Boston Public Library on the Ropes

Boston Public Library

Link to July 1 Boston Globe article, "City scrambles to save custodian, librarian jobs".

Excerpt: 

First punch: The layoffs will include 26 school custodians, down originally from 83. The city’s 113-year-old printing plant also closed its doors yesterday, a move that will eliminate roughly 11 jobs. The library will still face 64 layoffs, down from 74. The bulk of those positions belong to library assistants and other workers whose leader, Jennifer Springer, sat down with Menino yesterday afternoon. [Emphasis added.]

“What I got was a commitment from the mayor to sit down and see what can be done to save even more jobs at the Boston Public Library,’’ said Springer, a coordinator for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 93.

Second punch. But the budget woes at the library took another hit yesterday when Governor Deval Patrick signed a punitive amendment to the state budget that would strip the Boston Public Library of its remaining $2.4 million in state funding, if administrators go ahead with branch closures. State lawmakers have already slashed $6.5 million from the Boston Public Library in the last two years, a major reason the system faces a shortfall.

Related articles:
Four library branch closings delayed.  (6/22/2010)
Boston Magazine profiles Amy Ryan, Public Library President.  (6/5/2010)
State funding at risk.  (4/29/2010)
Library board votes to close 4 branches.  (4/10/2010)
Recommendation to close 4 branches (among other cuts).  (4/8/2010)
More than 100 gather to fight possible branch library closings.  (4/4/2010)
The Skinny on Boston's branch libraries.  (4/1/2010)
Library measures data published.  (3/31/2010)
Don't close the book on us. (3/29/2010)
Citywide Friends of BPL to Hold Demonstration.  (3/28/2010)
BPL Budget News Available at Website.  (3/25/2010)
A Small Branch Makes a Big Impact.  (3/24/2010)
Friends of Boston Public Library Host Read-in to Support Tax Increase. (3/14/2010)
Emotions Reach Boiling Point in Boston Public Library Discussion. (3/13/2010)
The Boston Public Library Dilemma, Continued. (3/12/2010)
Boston Speaks Up for Its Libraries. (3/10/2010)
Boston Public Library Branches to be Ranked in Consolidation Plan. (3/9/2010)
Boston Public Library Anticipating Budget Cuts in 2011. (3/2/2010)