Government Schools

Boston Public Library To Submit 4 Proposals; 3 With Branch Closings

Posted on Author Matt ContiComments Off on Boston Public Library To Submit 4 Proposals; 3 With Branch Closings

In a response to constituents that sent letters to his office, City Councilor-At-Large, John Connolly, said he expects the Boston Public Library to propose 4 options to meet its budget gap. Of the four proposals, three will recommend neighborhood branch closings. Below is an excerpt from Councilor Connolly’s response.

“One frustration on my end is that I have no concrete plan specifics and I await BPL’s formal proposal as you do. The last news that I heard is that BPL is going to submit four proposals to the BPL Library Trustees on April 7 (the options presented will include a no closure proposal and proposals with 3, 5, and 8 respective branch closures). The trustees will vote on April 9 whether to accept any of these proposals. The Council will receive the entire City Budget on April 14. Delivery of the budget to the City Council will give us the opportunity to hold hearings with BPL relative to their entire financial situation for the coming fiscal year and any envisioned closure plan. In the meantime, I will work with you to push BPL to explore all options that allow moving forward in a way that supports our neighborhood libraries.”

Councilor Connolly is one of the nine City Councilors that signed a letter to the BPL urging against neighborhood branch closures.

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Government Schools

12 State Reps Take Action To Keep All Library Branches Open

Posted on Author Matt Conti

Much to the dismay of the Mayor’s Office and BPL Trustees, a group of State Representatives from Boston, including our local 3rd Suffolk District Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, have co-sponsored three amendments in the State budget that would force the City of Boston to keep all the branch libraries open in order to receive $3 million in State funding. While the North End and West End branches survived the City’s proposed budget cuts, four branch libraries remain at risk of closing. (See BPL Trustees Vote to Close 4 Branches; North End/West End Stay Open).

Note: The 12 State Representatives are: Reps. Forry, Moran, Basile, Wallace, Allen, Fox, Honan, Malia, Michlewitz, Rushing, Sanchez and Walz.

Press Release:

Boston State Representatives Mobilize to Save Local Libraries

Twelve State Representatives from the Boston delegation in the Massachusetts State House co-sponsored three amendments that seek to keep all Boston Public Library (BPL) branches open.

“The Trustees of the Boston Public Library and the Mayor of Boston have made clear their budget priorities,” Representative Michael Moran said. “Today, as a united group of legislators from neighborhoods throughout Boston, we are standing together and clearly stating that our priorities are to keep every branch library open.”

The BPL receives over $3 million worth of funding via three separate line items in the state budget. The amendments filed today would add additional language onto each line item, making their allocation contingent upon all 26 local branches remaining open in 2011.

“We had hoped that the Board of Trustees would do the right thing by keeping each branch open,” Representative Carlo Basile said. “Today we are taking steps to make sure that the right thing for our neighborhoods does happen.”
Arts & Culture Event Notices

Puleo to Speak on “Dark Tide” at BPL Copley Square

Posted on Author Matt Conti

Monday, September 20 • 6pm • Central Library in Copley Square • Rabb Lecture Hall Stephen Puleo comes to the Boston Public Library after his book, Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, was chosen by the people of Boston as the one book that the entire city should read. More than 8,000 Read More…
Arts & Culture Community

Helping the North End Branch Library

Posted on Author Matt Conti

The Boston Public Library has set up a webpage regarding its budget crisis that asks for feedback and ideas. It also specifically asks for descriptions of positive attributes and community benefits of individual branches. If you wish to submit comments on the North End Branch Library, the link is: http://www.bpl.org/general/budget The next meeting of the Read More…