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DISTINCTIVE
ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Honan-Allston branch has 50,000 items for adults, teenagers and
children. There is a large literacy collection as well as more
than 100 newspapers and magazines. Listening and viewing stations
are available for customers to enjoy 3,000 compact discs, books on
tape, and videos.
RECURRING
PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Storytimes, film programs, book discussion groups, ESOL Conversation groups and computer
instruction are among the programs offered.
SPECIAL
PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Lecture programs, summer reading programs and art exhibits are just some of the special
programming available. Contact the staff for more information.
TECHNOLOGY OFFERED
Computers for the public to use for office software, library catalogs
and databases and the Internet are available to children and adults
in computer stations throughout the branch.
COMMUNITY
SPACE
A large function room for exhibits and events, a private study room
for small groups and a conference room for meetings and activities
are all offered at the branch. All of the meeting rooms are
wired for cable in Internet access. An exhibit hall and gallery
hold public art and informational exhibits. The branch also has a Yamaha baby grand piano.
ART
Folktales from Around the World is a quilt created by 3rd
and 4th grade students from the Thomas Gardner School in Allston,
artist Clara Winwright and the DeCordova Museum.
Alphabet Mural by the Collaborative Tiles & Mural Workshop is a mural made up of 30 one-foot square tiles, each of a different letter of the alphabet, plus 4 “decorative” tiles. The tiles were created by workshop participants under the instruction of Wasma’a Chorbachi who teaches in the Harvard Univ. ceramics program. The class then donated the tiles to the library.
HISTORY
Allston's library service began in 1889 in a delivery station in
Frank Howe's drugstore at 26 Franklin Street. Horse-drawn
carriages delivered books from other branch libraries to local businesses
that displayed the books for their customers. The demand for
books increased as the delivery station grew, and volunteers organized
expanded library services. In 1905, the Allston Reading Room
at 354 Cambridge Street replaced the 16 year-old delivery station.
A BPL librarian staffed the reading room. It became a full-service
branch of the Boston Public Library in 1924.
The branch moved
to rented space at 161 Harvard Avenue in 1929, and in 1979 celebrated
its 90th anniversary of service to the residents of Allston.
In 1981, amid statewide budget cuts, the Allston branch was closed.
Neighborhood groups lobbied for a reinstatement of library
service. In 1993 Mayor Thomas M. Menino promised a new branch
for Allston. On January 19, 2000 ground was broken for the
Allston Branch Library. Designed by Machado & Silvetti
Associates, Inc., an international architectural firm, the branch
officially opened for business on Saturday, June 16, 2001. On March
13, 2003 the branch was renamed the Honan-Allston branch in honor
of the late City Councilor Brian Honan.
In 2006, tree guards and bicycle racks designed by sculptor Rich Duca were added to the property, adding beauty and utility to the site.
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"These designs reflect a harmonious, quiet and non-intrusive approach to the busy streetscape of the Honan-Allston Library. I tried to create functional designs that would serve as aesthetic focal points around the delicate honey locust trees and welcome, or channel, patron use. I developed abstract and subtle forms to fuse the architecture, landscape architecture and artistic ornamentation with a new kind of energy and meaning for the community. The free-standing bicycle sculpture racks invite neighbors to dust off their bikes and visit their local library – they no longer have to take the subway into the City! While libraries are the heart and soul of communities here and now, they also have a long term impact on current and future populations and provide an oasis from the complexities and commercialism of modern life. Therefore, I was concerned to create timeless forms that will not become dated, or outdated, with the passage of time. These abstract images have layers of symbolic meanings, significant to the site. The people who use them or simply pass by are encouraged to find a deepened comprehension of meaning." - Rich Duca, Sculptor
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