The questions posted on on the display at the Central Library are similar to ones shared on this blog in January. They are:

1. What areas or services in the library seem underutilized when you visit? What areas might need some updating?
2. What can the library do to establish a stronger connection to Boylston Street and Exeter Street?
3. How might the library make the Johnson Building more attractive and inviting?
4. What sorts of enterprise or entrepreneurial opportunities might the library pursue? What sorts of entrepreneurial activities might fit in well in the Johnson Building?

The Johnson Building, which opened in 1972, is the portion of the Central Library in Copley Square that is at the corner of Boylston and Exeter Streets.

Last summer, the library issued a request for proposals for help in exploring ideas on how to improve visitors’ first impression of the Johnson Building, enrich library services and spaces, and generate cost-sharing options and additional revenue.

Preliminary efforts to develop ideas for the Johnson Building began in November 2012 when a community advisory committee was formed and continued into December 2012 when the firm William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. was selected to lead the master planning process.

Prior to the April 10 program, Boston Public Library will mount a display in the center atrium of the Johnson Building where library users and visitors can review a floor plan of the existing layout of the building and are encouraged to provide comments and suggestions on the project. The display will remain up for the entire month of April.

Background on the Johnson Building Project to date is published throughout this blog. Those not able to attend the April 10 public program or visit the display are welcome to leave a comment on the library’s Compass blog at www.bpl.org/compass or send an email to compass@bpl.org. “Compass” is the name of Boston Public Library’s strategic plan.

Download and share the April 10 program flyer (PDF).

Community Advisory Committee Members

Community Advisory Committee 4-8-13 Agenda (posted April 4)

Community Advisory Committee 3-13-13 Agenda (posted March 7)

Additional recommendations include highlighting information about the library’s history and the diverse community of users and neighborhoods it serves. Other suggestions include installation of large monitors and/or digital projection elements to enliven these spaces and provide platforms for display of real-time metrics about library usage and promotion of the library’s extensive digital collections.

Please let us know what you think about these recommendations by commenting on this post, sending an email to compass@bpl.org, or a letter to the BPL via 700 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116.

Some key components to the successful deployment of this space include:

• Library services in the Johnson Building at a branch scale
• Engaging space with inviting street view
• Bookstore browsing experience
• New books on display, themed displays, popular collections
• New fiction and nonfiction, biographies, large print
• Open, engaging, strong merchandising component, continually refreshed
• Comfortable seating for reading and browsing
• Flexible space for author programming
• Staff and technology to engage readers with reading recommendations
• 3 – 4 public catalogs, 1 small staff workstation

Please let us know what you think about this evolving concept by commenting on this post, sending an email to compass@bpl.org,  a letter to the BPL via 700 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116.

Library President Amy E. Ryan reviewed the project goals and stated how important it was to have the community involved in helping the library explore options to make recommendations for the FY14 capital planning initiatives.

Architects William Rawn Associates led a discussion about Philip Johnson’s design principles highlighted by a series of quotes from the late architect. The principles, referred to as “Johnsonian Principles” are:

• procession: anticipation – sense of event from exterior
• procession: moment of arrival – coherent experience from front door
• procession: ascent – celebrated vertical circulation
• scale: respect and experimentation
• monumentality in the city – civic urban presence
• structure and rationality – structural clarity in planning

The architects described the structure of the Johnson Building and identified areas where the natural light was best. They also shared images of other interesting libraries from around the world and the community members discussed how the Johnson Building might have a better, more active relationship with Boylston Street.

Library staff reported on the types of services and functions that under consideration for each floor. Many of the ideas and suggestions came from previous Community Advisory Committee meetings as well as input from library staff members. Highlights included an updated lobby as well as a popular browsing area. (Editor’s note: both of these topics will be discussed further in future posts to this blog.)

Community members offered several suggestions and ideas for the project. Members discussed the attractiveness of a dedicated space for casual book discussion, reading recommendations, and small author talks. They also considered options for relocating the children’s and teen areas.

The meeting concluded with a brief enterprise discussion. Boston Public Library has engaged consultants to study the feasibility of commercial enterprise and the viability of a conference center within the library. Committee members emphasized the importance of identifying an enterprise opportunities that are compatible with the library mission. They also discussed maintaining a “porous” environment to integrate the enterprise with library services and to help energize the building. The next Community Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 at 8:30 a.m. The enterprise discussion will continue at that meeting.

Updated: Download the 2-26-2013 Johnson CAC agenda.

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.