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.