Report Questions Boston PL

Margolis says leaked study is wrong but agrees branches could close

By Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 4/15/2006

Is the Boston Public Library, the host library for the Public Library Association conference last month, lagging behind peer libraries? So said a preliminary version of a study commissioned by BPL and the City of Boston that was leaked to the Boston Globe and immediately challenged by BPL president Bernie Margolis.

The study noted that BPL has more books per resident compared with 77 other large systems, more branches per resident than most, and a higher budget per resident than all but two but observed that the library ranked 59 in circulation out of those 77 libraries.

Margolis responds

However, Margolis told LJ that data in the unfinished study cited by local Wellspring Consulting was a few years old. “This year we’re up eight percent in circulation over last year,” he said. He also pointed out that it’s hard to compare BPL to other large systems, since, unlike most, it maintains a reference and a research library.

He said the study misstated library hours but that BPL wanted to extend them anyway. Margolis did observe, as the study suggested, that BPL may have too many branches.

In a letter released on March 16, Margolis acknowledged a deficit: “Lastly, the Boston Public Library budgets no funds for marketing and promotion. We rely on community partners and the local media to assist us in our efforts to get the word out but are committed to doing more to publicize our offerings in the future.”

Indeed, results from the survey showed that nearly one-third of residents don’t use the library at all and that many have no knowledge of library services. The Globe opined, “Margolis offers a spirited defense.... But his enthusiasm for the libraries won’t resonate until more people know about the system’s offerings.” The newspaper also said the study should “deal in depth with the viability of [maintaining all] 27 branches.”