Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci signed a bill August 30 granting the Boston Public Library $15 million to help improve the main library and replace materials lost in a 1998 flood.
BPL President Bernard Margolis joined the governor and other legislative leaders at a signing ceremony at the 104-year-old McKim Building, which is in the midst of a $52-million renovation, the Boston Globe reported August 31. Planned improvements include more computers, air conditioning, and wiring for the Internet.
The BPL grant, along with $45 million for 22 other Massachusetts libraries, narrowly escaped Cellucci’s earlier threats to veto millions of dollars for what he considered excessive local projects, according to the August 30 Boston Herald.
The August 16, 1998, flood—deemed the worst disaster in the library’s history—was caused by a broken water main that sent thousands of gallons of water into the library basement, damaging or destroying thousands of books, maps, recordings, documents, and microfiche.
Posted September 6, 1999.