This is a press release from the BPL, following the April 7 Meeting of the Trustees. Note that the title of the press release fails to mention that 4 will CLOSE. The trustees will vote tomorrow on the FY2011 budget, most likely following the recommendation of the BPL president, Amy Ryan.

In this the Connolly and the JP Branch buildings will stay open with the existing hours. Not so for the Faneuil, Lower Mills, Orient Heights, and Washington Village neighborhood branches which will be closed.

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BPL President Amy E. Ryan Recommends 22 Branches to Remain Open

Library Scenarios Presented; Trustees to Vote April 9
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President Recommends plan that will maintain Library hours

BOSTON – April 7, 2010 – Boston Public Library Trustees met in a public forum this morning to discuss the library budget with BPL President Amy E. Ryan. Three scenarios for the Boston Public Library’s twenty-six branches were presented and discussed.

Following discussion, BPL President Amy E. Ryan endorsed Option 2, the plan that closes only 4 branches and maintains Library hours. “The Boston Public Library needs to save money, stabilize, and begin to move forward,” said BPL President Amy E. Ryan. “Keeping twenty-two branches open is the most prudent option. It preserves as many branches as possible, permits us to fill critical vacancies, and allows us to explore partnerships.”

These were the three options discussed:

• Option 1: All twenty-six branches remain open, 8 lead libraries (plus Central Library in Copley Square) maintain existing hours of operation, 18 branches paired and hours reduced.
• Option 2: Twenty-two branches remain open with existing hours of operation; 4 buildings close. In this option, the following buildings would close: Faneuil, Lower Mills, Orient Heights, and Washington Village.
• Option 3: Nineteen branches remain open; 7 buildings close. In this option, the following buildings would close: Egleston Square, Faneuil, Jamaica Plain, Lower Mills, Orient Heights, Uphams Corner, and Washington Village.

The Trustees will next meet on Friday, April 9 at 8:30am to vote on the entire FY11 budget, which includes reductions at the Central Library in Copley Square, in administrative and system-wide support, and in the neighborhood branches. The meeting is open to the public and will take place in Rabb Lecture Hall at the BPL’s Central Library in Copley Square. At the start of today’s meeting, Boston Public Library Trustee Chair Jeffrey B. Rudman announced that the City of Boston will level-fund the Boston Public Library in FY11. This is a change from an expected 1% reduction in city support.

Also during the April 7 meeting, BPL Director of Partnerships & Communications Koren Stembridge made a presentation on the BPL’s public participation process to date. Ms. Stembridge’s complete remarks are available online at www.bpl.org/budget.

Key information about the Boston Public Library budget is available online at www.bpl.org/budget. From that web page, community members can send recommendations and other feedback. The Library is also collecting comments via email at feedback@bpl.org and via US Post to 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Community members can also participate in this evening’s online moderated chat at 6:00pm by visiting the BPL’s homepage www.bpl.org.