BOSTON — Great news for the 50,000 residents of the South End: Boston City Council has officially urged the city to reopen their neighborhood library.

The South End Branch of the Boston Public Library has been closed since April 2021 due to flooding. A full reopening isn't expected until 2027. That's six years without a library, for those keeping score at home.

But the Council has not been idle.

What the Council's been up to

While South End residents were schlepping to other branches to check out books, Boston City Council was hard at work on the issues that matter:

Gaza ceasefire resolution — Called for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine" (passed 11-2)

Protesters at the Gaza border. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Transgender sanctuary city — Declared Boston a sanctuary city for transgender and LGBTQIA2S+ residents, pledging not to cooperate with federal policies (passed 12-1)

Boston City Councilors announce the transgender sanctuary city resolution. Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune (nameplate visible) was among those who voted in favor.

Condemned ICE killings — Adopted an emergency resolution condemning "unlawful killings by federal ICE agents" in Minneapolis

Haiti TPS — Strongly condemned the federal decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

More Haiti TPS — Backed Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's discharge petition for Haiti TPS legislation

Nuclear disarmament — Weighed in on the 13,100 nuclear warheads that exist worldwide

Ramadan wishes — Sent heartfelt wishes to the Muslim community

Lunar New Year — Honored the city's AAPI communities

All very important stuff.

Meanwhile, at the library

The South End Branch wasn't just any library. Before it closed, it offered:

• Children's programming and early literacy
• Homework help
• ESOL classes for immigrants
• Computer access
• Workforce development
• Free community meeting space

The Council's own resolution admits the closure "disproportionately impacted children, families, seniors, immigrants, and low-income residents."

In the meantime, the building has found a new use:

The South End library has become an unofficial homeless shelter. Photo: Mass Daily News

The solution

After four years, the Council has sprung into action with a resolution that "urges" the city to:

• Reopen the branch "as soon as possible"
• Speed up the 2027 timeline
• Provide temporary services in the meantime

Urgent stuff. Really putting their foot down.

The bottom line

South End residents can rest easy knowing their elected officials have strong opinions on Gaza, Haiti, nuclear weapons, and federal immigration enforcement.

As for the library? They're working on it.