BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Thursday, the Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library celebrated its reopening after over three years of closure due to a $14 million renovation.
The library reopened on Jan. 25 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Michelle Wu that afternoon.
People lined up around the corner from the library, located in Oak Square in Brighton, to celebrate the branch opening its doors back up to the public. They expressed their excitement and curiosity to see the updated version of the community’s public library
“Now that it is back, I honestly can’t wait to see what they’re going to do with the place,” one person at the reopening event told WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel.
Another person said with a laugh that the new library was a “very different vibe, just because the old one was so… old.”
Inside the newly refurbished library, visitors conveyed their impressions of the modernized space. “This is magnificent, lovely. I think from the outside it looks kind of old, but the inside is completely modern. I’m definitely excited to spend time here,” said one person at the reopening.
With tall ceilings, updated seating and wood accents, the renovated Faneuil Branch impressed many of the visitors on Thursday.
“I love the seating, I love the windows,” said another woman.
A different person observed that “the exterior is the exact same, but on the inside it’s like an entirely new building.”
The library’s updated design was based on feedback from the Brighton community. The renovation added almost 5,000 square feet to the space, which combines historical elements of the original 1931 Art Deco building along with practical needs for more space and functionality.
In a statement about the Faneuil Branch’s reopening, BPL President David Leonard said, "The reimagined Faneuil Branch in Oak Square not only breathes new life into this historic building, but also adds new services to better respond to the ever-evolving needs of our patrons.”
Mayor Wu said that the reopening of the Faneuil Branch "means a revitalized hub for the Brighton community," and that "our libraries throughout our city are symbols of our dedication to knowledge, inclusivity, and progress.”
The Faneuil Branch had been closed for over three years. The BPL announced the library’s closure and plans for its multimillion dollar renovation in November 2020.
At the time of the library’s closure in 2020, Former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh pointed to greater accessibility and community needs as the reasons behind the temporary closure. “The renovations to the Faneuil Branch will help make the branch more accessible and sustainable, while preserving the character of the space and addressing the needs of the Oak Square and wider Brighton community.”
Community members at the event on Thursday expressed what the library's reopening meant for the people of Brighton. “It’s a fantastic new opening of our local library. We haven’t had this library for a long time.”
WBZ's Chaiel Schaffel reports.
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