Four doomed library branches still slated to die; city councilors to try to dig up money, state reps blast BPL

BPL trustees today voted to keep four doomed branches open awhile longer to plan for their shutdown. But even more cuts could be in store if the legislature passes a proposal to lop $2.4 million off its BPL funding as punishment for closing branches.

BPL Chairman Jeff Rudman, however, said for the first time that if somebody finds $1.6 million, the trustees will keep the Faneuil, Orient Heights, Dorchester Lower Mills and Washington Village branches open. City Council Chairman Mike Ross told trustees the council will meet Wednesday morning to see how to find the money; during their contract talks, firefighters agreed to give back a raise in part to keep librarians and custodians employed.

Three of the four branches were originally scheduled for elimination at the end of the summer; Faneuil was given more time to allow for the re-opening of the Brighton branch, now under renovation. Ryan said she is unsure how much longer the branches' lives will be extended.

Ryan said the extra time would let the affected neighborhoods figure out what to do with the buildings and how to ensure library services to the affected neighborhoods.

On Twitter, Daniel Ransom suggested: "My idea? Use the buildings as libraries for the public."

Ryan said that up to 68 workers at the Copley central library will still be laid off.

State Rep. Linda Dorcena-Forry, D-Dorchester, blasted the trustees, saying she and other Boston legislatures wanted to work with trustees to keep branches open. "You've done nothing except to plan for the closure of these branches," she told them.

State Rep. Marty Walz, D-Beacon Hill, agreed. "What you're doing is planning for the failure, which is the closing of these branches." Once the branches are closed, they're gone for good, she said, telling trustees, "You and the mayor have a choice:" Close branches and lose money or keep them open and get money.

Trustee Paul LaCamera said the legislature has already cut $8 million from the BPL budget in recent years, and said he doesn't understand why legislators are threatening to take more money away.

Walz responded the money was cut from a state fund never intended to keep branches open, and that her goal is to keep branches open and restore money for hiring workers at Copley.

Rudman retorted: "We do not have the money." If somebody gave the BPL $1.5 million for the coming fiscal year, none of the branches would close, he said.

LaCamera acknowledged state Rep. Byron Rushing's assertion that the BPL's relationship with the legislature is "terrible," but said that even given that, he does not understand how the legislature could be considering stripping even more money from the library system.

But trustee Vice Chairman Evelyn Arana-Ortiz said she found the idea of lobbying distasteful and that she would not do it.