Health & Fitness
Why Do Public Libraries Need Friends?
The JP branch library is the 1st building ever built in Boston as a neighborhood library. But since opening in 1911 it has not had the renovations it needs.
The Boston Public Library is the first free, municipally-funded, circulating library in the country. Boston is an amazing pioneer in the public library world and has too many "firsts" in its history to list.
But one of those firsts is important to our neighborhood: the , that little old building on Sedgwick Street, is the first building the BPL ever built as a stand-alone branch. It is the first building constructed by the City to be a community library, to serve no other function - just be the JP library, plain and simple. The doors opened in 1911.
We just celebrated the centennial of the building in fine style. Check out the pictures from 1911 on the BPL's Flickr Stream.
Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Notice anything? Yup, those are the same tables and chairs. Much of the wiring and other infrastructure hasn't changed much either. This little gem of a building needs a serious overhaul. We want 21st century residents to have the amenities they need in a library, not to make due with what worked in the 1910s. By far the biggest issue is the lack of accessibility, only a third of the building is accessible, which is inexcusable so many years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.
Another first in the BPL system is the first Friends of the Library group - yes, you guessed it - Jamaica Plain! In April of 1952, the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library was formed. We will celebrate our 60th anniversary this spring. The Friends serve as a supplement to the City's budget by helping fund additions to the collections, programming and other purchases to make sure the library staff have what they need.
Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
And this spring, the Friends (official members) and friends - those who use and love libraries - are going to have to gear up to really support the JP Branch. Since 2004 the plans for renovating the library have been 'in the works'. The City's Capital Budget lists those renovations, but with a balance of $0 encumbered for actually doing the work. But for Fiscal Year 13 (which starts July 1) we need to let the Mayor and all our elected officials know that the JP Branch is FIRST in line for renovations.