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Back to the drawing board for BPL after trustees' choice for new president declines job offer
By adamg on Fri, 06/10/2016 - 2:08pm
Jill Bourne, San Jose city librarian, has declined the Boston Public Library's offer to become its new president for "personal reasons," BPL announced today.
BPL trustees will meet Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in at the Copley Square main library to figure out what to do. One option would be to offer the job to interim President David Leonard, who was actually their second choice when they picked Bourne last month.
BPL provided a statement from Bourne:
I am extremely honored to have been offered the position of President of the Boston Public Library. The institution, staff, and community support all attracted me to this position, as much as the city, its leadership, and the exciting things that are happening there,” said Jill Bourne, City Librarian for San Jose. “However, I have made the decision to withdraw my candidacy for personal reasons that were not anticipated while I participated in this process. This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and I greatly appreciate the patience and support of the Mayor’s office, the BPL Board of Trustees, and others. While I cannot accept this opportunity, I am fortunate to stay in San José with a wonderful staff, colleagues, and community.
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Comments
It would have been nice to
It would have been nice to see actual librarian become leader of the library system. Too bad it fell through.
Especially this actual librarian
Sigh....
Another opportunity lost on becoming a world class city
The perfect candidate who is not from Boston and would have brought new, fresh ideas.
We missed an opportunity during the last Mayoral election and now this.
but keep your head up...we will get there.
During the last mayoral election?
You do know that all of the mayoral candidates were from Boston, with the 2 finalists being lifelong residents, no?
The fact that city is
The fact that city is announcing this on a Friday afternoon suggests that there's more to the story.
BPL. Treasured Librarians, Curators, Archivists past and present
Forthcoming re: Boston Public Library... a compilation of listings/specialties/expertise of treasured Librarians, Curators, Archivists, Records Managers, Enthusiasts past and present with Boston Public Library Collections and New York Public Library Collections
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/4npdxn/forthcoming_re_boston_pu...
Buy Locally
Is there not, with our many great libraries in Boston and the immediate neighboring towns, someone who could take the job without having to relocate?
Wouldn't they still have to
Wouldn't they still have to deal with the residency requirements for city jobs?
The city only requires you be
The city only requires you be a resident of the city on your first day of employment. I doubt this would be an issue for a position such as this.
Nope
Non union employees must submit proof of residency annually. Unions has a ten year residency requirement.
Double nope
It's pretty clear the parent post was simply pointing out that you do not need Boston residency to apply for the job or be considered for the job or be offered the job or accept the job offer. You have until the first day or work to establish residency.
Other Staff at BPL. Other library & information studies programs
Our Boston Public Library would do well to consider Candidates for the other BPL Librarians from the other Library and Information Studies Programs at other universities, for example University at Albany Information Studies
http://www.albany.edu/informationstudies/
or University of Rhode Island Library and Information Studies
http://harrington.uri.edu/graduate/library-information-studies/
Deficient Library and Information Science Programs at local Simmons College fail to emphasize up to date policy and governmental aspects of the profession that are needed in day to day practice. The Case Study Method of Harvard Business School developed for library professionals at U. Albany to study policy and governmental aspects of library and information practice is a model adopted by the better library and information studies programs. Copyright, Fair Use, FOI Freedom of Information Public Records, Sunshine Open Government policies and practices need amending.
University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University could develop library and information studies programs that are affordable for planning careers in public libraries. Simmons tuition isn't affordable and lacks appropriate balanced financial aid for planning careers in public libraries.
Between the Lines....
San Jose system made a better counter-offer? The Herald writes that they "fought hard" to keep her. Regarding the Tuesday BPL meeting:
New Head for Cambridge Public Library...
page 66 at
https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1470&Inlin...
June 6, 2016
To the Honorable, the City Council:
I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Maria Taesil Hudson Carpenter as Director of Libraries, effective August 23, 2016.
Ms. Carpenter has served as Director of Libraries for the City of Santa Monica since 2014.
Maria began her library career 17 years ago at the Cambridge Public Library as a Senior Substitute in Circulation Services and as a Reference Librarian II.
Over the course of her career, she worked in numerous library positions at Northeastern University in Boston and prior to moving to Santa Monica she served as the Director of Libraries for the City of Somerville and was active in the Minuteman Library Network.
In her director’s role in Santa Monica, Maria oversaw a $12.7M budget, capital improvement and technology projects, five branches, and 200 full-time and part-time staff.
Additionally, she worked closely with the Library Board, Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library, and the Library Foundation of Santa Monica.
Her interests and experience are wide ranging: fostering early literacy and computer literacy; working with dual language learners, low-income populations and teens; and ensuring new immigrants receive the assistance needed for navigating the system.
Maria has the knowledge, abilities, and energy to be a great leader for the Cambridge Public Library.
Maria received a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is a PhD Candidate (expected 2016) at Simmons College.
Please join me in congratulating Maria Taesil Hudson Carpenter on her appointment as Director of Libraries.
Very truly yours,
Richard C. Rossi, City Manager
RCR/mec
[2.26]
[Packet Pg. 66]
City of Cambridge
Executive Department
Richard C. Rossi, City Manager
Lisa C. Peterson, Deputy City Manager
[City Seal. Gothic Revival Gore Hall Harvard Library building. Washington Elm.]
https://www.cambridgema.gov/historic/aboutchc/faqpage
[Distinguished for Classical Learning and New Institutions]
[Built in A.D.1630. Chartered a city in A.D.1846]
LITERIS ANTIQVIS NOVIS INSTITVTIS DECORA
CANTABRIGIA
CONDITA A.D.1630
CIVICO RECIMINE DONATA A.D.1846
page 66 at
https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1470&Inlin...
She read Usenet
She caught up on some of Don's past posts lambasting of the BPL. LOL! :-)