Mayor, Steve Murphy get their wish: Library-trustee chairman resigns

BPL Board Chairman Jeffrey Rudman submitted his resignation today after a meeting with Mayor Walsh.

As with BPL President Amy Ryan, Rudman's resignation takes effect July 3.

Walsh has been critical of the way Ryan has run the library and has called for an audit of library holdings. Murphy issued a press release claiming lots of items have gone missing at the BPL less than an hour before the library announced a worker had found two missing prints misfiled at the Copley Square library. Murphy then postponed a hearing at which he said he would demand answers to where all the allegedly missing items had disappeared to.

In joint statements, Walsh praised Rudman, while Rudman praised fellow board members and Ryan.

Walsh:

I want to thank Jeff Rudman for his service to the Boston Public Library. We are fortunate to be home to one of the country's most renowned library systems and it's important that we maintain the highest standard for the residents of Boston. Using the audit as a guide, I look forward to working with the Library to strengthen our programs and services, especially in the neighborhoods, and the availability and security of our assets.

Rudman:

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served on the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees, and with such a thoughtful and engaging board, The Boston Public Library has prospered under the leadership of President Amy Ryan and my fellow Trustees. The people of Boston must remember that the Boston Public Library is the greatest library system in the country.

Mayor Menino appointed Rudman to the board of trustees in 2004; he became chairman in 2006.