Editing Boston Public Library (section)

===21st century===
{{As of|2006}}, the Library has had staffing and funding levels for conservation below that of its peers: the BPL's staff of two full-time conservators is significantly less than the thirty-five employed at the New York Public Library. Many colonial records and John Adams manuscripts are brittle, decaying, and so in need of attention that the Library's acting Keeper of Rare Books and Manuscripts said that "they are falling apart."<ref>{{cite news|last=MacQuarrie |first=Brian |title=Library lacks means to repair old tomes |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=2006-10-06 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/10/06/library_lacks_means_to_repair_old_tomes?mode=PF |access-date=2006-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322054913/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/10/06/library_lacks_means_to_repair_old_tomes?mode=PF |archive-date=March 22, 2007 }}</ref>

In 2011, the library completed a strategic plan, the BPL Compass, which featured eight community-identified "Principles for Excellence". The principles in the plan and all of the related outcomes were the result of a two-year community engagement process for which Boston Public Library received national recognition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Compass Strategic Plan|url=http://www.bpl.org/compass/strategic-plan/|publisher=BPL|access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, the city of Boston spent 1.26% ($27,836,648) of its budget on the library, or $43.74 per person.<ref>July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013; cf. {{cite web | url = http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/repmp12_report.pdf | title = FY2012 Municipal Pie Report | author = Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners | year = 2014 | access-date = 2014-06-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140728010916/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/repmp12_report.pdf# | archive-date = 2014-07-28 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 2013, the library unveiled its Collections of Distinction, an initial group of 18 collections that represent the most outstanding, expansive, and renowned of its holdings. Boston Public Library gives priority to Collections of Distinction with respect to public access, acquisition, digitization, preservation, and staff development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collections of Distinction|url=http://www.bpl.org/distinction/|publisher=BPL|access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref>

In fall 2013, the city, in coordination with the library, began a renovation of the Central Library's Johnson building.<ref name="bpl.org">{{cite web|title=BPL - Central Library Renovation Fact Sheet|url=http://www.bpl.org/compass/files/2013/12/BPL-central-library-renovation-fact-sheet-11.2013hr.pdf|access-date=2014-06-24}}</ref> In February 2015, the first phase of renovation opened on the Johnson building's second floor, including the new Children's Library, Teen Central, a community reading area, and the Adult Reference area. The renovated second floor cost a total of $18 million. The second phase of the Johnson building renovations opened in the summer 2016 and included the first floor, mezzanine, and exterior.<ref name="Cook">{{cite web|last = Cook|first = Greg| title = Research: First Look Inside The Boston Library's Astonishing, Colorful Renovation| url = http://artery.wbur.org/2015/02/21/boston-library-renovation| access-date = 26 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, the Boston Public Library received joint awards from both the [[American Institute of Architects]] (AIA) and the [[American Library Association]] (ALA) for the Central Library Renovation of its Johnson Building, and for the East Boston Branch.<ref>[https://www.bpl.org/news/mayor-walsh-announces-jamaica-plain-library-grand-opening-new-and-ongoing-capital-library-funding/ "Mayor Walsh Announces Jamaica Plain Library Grand Opening; New and Ongoing Capital Library Funding"], Press Release, Boston Public Library, May 1, 2017; access date 8 September 2019</ref>

In 2017, the library had 3,818,883 visitors to all locations; 4,933,786 items borrowed; and 9,839,461 visits to its website. The library also gained 82,911 new library card holders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bpl.org/general/about/stats.htm|title=BPL - BPL by the Numbers|website=www.bpl.org|access-date=2018-04-01|archive-date=2014-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202125225/http://www.bpl.org/general/about/stats.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2019, supporters of the library established a new philanthropic fund: The Fund for the Boston Public Library, announced by Mayor [[Marty Walsh]]. It began with a $2.8 million investment by "Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, State Street Foundation, Inc. and an anonymous donor."