Libraries, digital & civic life
Consistent priorityLibraries, internet and device access, lending programs, civic education and neighbor-connecting community efforts.
Residents ask for free internet, digital skills training, borrowable items and stronger library access, along with places and programs that connect neighbors and teach civics.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
180 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 58 | 4.8% | 10 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 54 | 4.5% | 9 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 68 | 5.1% | 8 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Free public Wi-Fi and internet access
Residents repeatedly ask for free Wi-Fi in community centers, parks, transit areas and underserved neighborhoods so people who can't afford data or home internet can learn, work and get services.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Lending libraries for tools and everyday items
Residents want free borrowing of costly, rarely used items such as tools, equipment and tech, through the library or neighborhood lending sites.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Digital literacy and computer training
Residents ask for free computer and smartphone classes, with seniors, low-income residents and non-English speakers named often, and for access to devices.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More library access, funding and reach
Residents ask for more library funding, longer or Sunday hours, more branch programming, and mobile or pop-up library services for areas far from a branch.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Civic education and neighbor-connecting spaces
Residents want civics lessons for kids and adults, and low-cost places and events where neighbors and community groups can meet and learn from one another.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Internet access in community centers and citywide, tool and item lending, and library-based programming and classes stood out, along with requests for apps and offices that point residents to services.
2025–26
Sunday library hours, pilot Wi-Fi stations, computer classes for Chinatown seniors, and financial-education workshops in libraries and community centers were prominent, along with many ideas for shared community space.
2026–27
Repeated requests for senior tech training, tool lending, mobile library and bookmobile ideas, free Wi-Fi in underserved areas, and more funding for community nonprofits stood out in the largest set of ideas.
New in 2026–27
Growing or new asks include borrowable Wi-Fi hotspots, laptops and outdoor gear in lockboxes, library recording booths and seed libraries, makerspaces, city-run AI tools, and more grant funding for community nonprofits.
Funding so far
No winning projects funded by resident vote relate to this theme, so every recurring ask (free Wi-Fi, digital training, lending libraries, library access and hours, civic education and community space) remains unaddressed through voting.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Public Library
- Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Libraries, digital & civic life
180 ideas
2024–25: 58 · 2025–26: 54 · 2026–27: 68
- Boston Public Library bookmobileResident asks for a BPL bookmobile vehicle so staff can bring library services to more parts of the city and underresourced communities.2026–27City-wide
- Year-round neighborhood volunteer corpsCreate structure and support for a year-round local volunteer corps with multigenerational neighbor groups, holding regular gatherings so residents can get to know each other and help one another.2026–27City-wide
- Community gathering space at Arborway bus yardThe resident asks that community land at the Arborway bus yard become a gathering space with a plaza, fab lab, auditorium, gallery, startup spaces and food, since JP lacks a large venue.2026–27Downtown
- Interactive learning installations in public spacesThe resident asks for more interactive, multigenerational learning spaces like Playful Learning Landscapes, such as puzzles or hopscotch at bus stops, so all residents can access enrichment.2026–27City-wide
- Phone-based community polling on city decisionsThe resident proposes a community poll process supervised through phone systems to shift decision-making power to residents on issues like safety, housing, health care and education.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Free study spaces with Wi-Fi and computersResident proposes converting underused park or community center space into study spaces with solar charging, free computers, desks and fast Wi-Fi for students and workers lacking quiet space at home.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- City-run free open-source AI serviceResident proposes a city-run portal offering free open-source AI tools on city-owned servers, so lower-income residents are not priced out and personal data is not harvested by big tech.2026–27City-wide
- Invasive species mapping in BOS:311 appResident asks for a BOS:311 feature to report and map invasive species, with possible volunteer removal crews, to help low-income homeowners affected by plants like Japanese knotweed.2026–27City-wide
- Permanent seed library for vegetables and native plantsResident requests a permanent seed library for vegetable or native plants so residents can grow plants regardless of how much space they have.2026–27City-wide
- Adequate funding for libraries and museumsResident asks that libraries and museums be funded more adequately because they are a lifeblood of the community and include everyone.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Community organization to help Allston and BrightonResident would like a large community group or nonprofit to help the Allston and Brighton community.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Portuguese
- Public plant genetics labsResident asks for more publicly accessible labs to study plant genetics so people can create and develop.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Regional leadership academy for Greater Roxbury residentsResident asks for a leadership academy taught by civic leaders to teach Greater Roxbury residents about local government and raise low voter turnout.2026–27Roxbury
- Civic engagement workshops with schools and youth groupsResident asks city staff to run civic engagement workshops with schools, libraries and youth organizations, because history classes alone do not teach how local, state and federal government work.2026–27City-wide
- Audio recording booths in library branchesThe resident asks for soundproofed recording booths with production equipment in libraries so aspiring podcasters and musicians without studio access can create.2026–27City-wide
- Fix North End library bathroom and upkeepThe resident says the North End library is less maintained than the Copley library and asks for the bathroom to be fixed and improvements made to attract more visitors.2026–27Downtown
- Better Wi-Fi at BHAAsks for improved Wi-Fi at Boston Housing Authority properties.2026–27City-wide
- More city funding for community nonprofitsAsks the city to provide more money to nonprofits and community organizations.2026–27City-wide
- Neighborhood-to-neighborhood discussions hosted by library branchesProposes ongoing online discussions among Boston's 23 neighborhoods, hosted by BPL branches with immersive video and themed stage sets, to bridge divisions and strengthen civic democracy.2026–27City-wide
- Mobile library for underserved neighborhoodsResident proposes mobile libraries, like food trucks, carrying books and digital tools to underserved neighborhoods so youth can access reading, learning and technology.2026–27City-wide