3 Options Emerge For Library Trustees To Address Budget Shortfall

By Monica Brady-Myerov (@bradymyerov)
Apr 7, 2010, 12:01 PM
3 Comments

BOSTON — Boston Public Library trustees are weighing three options (PDF) as to how to close the organization’s $3.6 million budget gap.

The first option would reduce hours by 50 to 85 percent at 18 branch libraries. Another would close four libraries — Faneuil, Lower Mills, Orient Heights and Washington Village — and keep all the other branches open at regular hours. The third option would close seven branch libraries — the four aforementioned branches as well as Egleston Square, Jamaica Plain and Uphams Corner — while keeping the rest of the branches open their regular hours.

Library President Amy Ryan says she favors shutting down four branches, sparing the rest of the system from extensive hour reductions.

“I think it’s a prudent approach right now,” Ryan said. “It allows us to fill vacancies. It allows us to keep the hours at the existing 22 libraries. It’s a tough call (and) it’s my recommendation but I think it’s the right approach.”

All three options scale back — significantly — the original budget gap proposals, which included closing 10 branch libraries.

But library patrons and labor activists are still very upset that there is discussion about any branch closures, as they feel the city should step in and close the budget gap.

The board is expected to vote on the proposals Friday, which are subject to approval by Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The trustees also previously delayed a vote on staff cuts to Friday.

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http://sunshineboston.blogspot.com don warner saklad

We need satellite library reference desks setup for one or two hour sessions at supermarkets and T stations with librarians using wireless tools for library users’ enquiries. Modernizing our Boston Public Libraries would make for savings and more effective, more efficient use of information technologies. Our BPL should be working more closely with the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Media Lab and similar institutions’ laboratories.
http://sunshineboston.blogspot.com don warner saklad

A national economic study of our cities’ public libraries is needed independent of the library professionals themselves, independent of publishing professionals. We have national economic studies of primary, secondary and higher education but not our libraries. System Dynamics methodology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_dynamics would illustrate the values.
Susan Raskin Abrams

I know people are upset about the closing of some branches in Boston. What I would like to see from WBUR is coverage of what is happening to ALL libraries in Massachusetts due to the decrease in funding. It is not just a BPL issue –it is a statewide issue (actually a national issue). Why not cover what is happening to the regional library system –folding 6 regional libraries into one system over the next two years.