One of the commitments the library has made in the BPL Compass strategic plan is to solicit public input and community involvement. To help facilitate that commitment with regard to the Johnson Building Improvement Project, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) has been assembled to work with library staff and share ideas and reactions to proposed plans that will emerge over the course of the next several months. The committee is made up of business owners and residents in the Back Bay neighborhood. The first meeting of the CAC was held on November 14. To see the meeting notes from that meeting click here (PDF, 7 pages). The next CAC meeting will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 8:30 a.m. in the Commonwealth Salon.

A commercial conference center could be created from the existing Rabb Lecture Hall and adjacent underutilized spaces on the lower level as a state-of-the-art facility used by both the BPL and outside organizations for significant, large scale events. The conference center could attract authors rolling out their latest book; companies and organizations that want to announce new products, ideas, and innovations; local and distant universities to offer their newest courses; and conferences looking for the premier knowledge meeting space in Boston. The vision is if someone had major news, developments, or technology to announce in the United Staes, the BPL’s Central Library in Copley Square would be the place to do it.

Adjacent spaces could include meeting facilities equipped with teleconferencing capabilities linking BPL to the world, function space for smaller meetings and social functions, and support and catering space to facilitate events. The conference center would be adjacent to the existing Kirstein Business Library, creating opportunities for shared events and resources.

A commercial partner would be sought to market and manage the conference center for the Boston Public Library. Time would be preserved for BPL events and its programming needs as part of that partnership.

Commercial space for retail and potentially dining could be developed at the street level in the Johnson Building along Boylston and Exeter streets. Likely areas include the existing children’s room, the Boston Room, and Deferrari Hall. The commercial space could open onto the street and/or into the library, creating connected experiences to/in the neighborhood.

Tenants would be sought that would add to the library experience, potentially linked to the concept of knowledge. For example, one approach is for the commercial space to become the place for companies to showcase their latest innovations and technologies that may not be available yet for purchase. Companies may be willing to pay highly competitive rents for BPL space. Some space could be allocated for more traditional retail, but for products that are knowledge-based such as software, books, and maps.

If dining is considered, even on a limited or modest basis, the goal would be to make it part of the library experience. In addition to normal food services, the dining experience could include a speaker’s series or weekly round table discussions on topical subjects for book clubs or idea groups made up of micro-communities coming together to discuss subjects about which they are passionate.

The commercial space would facilitate improved architectural qualities of the building by creating transparency and activity toward the sidewalk, as well as new potential revenue source.