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History:
For more
than 150 years, the Library has been able to fulfill its promise
"Free to All" because of the shared commitment and vision
of a dynamic public/private partnership. This partnership was strengthened
in 1992, when entrepreneur John Cullinane formed the Boston Public
Library Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3), to support the revitalization
of the Boston Public Library. Led by a 60-member Board of Directors,
representing Boston's business and community leaders, the Foundation
has raised more than $70 million since its inception and has greatly
enhanced the visibility of the Library and all it offers to the
citizens of Boston, New England and beyond.
Mission:
The Boston
Public Library Foundation's mission is to enhance the public visibility
and to raise public and private funds in support of the revitalization
of the Boston Public Library.
The Boston Public
Library's mission is to preserve and provide free access to the
historical record of our society while serving the cultural, educational
and informational needs of the people of City and the Commonwealth
Areas
of Focus
The BPL Foundation's
ongoing Campaign for the Library focuses in four priority
areas:
- Complete the
historic restoration of the National Historic Landmark McKim Building
at Copley Square
- Update the facilities
and services of the Library's 27 neighborhood branches, with a
particular focus on youth and family programming
- Improve access
to resources through state-of-the-art technology
- Maintain, preserve
and electronically catalog the Library's special collections
Inspire
the Future
The Boston Public Library Foundation is proud of its
role in augmenting public funds with private philanthropy to help
our great Library prepare for the extraordinary demands of a new
century. While much has been accomplished, there is much more yet
to be done. We invite you to join a proud tradition of support and
inspire the future.
Complete the Restoration of the National Historic Landmark McKim
Building
$25 million needed to complete the final phase of an extensive five-phase,
$100 million restoration and revitalization effort. This phase will
preserve the Library's special collections and restore the galleries
and reading rooms of the Print, Fine Arts, Mapping, Music, and Rare
Books departments.
In the summer of 2002, the highly-anticipated fourth phase of construction
began, a two-year, $20.4 million project to restore the John Singer
Sargent Gallery and Murals, the Edwin Austin Abbey Room and Murals,
and the Original Trustees and Cheverus rooms. In addition, a new
Exhibition Hall, Welcome and Orientation Center, Tea Room and Gift
Shop will be created. Unique spaces are available for naming, recognizing
gifts of $1 million or more. Spaces are also available for gifts
of $250,000 or more; these significant gifts will be acknowledged
with appropriate commemorative plaques.
Enhance Branch Programs
The Boston Public Library reaches out daily to children and their
families in dynamic and innovative ways. Throughout the Library
system, more than 3,000 programs are designed specifically for children
and attract over 100,000 participants. Activities include storytelling,
book talks, films, puppet workshops and performances, arts and crafts,
readings by authors and demonstrations by illustrators. Endowed
and outright gifts are welcome and can help underwrite such programs
as the Homework Assistance Program, the Collaborative Schools Program,
Reading Readiness and various youth, adult and family literacy programs.
Improve Access through Technology
The Library's 5-year strategic plan addresses its future technology
needs as a vital resource in this fast-moving information age. Private
support can help to upgrade equipment, underwrite staff training,
digitize collections, enhance web development, and electronically
convert more than five million catalog cards.
Update Branch Facilities
Any resident of Boston is no more than a few minutes from one of
the 27 neighborhood branches that provide valuable programs and
services to their respective communities. There are many branch
facilities in need of capital repairs and upgrades. Several branches
are seeking funds to provide or enhance public meeting and garden
spaces that make neighborhood libraries such a vibrant part of their
communities.
Maintain and Preserve Collections
The Boston Public Library is recognized as one of the great public
research libraries in the world. Funding is needed to properly catalog,
preserve and secure the Library's great literary, artistic and historic
treasures, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Branch Program Initiatives
The Central Library and the 26 neighborhood branches strive to create
innovative programming in response to the needs and interests of
the neighborhood residents. Endowed and annual gifts can partially
or fully underwrite these and other programs that serve the needs
of children and families. Annual program costs range from $10,000
to more than $100,000.
Homework Assistance Program - HAP
The Boston Public Library Homework Assistance Program (HAP) has two components: an in-person, drop-in academic mentoring program and an online tutoring program. Each of these components supports students with their homework and connects them with the Library’s resources. To date in academic year 2005-2006, HAP has provided 9,000 total sessions. The highly popular and effective Homework Assistance Program is made possible through generous contributions from Comcast, Foley & Lardner LLP, and the Boston Public Library Young Professionals. [Annual Program Cost: $131,000]
Collaborative Schools Program
This collaboration with Boston's public, private and parochial schools creatively engages K-12 grade students, who depict a selected theme through illustrations, essays and billboard designs. Creative art and writing workshops at neighborhood branch libraries, this year support the theme: Learning Connects Boston - in
collaboration with UMass Boston, the only public university in metropolitan Boston.
Students are honored with their families and teachers at a special awards ceremony
with Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and selected works are included in a book. Additionally, winning artwork is displayed on billboards throughout Boston, provided by
Clear Channel Outdoor. This program is partially endowed by Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation, and Peter and Carolyn Lynch. [Annual program cost: $55,000]
Reading Readiness
The Reading Readiness program is designed to introduce and strengthen
pre-reading skills of children ages three to five years old by exploring
concepts such as colors, shapes, numbers and ideas through stories,
rhymes, and educational games. Sessions are offered in all branch
libraries and training kits and videos are available, free of charge,
so that day care providers and parents can reinforce these activities
as well. This program is partially funded by endowed support from
the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and the Carol Goldberg
and Helene Cahners-Kaplan Literacy Fund, plus a grant from The Harold
Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust. [Annual program cost: $35,000]
Read Your Way to Fenway
For the seventh summer, the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Public
Library have teamed up for Read Your Way to Fenway. This popular
program encourages children, ages 5-17, to read books from their
neighborhood branch libraries during the months of June and July.
Young library users are offered entry forms requiring them to read
three books and write about their favorite. Winning entrants receiving
three tickets and transportation to the game, lunch, a souvenir
t-shirt and a baseball cap. This program is generously sponsored
by FleetBoston Financial and the Boston Red Sox. [Annual program
cost: $35,000]
For
more information please contact:
The Boston Public Library Foundation
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone (617) 247-8980
Fax (617) 247-1571
bplf@bplf.com
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