By Rowan Walrath, city editor
The Boston Public Library (BPL) unveiled Phase One of the Central Library Renovation, opening the second floor of the Johnson building to the public.
A new nonfiction section, defined by its crimson carpets and shelves, comprises most of the floor. A brightly colored new children’s room stands across from it, colorful houses reminiscent of Back Bay’s brownstones lining its back wall, culturally diverse books resting in the branches of a tree mural, books flying from the ceiling like birds and icy lion cubs crouching atop shelves. In the corner is Teen Central, boasting restaurant-style booths, couches and armchairs in addition to a digital lab with software-loaded computers and a 3-D printer.
“The real star of that first phase is the children’s library,” David Leonard, the library’s director of administration and technology, said. “Kids of all ages, they see that second floor and rush into the library.”
According to Leonard, who has overseen the entire renovation, the children’s room was designed with the stages of literary development in mind. The 8,500-square-foot floor is mapped out so that there are individual programs within the children’s library from preschool to a tween space. In fact, Leonard said, the BPL is one of the first libraries in the US to have a tween area.
Placed around the room are colorful lion cubs that look like they could be ice sculptures. They act as younger siblings to the twin lions that guard the McKim building’s main entrance facing Copley Square.
“What we were able to do for the children’s library was have lion cubs near the entrance,” Leonard said. “It’s a subtle … nod to traditional library structure.”
The lions were designed by 42 Design Fab Studio, based in Springfield, and were funded by an anonymous donor. Beneath each cub is a book whose spine reads “A Gift to the Children of Boston.”
Marney Cherry, 70, from Toronto, attended the second floor’s grand opening with her two grandchildren, ages 2 and 4. The opening included a musical performance and a contest to name the lions, which is ongoing.
“Lots of people [were] here,” Cherry said of the event. “We thought we were just going to the books and the play area, and there was singing. The lady had a good voice.”
One young girl who was at the library with her mother on Saturday was particularly pleased by a rendition of Curious George on the wall. As soon as her mother set her down, her face broke into a grin and she waddled over to greet the mischievous monkey.
“That’s a particularly strong interest,” Leonard said. “To have that picture of Curious George on the wall of the children’s room was a real win for us.”
Library patrons who have aged beyond the children’s room can hang out and work in Teen Central, a space intended to incorporate traditional books with digital information and creative opportunities.
“From a design point of view, we were going for a slightly more industrial or retro feel,” Leonard said. “We left plenty of flexibility for the teens to have a space that they could make into their own.”
At the back of the area in a separate room is a digital lab, equipped with computers pre-loaded with software that allows users to design and create drawings, comics and anime, according to Leonard. The lab caters to digital creators as well as consumers.
“We are in the process of hiring a tech coordinator,” Leonard said. “We’ll be having our own staff facilitate sessions around those programs.”
The BPL may bring in outside digital experts for these sessions as well, he said.
The remainder of the Johnson building’s second floor is the nonfiction section, home to around 200,000 books.
“The layout is designed to make browsing the shelves much easier,” Leonard said.
At the ends of several rows are digital screens that serve as a reminder of the extent of the library’s collection, according to Leonard. Additionally, there is a new reading area overlooking Boylston Street.
While the second-floor renovation was underway, many collections were forced into the McKim building or storage. Now, Leonard said, every piece will have a full presence again.
Cedric Mendez, a 17-year-old student at John D. O’Bryant High School, was studying in the nonfiction section for the first time since the second floor’s grand re-opening. He said that he likes to come to the library on weekends for the invaluable study materials it provides for free.
“I’m studying AP calculus so I can get more information on how integrals work,” Mendez said, flipping back and forth between two exam preparation tomes. “I’m spending 25 minutes on one book and 25 minutes on the other, and then I’ll decide which one to take home.”
Leonard is thrilled about how well Phase One of the Central Library renovation has gone. Phase Two, slated to open to the public in summer 2016, will have updated collections, an improved connection between the Johnson and MicKim buildings, a community learning center, updated lecture halls and digital labs and an improved façade and landscaping to make the library appear more welcoming.
“The interesting thing about the renovation project is that we’ve stayed open to the public throughout the renovation,” Leonard said. “People have had a positive reaction to Phase One, so that’s made it worth all the while.”
Photo by Scotty Schenck
Correction: A previous version of this story referred to the Central Library as the Central Branch. The Copley Square location is the Central Library, while the BPL has 24 neighborhood branches.
