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: 

1. 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