Emulsion Mike was walking through Copley Square last night when he noticed that the statue of Art outside the main library had a new sign (with several similar signs at her base).

WFXT reports BPL librarians are planning a "unity gathering" to support children's librarians at the Copley Square and Hyde Park libraries who have had to deal with wide-mouthed adults who insist they and their spawn have the right to breathe at other patrons in the children's room.

And they videoed themselves giving no shits whatsoever about kids or parents who might have reasons not to want to be exposed to their breath in the middle of a pandemic. Read more.

Update: Reports coming in that the libraries are already out.

The Boston Public Health Service has started distributing the test kits - which have two tests apiece - at several BPL branches and community centers. Complete list.

Boston Police report arresting a man they say broke into the Boston Public Library's Connolly branch at 433 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain around 12:30 a.m. Read more.

The Boston Public Library reported today it's restored WiFi and that employees are beginning to input all of the book checkouts they'd had to record by hand since somebody knocked many of their systems offline last week. Read more.

Update: BPL blames hackers.

Greg Cook reports the Boston Public Library has been offline for two days now due to an unspecified "system wide technical outage."

Fortunately, BPL says, the outage hasn't affected doors, so all branches remain open with AC running, at least during regular hours.

The BPDA board agreed today to let developers of a proposed residential and hotel building on Tremont Street in Chinatown eliminate space for the long awaited BPL Chinatown branch because of funding complications caused by Covid-19. Read more.

The mayor's office announced today that a continuing decline in Boston Covid-19 rates and hospitalization means both city libraries and community centers will be able to offer additional in-person services starting next month, although an announcement from City Hall said we'll have to wait for details. Read more.

The Beacon Hill Times reports the city is looking at updating the Cambridge Street library and that part of the study includes adding housing units to the site. At a meeting last week, residents asked that whatever the final plans, they should keep the library's unique hexagonal reading room.