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A message from Boston Public Library President Amy E. Ryan

Posted on April 24th, 2013 by Gina Perille in Library Services
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Dear Friend of the Library,

On April 15, the Boston Marathon and the Commonwealth’s celebration of Patriots’ Day were suddenly and sadly overtaken by tragic events. In the days that followed, the people of Boston and beyond have responded with enormous courage, support, and resilience. These individuals make us proud to have “Boston” in our name and are an inspiration as our community begins to recover and heal.

Boston Public Library is a community gathering place, a place for lifelong learning, a place to seek knowledge, solace, and renewal. This is true during good times and challenging times, and has been so since our founding in 1848 and the day our doors opened in Copley Square in 1895. Each day, whether in Copley Square or in one of our twenty-five branches across the city, we welcome residents and visitors from around the world.

All of us at the Boston Public Library have been waiting for the opportunity to welcome you back to Copley Square. With this message, I can now tell you our Central Library doors are open. Please know that we’d like to see you, whether your visit is today, tomorrow, or in the weeks that follow.

Sincerely,

AmyRyan_sig085

Amy E. Ryan
President
Boston Public Library

 

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Uphams Corner Building Improvements

Posted on April 12th, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
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2013uphams_smallThe municipal building at 500 Columbia Road, which houses the Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library, will undergo building improvements beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. The building improvements necessitate a temporary closure of the branch while work takes place. Construction will begin on Tuesday, May 28, and is expected to be completed in early September 2013. Improvements planned for the building include replacing the roof, including insulation and flashing; removing, replacing, and painting selected downspouts; repairing and replacement of the exterior gutters; repointing the masonry; installation of new windows; rebuilding the exterior and interior stairs; and installing a new heating system.

The BPL will post information about the project on the Uphams Corner profile page on the BPL website along with any necessary program rescheduling information. Current Uphams Corner Branch users will be invited to use the Dudley and Grove Hall branches during the temporary closure period.

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Progress on the New East Boston Branch

Posted on February 18th, 2013 by Gina Perille in Library Services, Major Projects
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These photos were taken of the in-progress construction of the new East Boston Branch, located at the end of Bremen Street Park, near Prescott Street. The branch is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. Download the project fact sheet (PDF) to learn more.

 

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Systemwide Youth Programs Review & Assessment

Posted on February 11th, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
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In July 2012, the Boston Public Library Foundation put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services that would result in a program of systemwide library services for youth in Boston. This programming review and assessment fulfills two of the principles in the Library’s Strategic Plan:1) Children and Teens and 2) Community Gathering.

After reviewing the RFPs and interviewing respondents, Wondercabinet Interpretive Design, Inc. was selected to lead this process. During the months of January and February, BPL youth services staff were surveyed to help determine current practices in BPL programming, space availability and options, best practices from other libraries and to gather feedback on what works best and what needs work. In the coming weeks, the public will be invited to participate in a survey to help determine their favorite programs, ideas for new programs, and feedback on what they think works best and what needs work.

In the meantime, do you have a favorite children’s or teen program at the Library or elsewhere? What are your favorite places for youth programming and what makes them special? Please share in the comments.

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East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library – Site Visit

Posted on January 31st, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
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On January 17, about 20 community members joined BPL President Amy E. Ryan, Councilor LaMattina, and architects from William Rawn Associates for a tour of the ongoing construction at the new East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library. Architects Carla Ceruzzi, Mark Oldham, and Cliff Gayley led the tour and talked about the materials being used, the layout of the branch, the work completed to date and the projected schedule for the next several months. A big thank you to all who took some time to tour the site – if you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, hop on the Blue Line to the Airport stop and let us know what you think.

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