Library Officials Invite Comments on Guiding Principles

One thing became clear during Wednesday night's public forum on the future of the Boston Public Library system – this meeting will not be the last.

Speaking before a small crowd in the unseasonably warm top floor of the South End Branch Library, BPL officials returned again and again to themes of community involvement and transparency as the library begins Phase II of its strategic planning process.

"During the budget process, there was a great public outcry that the net wasn't thrown wide enough," said Director of Resource Services Michael Colford. "We really need to get feedback, we really need to hear from you [about] what you'd like to see the Boston Public Library focusing on as we move forward. "

The roughly 30 residents in attendance were given pens and post-it notes to share their feedback, moving about the room and posting comments on large sheets of paper marked with each of the seven draft principles created in Phase I. Fifteen minutes at the end of the hour-long session was set aside for spoken comments.

By the meeting's end, post-it notes contained everything from complaints about evening hours and accessibility at the library to requests for "more picture books" and better access to materials online. Other comments asked why the South End Branch Library is still not ADA compliant (the front door currently cannot be opened automatically).

"To 'gather community' libraries need to be open weekends and evenings and be handicapped accessible," one post-it stated.

According to Glyn Polson, President of the Friends of the South End Library, an effort to make the library door handicapped accessible is underway. Although the BPL has made clear that no funding will be available for the $12,000 project, fundraising initiatives are in the works, he said.

Asked to gauge the meeting's success, Polson was upbeat.

"I think it was productive," he said. "The most important part is it's a community space. That's critical."

But others at the meeting took issue with the principles themselves.

"These are wishy-washy," said Field's Corner children's librarian Cindy Dye.

Back Bay resident Sarah Wenig likened the principles to "a Hallmark Card" designed to distract residents from the real issues.

"Let's talk about changing the governance structure, changing some of the people involved," she said.

But overall, attendees welcomed the chance to weigh in a topic that has appeared regularly in the local news since four branch libraries were sent to the chopping block in the spring. Branch libraries in Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston and South Boston's Old Colony housing development are slated for closure.

On Wednesday, Colford said the four libraries have been funded a few months into the winter, and could remain open if another $375,000 is found in the budget for fiscal year 2011, which began July 1.

"Its still very much up in the air," he said.

Stephen Fox, President of the Rutland Square Neighborhood Association, said his group would like to be tapped for assistance or as a mechanism for publicizing library meetings and events.

"Every other department… uses the neighborhood associations to deliver their messages," he said. "The BPL is the only one that doesn't."

Library Trustee and Compass Committee Chair James Carroll quickly promised to extend the library's outreach practices to the 23 South End neighborhood associations, calling it a crucial part of the community outreach process.

"That's the first I've ever heard of this," he said. "I don't know why it's not the case but it should be."

"We're dying to have ongoing public input at every stage," he added.

Comments can be submitted online at the BPL website or by visiting a branch library.