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The awesomeness of the revived Johnson Wing at the Copley Square library
By adamg on Thu, 07/14/2016 - 9:22am
Alex Green can't say enough about the new non-dungeony insides:
A literary culture thrives on readers, and while our city has never lacked for those, it has gone long stretches with little in the way of public spaces in which they might feel inspired to gather. The Boston Public Library’s newly renovated Johnson building, which opened on July 9, so successfully embraces and celebrates the idea of being a literary public space that it has the potential to fill that absence for good.
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Comments
Customers services. Staff Development programs.
The librarians at the New Books browsing "New & Novel" shelves on the 1st Floor couldn't find the Computer Related new books nor the Q Classification for new computer related books. Staff at desk by the Dartmouth Street entrance appeared not to know where things are located, misdirecting library users.
Why don't you...
...file a FOI Freedom of Information request?
They might have pulled in
They might have pulled in librarians from other branches to help staff the opening as well so this might not be their usual location. We do that when we have events and other large happenings to help provide coverage.
Guide to Problematical Library Use. Treasured BPLers' expertise.
Boston Public Library needs a Guide to Problematical Library Use with hints, tips, pointers from folks in the know. A list of treasured BPLers' specialties, enthusiasms, expertise with BPL Collections would be a good thing, kind of like the faculty pages on universities' and colleges' web sites.
"it has gone long stretches
"it has gone long stretches with little in the way of public spaces in which they might feel inspired to gather."
Copley Square is right across the street. It's big and grassy. Inspire and gather there.
But that big grassy area...
...looks a lot like a LAWN, and if people were to gather there, with your attitude I'm sure that you'd just bark them to get off it.
Yes, for those who want to
Yes, for those who want to hang out with the homeless and drug addicted, Copley Sq is a great spot to relax.
Humanizing Homelessness at the San Francisco Public Library
Juli Fraga
Humanizing Homelessness at the San Francisco Public Library
A social worker connects at-risk library patrons with resources and a chance to give back.
http://www.citylab.com/navigator/2016/03/humanizing-homelessness-at-the-...
Hey! Here is something positive happening in our city!
First post: "Yes, but...."
Always.
Unfinished
While the Johnson bldg has reopened, contruction is unfinished; you still cannot walk between the 2 buildings without going up to the second floor. On Tuesday construction noise was loud enough that I did not linger after picking up my reserves. Still working on the GBH studio, and were installing a stool-high countertop on the Boyslton sidewalk-which I would think will mitigate the "openess" effect of removing the barricades. You have to walk well into the building, almost to the reserve desk, to find the
Returns slot. Still, most changes I saw were for the better. The ultimate unanswered question is how will the McKim bldg spaces be better utilized as a result of the renovation?
The structure was so grim and uninviting
"The [original] structure was so grim and uninviting..."
If the brutalist Johnson building can be remedied perhaps there's hope one day for redemption of City Hall?
The Johnson Building isn't brutalist.
The Johnson Building isn't brutalist. Brutalism refers to the use of raw concrete (béton brut), the Johnson Building uses granite.
Fix up 3rd Floor of Dartmouth Street Library Building.
3rd Floor of the Dartmouth Street Boston Public Library Building needs fixing up on the South side of the building between the Fine Arts Department and the Galleries by the Stairs at the East side of the building. Design for our Library could be a design more welcoming for library users in the Fine Arts Department
http://www.bpl.org/central/plan.htm