Posted on February 18th, 2013 by Gina Perille in Library Services, Major Projects
Tags: East Boston
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.
Posted on February 11th, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
Tags: Children and Teens, Community Gathering
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.
Posted on January 31st, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
Tags: East Boston
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.
Posted on January 24th, 2013 by Gina Perille in Johnson Building Study, Library Services
Tags: Back Bay, Copley Square
The minutes of the January 10, 2013, Community Advisory Committee were recently shared on this blog. One of the agenda items from the meeting was a review of several discussion questions, which are included below.
We invite your comments in response to these questions, too. You are welcome to reply to this blog, send an email to compass@bpl.org, or a letter to Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116. This link to the Central Library map may be helpful in identifying specific spaces mentioned in the questions here. For previously-published information on the Johnson Building Improvement Project, visit our blog archives.
The next meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for this project is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, at 8:30 a.m. in the Johnson Building Mezzanine Conference Room.
CAC Meeting: January 10 Discussion Questions
Entry
First Floor
Children’s
Conference Center
Commercial Uses
Exterior Changes
Deferrari (the open atrium area in the Johnson Building)
Posted on January 22nd, 2013 by Christine Schonhart in Library Services, Major Projects
Tags: Jamaica Plain
On Thursday, January 10, over 40 Jamaica Plain residents gathered in the community room at the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library to continue discussions with the library and architects Miller, Dyer Spears, regarding upcoming renovations. Meeting minutes and the presentation can be found here: Jamaica Plain Branch renovations.
At this stage, three preliminary ideas were shared as the architects, library, and community continue to work out the details of which spaces should go where, what are the best adjacencies, what’s most cost effective and operationally efficient, and what can be incorporated into the space that will highlight the best of Jamaica Plain.
The final meeting in this planning stage will be held at the branch at 12 Sedgwick Street on Thursday, February 7, at 6 p.m. In the meantime, if you have ideas, comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact the Library at ask@bpl.org or by writing to Christine Schonhart c/o Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.
