The Boston Public Library (BPL) has received a $500,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of the foundation’s Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative.
The grant, made through the Boston Public Library Fund, places the BPL “among a select group of public libraries in the US recognised for innovative approaches to help deliver critical services that promote socioeconomic mobility,” it said in a press statement.
With this grant, the BPL will expand its English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Workforce Initiative to address the growing population of patrons seeking both English-language learning and employment support. Specific activities include:
- Hiring a bilingual workforce skills specialist to work directly with patrons at all BPL locations, and to develop workforce-oriented ESOL courses.
- Expanding career counselling services to immigrant communities, including resume building and job search strategies.
- Strengthening partnerships with community-based organisations, employers, unions, and training providers to connect patrons with job opportunities across Boston.
“We are honoured to receive this generous support from Carnegie Corporation and to be recognised alongside leading libraries across the country,” said David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library. “This award affirms the essential role public libraries play in expanding opportunity and fostering inclusion. Libraries are trusted public institutions and Carnegie’s investment strengthens our ability to meet people where they are and help them fully participate in civic life.”
The BPL offers Boston’s only year-round, 100% free ESOL programme with open enrolment. This accessibility has led to a surge in attendance, rising from 4,800 in 2022 to nearly 15,000 in 2024. As Massachusetts faces both a growing labour shortage and an increasingly multilingual population, Carnegie’s grant will expand the library’s capacity to meet this demand ensuring that all residents—regardless of language background—can access the tools they need to succeed, it said.
“Learning English is just the beginning,” said Jessica Elias, manager of community learning. “This grant allows us to go further—to help patrons connect the dots between language learning and meaningful employment. We’re so grateful to Carnegie Corporation for making this possible to more patrons.”
This expansion means more patrons like Mireille can take advantage of the library’s resources. A recent immigrant, Mireille discovered the BPL while searching online. “I saw the English classes,” she said. “I saw they also had help for jobs. It felt like I could go to one place and know what to do next.” With the BPL’s wraparound services, she found a job and began building a new life.
“At the BPL, we take a case management approach,” said Lauren Butler, BPL career counsellor. “We meet each patron where they are, whether that’s learning English, working on their resume, or navigating the job market for the first time. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Our goal is to help every jobseeker find a meaningful path forward.”
The BPL is one of just eleven public library systems selected from over 1,400 applicants through Carnegie Corporation’s competitive Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative, a national effort to support libraries as trusted public institutions that help reduce political polarisation. “Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders upon which anyone and everyone could rise, and that belief continues to guide us,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie. “At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.”
CREDIT: Boston Public Library
