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.