Report: Libraries With Affordable Housing Could Solve Two Problems at Once, Boston Public Library President David Leonard Interviewed on Public Radio

From GBH Radio:

For David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library, it’s all about addition. When you combine desirable things, like affordable housing and well-maintained public libraries, the sum is better than its parts.

Leonard appeared on Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to discuss a new initiative to add affordable housing in several library branches across Boston.

The West End and Upham’s corner branches will receive renovations and affordable housing units. A community-picked developer was recently awarded the Upham’s Corner project on April 13, and Leonard is optimistic the West End development will be approved soon. A third, brand new library will be built in Chinatown, which hasn’t had its own branch since the 1950s, said Leonard.

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Boston will become just the fourth city in the United States to co-locate public libraries and affordable housing. New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago have already implemented similar programs that Boston can model.

“We love to be first in Boston … but in this case we can certainly benefit from learning from our colleagues across the country,” Leonard said.

Learn More & Listen to the 10:35 Radio Interview

Filed under: Interviews, Libraries, News, Profiles, Public Libraries