BPL reported today it's gotten most of its back-end system back up again and today plans to restore many of its "public-facing" services, including the ability to stream and download from digital services, such as Kanopy, via BPL, use other third-party online services with a BPL account and reserve museum passes. Read more.
BPL
The Boston Public Library reported today it's restored WiFi and that employees are beginning to input all of the book checkouts they'd had to record by hand since somebody knocked many of their systems offline last week. Read more.
Some Boston Public Library online systems, as well as public-access computers, are offline for the third straight day today due to what officials are calling a "cybersecurity attack" and efforts to plug whatever holes let the attack to happen.
In a statement, BPL says: Read more.
Update: BPL blames hackers.
Greg Cook reports the Boston Public Library has been offline for two days now due to an unspecified "system wide technical outage."
Fortunately, BPL says, the outage hasn't affected doors, so all branches remain open with AC running, at least during regular hours.
The BPDA board agreed today to let developers of a proposed residential and hotel building on Tremont Street in Chinatown eliminate space for the long awaited BPL Chinatown branch because of funding complications caused by Covid-19. Read more.
The mayor's office announced today that a continuing decline in Boston Covid-19 rates and hospitalization means both city libraries and community centers will be able to offer additional in-person services starting next month, although an announcement from City Hall said we'll have to wait for details. Read more.
The Beacon Hill Times reports the city is looking at updating the Cambridge Street library and that part of the study includes adding housing units to the site. At a meeting last week, residents asked that whatever the final plans, they should keep the library's unique hexagonal reading room.
Update: Suspect charged.
Boston Police have released photos of a guy they say set fire to the ballot drop box outside the Copley Square library around 4:10 a.m. Read more.
The Boston Public Library announced yesterday it's partially re-opening the computer room at the Copley Square central library, where people can now sign up for two-hour slots to use socially-distanced computers. Read more.
The Bay State Banner reports on the controversy surrounding the 7-4 renaming vote by BPL trustees.
The BPL children's library has started a blanket-fort challenge - what kind of forts can Boston kids make?
With schools, restaurants, bars and houses of worship closing, the union representing many BPL employees today demanded that library officials order an immediate shutdown of Boston libraries because of concerns that with all the other closings, city libraries will quickly become Covid-19 breeding grounds. Read more.
The Boston Public Library today said it is clearing outstanding book fines for library-card holders under 18 - and will no longer charge them late fees - effective Nov. 1. Read more.
The BPL branch in Roslindale Square is set to close later this year for some major renovation work (don't worry - they're keeping the dome). The Friends of the Roslindale Branch Library has been working with local businesses to set up micro-libraries around the neighborhood so people can still get a book to read - and is giving away libraries in a box that residents can put outside their homes to keep the books flowing.