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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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Energy Improvements in 2012 and 2013

Posted on February 7th, 2013 by jmeade@private.bpl.org in Major Projects
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greenovate2Boston Public Library’s Facilities Department continues to move forward, focused on efforts to reduce utility consumption. These efforts are cost-savings measures that align with the City’s overall energy reductions goals, and, as reflected in the Community Gathering principle of the strategic plan, help the library minimize its environmental impact.

This year, we have added 320 motion sensors to the book stacks in the Central Library’s Johnson Building along with the 540 installed last year, automating light switches to ensure lights are only used when staff are actually working in those areas.

We replaced a large percentage of high energy-consuming lighting fixtures at three locations with energy efficient fixtures:

  • Jamaica Plain Branch – 111 fixtures with a 30% reduction in watts consumed
  • Dudley Branch – 367 fixtures with over 50% reduction in watts consumed
  • Central Library at Copley Square – 545 fixtures with over 45% reduction in watts consumed

Additionally, Bates Hall in the McKim Building at the Central Library is now illuminated with 100% LED bulbs that were received under a state-funded program, and at no cost to the BPL.

On the plumbing front, we have  been installing “low-flow” faucets and fixtures in many Central Library locations, cutting down on water use and costs. We have added water meters for cooling towers and lawn sprinklers at multiple locations to reduce sewer costs.

We have also begun the process of upgrading our centralized building management system and added an initial set of locations to the new system. The system can now be controlled remotely, improving gas and electric efficiencies and providing a more efficient and responsive system to staff and public needs. We hope to add locations to the the centralized building management system over next couple of years.

Funding for these improvements is drawn from the “Johnson Building Energy Improvements” capital projects and City of Boston Energy Department and Mass. green communities.

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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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Johnson Building Improvement Project: Architect Selected

Posted on January 28th, 2013 by David Leonard in Johnson Building Study, Major Projects
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William Rawn Associates has been chosen to lead the master planning phase of the Johnson Building study. The contract allows for the option to continue through formal design and construction should the project get approved to go forward either in full or in part. As is noted in previous posts, planning and envisioning meetings are underway and will broaden in the coming weeks and months to gather input from many sources including staff and members of the public. The overall project team also includes:

  • Byrne McKinney & Associates for market research on commercial viability of potential space, should the library decide to include such options in the final plan.
  • Pinnacle Consulting, who is assisting Byrne McKinney & Associates, and will be focused on the commercial viability of day conference space, an idea that could include refurbishment of Rabb Lecture Hall and nearby rooms.
  • Engineering consulting firm TMP, who are helping to assess the health of Johnson building systems and infrastructure along with the level of difficulty involved in any substantial renovations.

It will be the task of William Rawn Associates to incorporate all of the feedback and analysis into an integrated plan while working with BPL and the city’s Public Facilities Department to narrow the options based on project goals and the library’s mission. The next six months will involve a multi-track process to develop a master plan for those sections of the building in direct project scope and those that involve relocated services.

William Rawn Associates was chosen for their extensive architectural and design experience, knowledge with public library projects in Boston, and their processes around envisioning and stakeholder engagement. Some may recognize the firm as the group that designed the BPL’s Mattapan Branch as well as the new East Boston Branch currently under construction.

Send questions about the Johnson Building project to compass@bpl.org. You are also always welcome to comment directly on this blog or send a letter to the BPL via 700 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116.

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Johnson Building Improvement Project: CAC Minutes & Discussion Questions

Posted on January 24th, 2013 by Gina Perille in Johnson Building Study, Library Services
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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

  1. What are the first things you would like to see when you enter the library?
  2. How can we transform the lobby arrival experience?

First Floor

  1. What could the first floor include for a blend of uses to be a successful attraction to various age groups?
  2. If the question is about re-energizing the Johnson building, what are your observations about the first floor? What’s working? Where is there potential for revitalization?

Children’s

  1. Where do you see possible locations for the Children’s Library?
  2. How do we balance imperatives for security and natural light?

Conference Center

  1. What could you envision for components of a conference center and who do you think would use it?
  2. How does the absence of natural light in the basement limit its potential?
  3. What limitations does the 340 seat count of Rabb put on the conference center concept?

Commercial Uses

  1. What types of commercial uses would be most compatible with the library’s vision?
  2. What kind of activities would bring the most energy to the ground floor? Commercial? Non-commercial?

Exterior Changes

  1. How extensively should exterior changes be pursued?
  2. How should we maximize the level of energy on the street/sidewalk?

Deferrari (the open atrium area in the Johnson Building)

  1. What might be ways to energize Deferrari Hall? On 1st floor? On 2nd floor?

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