Boston Public Library Board of Trustees Annual Meeting

Evelyn Arana, Interim Chair

A. Welcome remarks/Acknowledge EDI statement

B. Roll Call of Board

C. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of March 24, 2026

David Leonard, President

A. Executive Summary of Accomplishments and Goals 2025-2026

B. Strategic Plan–Update

C. Key Operational Updates

Evelyn Arana , Interim Chair and Committee Chair

A. Mayor Wu’s FY27 Recommended Operation and Capital Budgets Executive Summary

VOTED: “that, the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston approve to accept Mayor Michelle Wu’s FY27 Recommended Operating and Capital Budget.”

B. Award of  Annual Contracts

(May be Taken as a Full Slate if there are no objections for topics B 1&2, D, E)

1. Contract or Contracts for Various Goods or Services relating to the Critical Repair Operating Budget for FY27

VOTED: “that, the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston authorize the President, or designee, on behalf of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston, to enter into a contract or contracts for various goods or services relating to the Boston Public Library Critical Repair Budget for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 provided that each contract entered into pursuant to this authorization shall have been estimated to be less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).  In no event will the contracts cumulatively exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00).”

2. Contract for the Purchase of Books and Certain Other Library Bibliographical Acquisitions Materials

VOTED: “that, the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston enter into a non-advertised contract, as authorized under G.L., c.30-B, Section 7(a), referred to as a “Procurement of Library Books,” between the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the Acts of 1878), and the vendors listed therein (including any subsidiaries or agents), for the acquisitions of books and for certain other library bibliographical acquisitions materials, in an amount not to exceed the amount appropriated in the Library Department budget for books and other related bibliographical acquisitions materials, during the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.”

C. Trustees Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Advisory Committee/Trust Fund FY27 Expenditure (Estimated)

VOTED: “that, the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston approve the estimated expenditure from the Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Eight Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Five Dollars and Eleven Cents ($108,335.11) to support the Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund Programmatic Plan for FY27 as recommended by the Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Advisory Committee and to be presented at an upcoming meeting.”

D. Review of delegation of certain contract approvals for the Board of Trustees

VOTED: “that, the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston delegate approval of any contract deemed to be of a critical nature by the President of the Library during the period between May 2026 and September 2026 to the Finance and Audit Committee.”

A. City Council Ways & Means Hearing at 2:00-5:00pm at Boston City Hall, City Council Chambers

*Members of the public may sign up for public comment in-person or via chat on Zoom by 9am. Participants will be called in the order they were received. Each person will be allowed for up to two minutes to speak.  Public comments can also be emailed to the Clerk of the Board up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting. All comments and/or questions given at this time will be documented and/or answered accordingly later. (Comments left in the zoom chat will not be acknowledged)