Arthur Curley, who directed the Boston Public Library through a period of funding cuts and oversaw plans for the renovation of the main library in Copley Square, died March 31 after a prolonged bout with cancer. He was 60.
Prior to his BPL tenure in 1985–1996, he served as deputy director of the New York Public Library Research Libraries in 1980-1985 and deputy director of public services at Detroit Public Library in 1977–1980. He also was president of the American Library Association in 1994–1995.
Eric Moon, retired president of Scarecrow Press, said that Curley "understood that libraries were a strong cultural and social force, and he wanted to convey that not only to nonusers but to members of our profession who frequently don't understand that themselves or at least don't act upon it."
Posted April 6, 1998.