of Boston).  The pre-Covid vacancy rate was about 30; this may not be the new normal. 

Safety and security challenges have occurred in the last few months with an uptick in difficult behavior both outside and inside the Central Library.  Police have been involved and leadership has increased security as needed.  They have also partnered with Pine Street Inn and other organizations who help with folks who are unhoused, and people who are suffering from addictions and mental health issues.  They are attempting to find the balance of compassion and service with safety for staff.

BPL has published its annual Management Discussion & Analysis Report for FY 2024.  It can be found on the website at https://www.bpl.org/about-the-bpl/board-of-trustees/board-meeting-schedule/ in Trustee meeting materials.

Strategic Plan

Christian Westra, Strategic Planning Committee Chair, spoke about the collaborative process that has been underway for the development of a new strategic plan.  With the help Erin Corcoran and Patricia Nobre of Gensler, many workshops have been held with staff and other stakeholders.

A key value with historic and present importance is “Free to All” that will figure prominently in the new plan.  Strategic Roles that have come out of the process so far are:

Welcoming Destination

Lifelong Learning & Research Partner

Trusted Resource

Community Engager

Discussion about implementation ensued and the importance of effective prioritization of practical steps and timing, as well as integrating some of the activities that are already underway.  Board members talked about the need for the plan to be bold and inspiring…and actionable.  This planning work is slated to complete in November and will dovetail with the budgeting work that ramps up from November through January.

Finance & Audit

Finance and Audit Chair Arana Ortiz announced that the recent audit produced no material findings.  BPL investment funds have increased in value.  When the McKim building is closed for renovations, there will be financial impacts, and the committee will be reviewing those as part of the planning process.  The board approved the audit report.

New Business

Amber DiAngeles of Research Services noted the department will be highlighting different research services every week.  Examples included online forensic genealogy, stories of Native American and Black escaping slavery, a Roots database with specifics on the Chinese diaspora.

Public Comments

Elissa Cadillic, AFSCME President, offered her welcome of the new Trustees.  She said safety and security concerns were raised several months ago.  AFSCME would like to see the security personnel as part of the union, so that all employees would experience more support from their services.  Ms Cadillic also suggested the Trustees could help with the vacancy issue which is related to too many procedures required by City Hall.

The next Trustees Meeting will be on November 19th at 3pm in the Mattapan Branch, 1350 Blue Hill Ave.

      

4th Community Meeting delayed

At our 3rd Community Meeting the presentation indicated a 4th meeting would be in late summer.  It turns out its timing is delayed as BPL works with City colleagues to make a November meeting possible.   We hope to be provided 30 days notice of the specific date, time, and location in October.

,

AWESOME FINAL SUMMER CONCERT ON 9/11/24!

,

Pat Loomis & Friends gave us a rousing final concert with a selection of jazz from each of the previous four concerts.  The night was beautiful, the park was full of neighborhood folks enjoying the sounds, and a few active kids were doing their versions of happy dances.

 FOSEL is planning on hosting summer concerts in 2025 as BPL and the City progress through the new building development process.  Currently, we are in the design phase of this project which will likely continue into early 2025.  The construction phase follows and requires detailed construction drawings and a bidding process to interested companies.  We expect we will be able to hold concerts next summer, but that could be precluded by site preparation in anticipation of construction. 

 

Great music from Pat Loomis & Friends

Great music from Pat Loomis & Friends last night in South End Library Park with picnickers, tots dancing, dogs, lots of our neighbors, and some out of town friends!  Plan to come or when you hear the music start, join us on August 14 at 6:30pm for our next one!  

 For more awesome sounds, come out on August 14, August 28, and September 11. Concerts begin at 6:30, seats are first-come, first-served or bring your own.  It’s a wonderful time -- to connect with your neighbors, enjoy a summer evening, and hear marvelous music.

First Concert of the Season

If you weren’t at the South End Library Park Wednesday night for Pat Loomis + Friends, you missed some great music!  Pat dedicated the concert to the late, great David Sanborn, a six-time Grammy winner, who played with such greats as David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and many more, including Pat himself.  The night was warm, the crowd was happy, and we dodged the rain.

 For more awesome sounds, come out on July 31st, August 14, August 28, and September 11. Concerts begin at 6:30, seats are first-come, first-served or bring your own.  It’s a wonderful time -- to connect with your neighbors, enjoy a summer evening, and hear marvelous music.

Pride Month Kick-Off in Library Park

The South End Branch staff and support team hosted a Summer pop-up event on Tuesday, June 18th in the Library Park. We kicked off Pride Month with a vibrant celebration! Over 125 individuals beat the heat and joined us to take home free books, to chat about library services and programs, and to enjoy a delightful Drag Queen Story Hour featuring the fabulous Ms. Patty. Great Starts and More Than Words brought their tables to share resources and spread the love! 

It was a joy-filled event that truly captured the spirit of the South End community and inclusivity. We hope to see you all in September!

FOSEL Representatives Testify Before City Council

FOSEL President, Yvette Jarreau

On Wednesday, April 24th, FOSEL’s founder, Marleen Nienhuis, and its current president, Yvette Jarreau, testified at a hearing of the Boston City Council’s Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology at City Hall to put forward a community wish-list of building elements they would like to see incorporated into the new Library and to propose better public engagement by BPL leadership. 

Jarreau began by reminding the Committee that the South End Branch, the only local institution that serves the entire neighborhood, has been closed for nearly four years, and that the loss has been keenly felt. She said:

 [W]ithout a building, the staff cannot offer programs such as book pick up and drop off, WIFI, tax preparation help, homework help, art and crafts classes, computer access, copying, book sales, Local/Focus exhibits, art displays, job search classes and support, author talks, panel discussions on topics of community interest or concern, to name a few. 

Without a building our residents cannot interact with each other or Library staff on a regular basis.  A whole cohort of young kids are growing up without the joys of library experiences such as reading for pleasure in a safe setting with staff support. 

Without a building we have not had fee-free space in the South End for neighborhood meetings on important issues of concern to residents.  We also have not been able to host holiday gatherings with food and celebration.

Noting the important role a functioning library plays at every life stage - from providing a safe and enriching place for young kids to enabling teens and seniors to connect and engage, Jarreau then requested, on behalf of FOSEL, its members, and Library users from the whole community, that following elements be included in the the new building plans: 

1)     Three stories instead of two;   

2)     A dedicated senior space for writing, computer use, connecting and using the Library’s resources;

3)     A dedicated Latino/Latina space featuring computers, collections, and relevant Spanish-language resources;

4)     A fully functional kitchen area to offer culinary and nutritional workshops;

5)     A space for patrons to store their belongings while using the Library; and

6)     A building that does not encroach on the shared alley between the Library and abutters, which is a dedicated fire lane and a right-of-way turn lane. 

Nienhuis made a strong case for additional space in the new South End Branch, supporting several of the building elements proposed Jarreau. She stated: 

FOSEL founder Marleen Nienhuis with City Councilor Ed Flynn at an event celebrating her many contributions to the South End Library

Most Boston neighborhoods have about 20,000 square footage of library space per 25,000 residents, sometimes divided over several branches. Yet, the South End, at 38,000 residents, is told that all they can hope for in their new library planned to open in three years is 15,000 sq. ft. That means there will be no square footage for a dedicated space for seniors, or a dedicated space for the large Latinx community abutting the Library, or for the sizeable and growing Asian community nearby, or a kitchen space to offer nutritional and culinary instruction, or storage space for belongings while using the Library, including strollers, personal possessions and walkers. Compare this with the library space available in other neighborhoods: 

The Mattapan Library (21,000 sq. ft.) serves a population of 36,800; the two Jamaica Plain libraries (22,200 sq. ft.) serve a population of 37,400; the two Brighton libraries (with a combined 34,100 sq. ft.) serve a population of 48,000 residents; Hyde Park’s branch (23,000 sq. ft.) serves 35,147 people; the three libraries in Roxbury (52,550 sq. ft.) serve 60,705 residents.

Nienhuis followed up by highlighted how difficult it is for the public to get the ear of the BPL Trustees and Management to advocate for critically important services and improvements, such as convenient hours of operation, collections targeted to residents, disability access, and community room usage by neighborhood organizations, as well as discussions about renovation, new library construction and repair. She spoke from personal experience:  

My experience and that of many of my library advocate colleagues is that phone calls often aren’t returned or take a long time to be returned; emails are not responded to or are merely acknowledged as having been received. The BPL Trustees (all volunteers) have no published email or phone number to contact. The public can only speak to them at the end of the quarterly meetings, and that time is limited to two minutes. Trustees are not required to answer questions, and they mostly don’t.

Moreover, she noted, the City Council's library budget hearings take place only once a year and are poorly advertised and poorly attended. On top of that, she added, budget decisions have already been made by the BPL by the time the hearing takes place and are hard to change or amend. 

Nienhuis closed by proposing that the City Council require the BPL and its Board of Trustees to engage at least quarterly with the public they serve by holding update session with question and answer periods. She further proposed the creation of a City Council committee to evaluate the effectiveness of BPL leadership’s public engagement, and, if necessary, allocation of funding for additional BPL staff who can be true advocates for productive engagement between Boston residents and the BPL.

 

 

 

 

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.




 

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