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

Staff Updates

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

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

Guest Speaker

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

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

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

 ·      Offering community-centered programs;

·      Providing spaces for all;

·      Fostering stakeholder engagement;

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

·      Engaging all library staff.

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

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

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

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

President’s Report

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

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

FY 2023 Accomplishments

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

FY 2024 Goals

Leonard reported that goals for the upcoming year will include:

 ·      Improving services to enrich lives;

·      Increasing access to special and research collections;

·      Enhancing operations and technology;

·      Advancing equity;

·      Enhancing community connections;

·      Improving stewardship of our collections; and

·      Celebrating, continuing, and completing capital projects.

Capital Projects FY 2024

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

 ·      Start of North End programming study;

·      Continuation of accelerated South End programming/design study;

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

·      Determine strategy and timeline for McKim Master Plan; and  

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

Photography/Filming Policy

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

Browse, Borrow & Board Pilot

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

Finance and Audit Committee Report

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

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

New Business

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

Public Comments

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

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

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

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

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