“I love the library and had done a lot of work there as a researcher and writer, going back to when I first came to Boston in 1969,” says James Carroll. “It was such a vital center of civic life and intellectual life for me already, and I knew from my own experience how urgently important the library is for the citizens of our Commonwealth.” So, when an unofficial “writer’s seat” previously held by Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough became open, Jim was happy to join the Boston Public Library’s Board of Trustees. During his 11-year tenure, Jim chaired the Neighborhood Services Initiative and the BPL Compass Committee.

Rep. Byron Rushing with former Boston Public Library Trustee James Carroll (right).

“Culture changed more between 1450 and 1550, one might argue, than in any other century over the last several millennia. A vast population of Europe that had no relationship to reading, for example, within a century became significantly literate,” he explains. “So from Gutenberg to Shakespeare, this revolution in human awareness embodied in reading and the book, and the changes in the way the human mind works, the way communication works, the way culture identifies itself— all of that followed on a technological revolution in how human beings read.”

To Jim, we’re going through a version of the very same thing—perhaps with even more far-reaching consequences. “And libraries are at the dead center of this revolution, which is why it’s so urgent,” he says.

Recognizing that there is resistance to the evolution in digital technology, he warns against succumbing to it. “The library can’t be defensive and afraid of new technologies on one hand—that’s the perfect formula for being left behind and discarded by culture—and it can’t let go of its custodianship of the treasured literacy of the past,” he says. “It’s more important than ever that we remember what the book was and learn from how human beings treasured it. The Boston Public Library is doing a great job, in my opinion, of maintaining the cultural tradition by keeping the book as the central symbol, but also understanding that service to the public is about far more than books.” He adds that, “If there were no public libraries today, someone with the brilliant idea of establishing public libraries would never get the funding. It would never happen today. There’s no way government—local, state, or federal—would undertake to embark on the library system.”

Fortunately, he sees a brighter future ahead for the Boston Public Library. As he puts it, “I think it’s the center of public service, the heart of the way city government responds to the needs of its citizens as they grow from infancy to old age, centrally and in partnership with public schools and other public institutions.”

For that reason, he predicts “more and more, not less and less” public resources poured into libraries, enabling them to expand their services. In his vision, libraries will serve as community centers and connectors. “Many community members urgently require the services that are available at the library, whether you’re talking about internet access so that people can go online and apply for jobs or academic assistance for kids who are living in homes where both parents are working late, and so forth,” he says. “The library does it all.”

“As soon as I started here, I knew it was my place,” declares Miriam Carrasquillo. That was more than 24 years ago, and Miriam has since served the library in a number of departments, including rare books, music, and now human resources.

Over the years, she has observed a sharp increase in the number of immigrants coming to Boston from other countries. “Some don’t speak much English at the beginning, and they don’t know what programs are available,” she says. “They come to the library as a place to find that information in this country. It’s a place of knowledge. A place to start.”

Another change she has seen taking place is the shift toward the internet. “I’ve seen how people are using computers more than books now,” she says. “Click click is what people are requiring more often, not encyclopedias and yellow pages.”

Miriam is proud that the Boston Public Library is the oldest public library in the nation, and, as a member of the Staff Compass Committee, she is dedicated to honoring that history while ensuring that the library continues moving forward, in step with technology. “Being part of an institution that helps the community—it’s a privilege,” she says.

Established in 1978, the Friends of the Dudley Branch Library—a nonprofit partnership between the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library and the local community—promotes an appreciation for the arts, culture, and humanities. Fifteen-year member and now Vice President of the board of directors, Mimi Jones is proud of the events supported by the group.

Her passion for the library is not limited to the Dudley Branch, however. Mimi recognizes the Boston Public Library as one system and has taken an active role in planning for its future, as a member of both the Compass Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. “I’ve been very pleased with the fact that there’s been tremendous public discourse around the strategic plan,” she says. “The goals and vision of the previous documents like the Neighborhood Services Initiative dovetail nicely with the new, system-wide strategy. It’s a privilege to be at the table to make a contribution and help shape things.”

Ultimately, to Mimi, what’s most important is to make sure the Boston Public Library system remains a window into the world of knowledge. “Beyond books, the Boston Public Library is a place where so much can be acquired, discovered, and learned,” she says.