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BPL has systemwide approach to projects, improvements

The Boston Public Library has a systemwide approach to major projects and capital improvements. During the current fiscal year, there are more than a dozen branch library improvement projects taking place, ranging from the $17 million new branch for East Boston to an outdoor reading garden for the South Boston branch.

Gwynne Morgan’s May 4 letter to the editor (“Mayor’s grand plan for main library misses big picture”) suggested that the $14.6 million figure in the city’s proposed fiscal 2014 capital budget was for a glass front facelift at the central library. The proposed dollars are for much more than that. At the heart of the Johnson Building improvement project is the creation of a new children’s library and teen space as well as a more welcoming lobby and interior set-up that will bring the library’s books closer to Boylston Street. The ongoing community conversation about this project is detailed on the library’s website at bpl.org/compass.

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Morgan makes other claims in her letter that are unsupported, primarily detailing concerns about the maintenance of the West Roxbury branch. Rather than address these individually, I will simply assure all our users that our buildings and fixtures are safe and receive thoughtful attention from our facilities staff.

We also greatly value the contributions of volunteers and friends.

Christine Schonhart
Director of
library services, branches
Boston Public Library
Boston