MAYOR WALSH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATE OPENING OF CHINATOWN
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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 BOSTON - February 3,
2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and library community members today celebrated
the opening of Boston Public Library Chinatown at 2 Boylston Street in the
China Trade Center. The event marked the return of library services to the
neighborhood for the first time in more than 50 years, and a $1 million
investment in library services in Chinatown. Regular library hours will begin
on Monday, February 5, at 10 a.m.
"I'm so proud
that today fulfills our promise to the Chinatown community, and brings
library services back to this neighborhood for all to enjoy," said Mayor
Walsh. "So many Chinatown residents have waited decades for this day,
and the opening of this space marks our commitment to ensuring all
neighborhoods have the resources and support they need. I look forward to
residents benefitting from this space and services."
In his 2017 State of
City address, Mayor Walsh pledged to bring library services back to
Chinatown. The location will operate for three to five years while plans for long-term
library services in Chinatown are developed. Planning firm Miller Dyer Spears
worked with the Boston Public Library (BPL), the Mayor's Office of
Neighborhood Services and the community to develop long-term requirements for
a library services program in the neighborhood. Their completed planning
study is available here.
"BPL Chinatown
demonstrates our commitment to our communities and the importance of physical
libraries' presence throughout our city. Chinatown is a vibrant, evolving
neighborhood and Boston Public Library is eager to bring long-term services
to the neighborhood," said Boston Public Library President David
Leonard.
The BPL Chinatown
location represents an investment of almost $1 million in bringing library
services to Chinatown. BPL Chinatown includes bilingual staff, books,
newspapers, and periodicals in English and Mandarin, children's programming,
a 2,500 item collection, DVDs in English and Mandarin, holds pick-up,
immigration and citizenship information, laptops for in-library use, and
WiFi. Hours are Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. All
are welcome to utilize its services.
"Residents,
including youth, have worked for many years to return library service to
Chinatown," said Suzanne Lee, President Emeritus of the Chinese
Progressive Association. "We are happy this is finally a reality, and we
will continue to work toward a permanent solution."
The Boston Planning
& Development Agency (BPDA) owns the Chinatown Trade Center and served as
the project manager for the build-out of the temporary library services
space. In order to expedite the process to open BPL Chinatown, last year the
BPDA extended an existing contract with Bargmann Hendrie + Archtype Inc., the
architectural firm overseeing the BPDA's overall renovation of the China
Trade Center, to also include design and build- out supervision for the
library services. In July of 2017, the BPDA awarded the construction contract
to Northern Contracting Corporation, Inc.
In addition to housing
the new library services, the China Trade Center is also the home to several
non-profit agencies that provide essential services to Chinatown residents,
including the International Institute of New England and the Urban College of
Boston.
"Over the past
several years, the Boston Planning & Development Agency has worked to
bring providers and services to the China Trade Center that benefit the
people of Chinatown," said Brian Golden, Director of the BPDA.
"After many years without a library in Chinatown, we are pleased that
the Chinatown Trade Center can serve as the temporary home of BPL Chinatown
and look forward to working with BPL and the community to find a permanent
home for library services."
The opening of BPL
Chinatown highlights Mayor Walsh's commitment to investing in all Boston neighborhoods,
delivering exceptional city services. Nearly $14 million of library projects
expenditure are planned across the city in fiscal year 2018, and Mayor Martin
J. Walsh is investing $102 million in funding for library projects slated for
fiscal year 2019 - fiscal year 2022. The Adams Street, Dudley, Parker Hill,
Roslindale and Uphams Corner branches are currently in various stages of
planning and renovation. Most major renovations or new construction projects
undergo a programming, design, and construction phase, which always include
significant community engagement at each step to gain input, feedback, and
insight from users. More information on can be viewed online. (From Boston Mayor's office)
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