Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library in no-show job flap with lobbyist

bruce — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:49:11 +0000

CommonWealth magazine came across an interesting lawsuit involving the Boston Public Library and Maryanne Lewis, a lawyer-lobbyist and former state representative who is considering a run as an independent for Congress. The BPL says Lewis was improperly awarded a secret consulting contract by its former president, Bernard Margolis, and that Lewis never performed any consulting or legal services. Lewis says she did the "government relations consulting services" she was hired to do and wants the $32,000 she is still owed on her contract. The BPL is not only refusing to pay but demanding the $46,000 Lewis has already pocketed. No one is talking for the record, which means we need help figuring out what's really going on here. For the full CommonWealth story, go to http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/News-and-Features/Online-exclusives/2010/Spring/No-show-job-flap-at-BPL.aspx. The address for CommonWealth is http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org

Libraries and Communities

david_yamada — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:08:47 +0000

As Boston considers the closing of libraries in the midst of a recession, it may be useful to remind ourselves of the broader contributions of libraries to our neighborhoods:

Former American Librarian Association president Sarah Long

When I was president of the American Library Association in 1999-2000, I chose, "Libraries Build Community" as my theme because I felt strongly that the library always serves a special place in the community. It's not only a place to find information and knowledgeable librarians, it's also a place to be with other community members. Think of the library as a community's living room. . . . I chose, "Libraries Build Community" as my presidential theme because the library is the community's information hub and a place to gather, but also because of what happens inside libraries. Children come to story hour and adults come to programs. Library meeting rooms are places to vote or are used for local legislators' town hall meetings. In the information age, the library is so much more than a collection of books.

http://www.librarybeat.org/read/show/401

A mayor who built the branch libraries would be a hero

EM Painter — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:09:06 +0000

I am not interested in arguing the list. I have a pretty good feeling that my library can beat these other libraries. But that's what the cutters want, they want to pit us one neighborhood against the other. I imagine the West End library is still there because modernizers of the past, in an effort to bring the West End into the 20th century, flattened the neighborhood in the name of progress, dense urban living and a major road interchange. But instead of a modern neighborhood, the West End became an infamous name, and a symbol of everything that went wrong in urban renewal. Even our own Brighton library was a clunky modern replacement for a much-loved and mourned older building.

As we have read in many comments, the present library system has arisen not from a coordinated plan, but often in a haphazard manner. Many of the defenders of these libraries remember the older, better library too. As any visitor to the Copley library can see, the older section was obviously built by a wealthier society that knew much more about what looked good and what aged well. But we are left with what we have, and even the shoddy replacement Brighton library serves patrons.

Redbox, Netflix knock out Blockbuster in West Roxbury

adamg — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:47:48 +0000

The credits have rolled for the Centre Street Blockbuster - although there's now a cheery note on the front door advising former customers to put their old movies through the slot if they don't want to hear from a collection agency.

In other Centre Street news, it's a bit of a shame the West Roxbury BPL branch couldn't have opened before cool weather after some recent renovations - because the first thing that hits you now when you enter is the smell of paint, and not in a good way.

Ex-BPL head Margolis to try again in New York State

Kaz — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:18:24 +0000

This one's right up Don's (the zak) alley. As reported in The Globe:

"Just as the Yankees took Babe Ruth, Boston's loss is our gain," said Tom Dunn, New York education department spokesman. "We are thrilled."

Bernard Margolis, the former head of the Boston Public Library, has gone head-to-head with the Menino administration since he was removed over his management style which Menino felt left the community branches disadvantaged at the expense of the Copley head branch. He will now be leading one of the nation's largest research libraries by running the NY State libraries.

Boston Public Library. What can be done about problems with digital restrictions management DRM?...

theszak — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:34:34 +0000

We've been contacted by the BPL about making arrangements to
discuss the problems with digital restrictions management
DRM and what might be done about it
http://defectivebydesign.org/blog/1120
http://defectivebydesign.org/about

Problematical library use. Digital Restrictions protest photos. Boston Public Library.

theszak — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:22:54 +0000

Digital Restrictions protest photos. Boston Public Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makoshark/sets/72157600127273939/show/with/2255532118/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makoshark/

MAKOSHARK IS STRONG

Problematical Library Use. Interlibrary Loan ILL. Boston Brookine Cambridge Somerville.

theszak — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:07:15 +0000

Many people haven't yet used interlibrary loan readily available at our branch public libraries for books, audio and video not on the shelves within the immediate Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville and other Massachusetts' libraries systems.

Better software is being developed for tracking what titles library users/customers/consumers ask for.

Alternately new book suggestions, audio suggestions and video suggestions can be submitted for local branch libraries' collections.

Hints, tips and pointers for more effective use of interlibrary loan...

Branch Boston public libraries

Problematical Library Use. Interlibrary Loan ILL. Boston Brookine Cambridge Somerville.

theszak — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:23:06 +0000

Better software is being developed for tracking what titles library users/customers/consumers ask for.

Alternately new book suggestions, audio suggestions and video suggestions can be submitted for local branch libraries' collections.

Hints, tips and pointers for more effective use of interlibrary loan...

Branch Boston public libraries

OverDrive DRM. Boston Public Library Digital Restrictions Management.

theszak — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:41:01 +0000

by Ben Schwartz
http://bemasc.dynalias.net/wordpress/?p=843

#Digital Diary of Ben Schwartz RSS Feed

Digital Diary of Ben Schwartz
Like information, but less informative

<< Rain

Protest

I spent the afternoon today at this protest against the stupid DRM
systems that libraries use for their digital audiobooks
(Mom, you know all about this and how annoying it is).

The protest was outside the main entrance to the Boston Public
Library, which distributes these restricted media files.

We handed out hundreds of pamphlets and talked to countless

Saturday 1pm to 3pm at the Boston Public Library's main branch... DefectiveByDesign.org

theszak — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 07:37:57 +0000

Libraries: Kick DRM out!

http://DefectiveByDesign.org has announced an action against libraries
that support DRM on their collections.

Boston locals can join them this
Saturday from
1pm to 3pm at the
Boston Public Library's main branch,

and non-locals are encouraged to stage an action against
their own library if it's using DRM.

http://journal.wjsullivan.net/212943.html
http://defectivebydesign.org

by John Markoff. Boston Public Library. Scanning Boston documents. Digital archives.

theszak — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:48:31 +0000

By John Markoff
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/27/business/library.php

The Boston Public Library is also interested in scanning local Boston and Massachusetts documents and is in the process of creating its own digital archive.

Problematical library use. How to cite Boston Public Library catalog entries with the URL.

theszak — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:12:38 +0000

Boston Public Library President Bernard A. Margolis
Massachusetts
http://bpl.org/general/seniorstaff.htm

Dear Bernard A. Margolis,

Problematical library use.
Please arrange it so that permanent URLs for entries in the BPL catalog at http://bpl.org
can be referred to for letting other library users/customers/consumers
know about a book's catalog entry.

by Katie Hafner. by Beth Ashmore.

theszak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:31:22 +0000

Several major research libraries have rebuffed offers from Google and Microsoft to scan their books into computer databases, saying they are put off by restrictions these companies want to place on the new digital collections.

[ photo by Robert Spencer ]
Bernard Margolis, president of The Boston Public Library.

The research libraries, including a large consortium in the Boston area, are instead signing on with the Open Content Alliance, a nonprofit effort aimed at making their materials broadly available.

by Katie Hafner
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/technology/22library.html

How will Massachusetts keep creative skilled leadership for our libraries?...

theszak — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:17:50 +0000

For Bernard Margolis the predicament of the lib is also an opportunity to go on to a better more inspired library environment. We can only hope Massachusetts can find a way to keep this creative talented skilled BPL President.

The kind of leadership City of Boston officials get are are of lesser creativity, talent and skill who can go along with this wrongheaded machine of municipal government.

bostonmagazine.com/blogs/boston/...belichicks-playbook/