By: Dan Currie

Dan Currie — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:09:42 +0000

I’m also sorry to say that I believe the entire April 10th presentation on the Johnson Building Project was a farce. From the moment I first heard library administrative’s lust to turn the children’s space at Copley into a retail environment, I wanted to assume that such a proposal would not publicly dare raise its head without concomitantly providing an explanation of what would then become of the kids. But during the Rabb dog and pony show, that question did not even come up. For long, I’ve tried to envision better accommodations for children at the central library, as have many I’m sure. Better than the existing ones in which they are able to enter the Johnson Building at street level under the eye of security personnel at the facility’s main public security station in order to travel a very short route around to the right under the eye of that security and into the corner of the building behind its position. It should be easy to imagine enhancing the children’s facility by expanding it to the space that the April 10th presenters would prefer to turn into another café next to their new corner store. But the matter of disposition of the kids is apparently secondary — maybe at least until today, Patriots Day 2013, when I think it might fairly be said: To hell with the BPL’s commercial motives (at least until it might master accommodating a lovely library-related gift shop like they have in Seattle). And thank God for the Philip Johnson “plinths” that might have saved many young lives today if the library had been open. … I think the BPL should try to keep it’s commercial and architectural reimaginations simple: Take down the plinths in front of the largely wasted, perfectly positioned Boston Room to turn it into your latest retail space if you can manage it. You’ve already established your café.

By: Don Warner Saklad

Don Warner Saklad — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 03:58:27 +0000

Essential to our public library is setting up an onsite public bulletin board and online bulletin board with even a bit of coordinating between them. Space for community newspapers and such is needed. This all should be convenient to library users/visitors within not relegated to a marginal area of the building. Advisory notices regularly should remind contributors to the onsite bulletin board about the online bulletin board.

By: Don Warner Saklad

Don Warner Saklad — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 03:42:32 +0000

Please make available online the display in the center atrium !

Comments on: Public Program on the Johnson Building: Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m.

By: Dan Currie

By: Don Warner Saklad

By: Don Warner Saklad