The Boston Public Library's Jamaica Plain branch will soon dedicate its children's room to the late Barbara Rhodes, a beloved librarian who devoted three decades to servicing the community's youngest readers. Rhodes, who passed away on May 21, 2024, at the age of 68, was known for her unwavering dedication to the enlightenment of children through literature and her expansive outreach to marginalized populations within the Jamaica Plain community.
Rhodes's tireless efforts during her career culminated in the push for the renaming of the children's room in her honor, an initiative unanimously supported by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library on May 16, 2024, just days before her death. Throughout her tenure, Rhodes made it her life's mission not merely to introduce books to children, but to foster a lasting relationship between young minds and the world of storytelling, particularly emphasizing inclusion for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Rhodes, while in hospice care, was unaware of the council's support for the honor, which brings a touching note to the story of her legacy.
Renowned for introducing programs such as Kids Club and creating crafts-to-go kits during the COVID-19 pandemic's library closures, according to an announcement by the City of Boston, Rhodes's influence extended beyond the walls of the library. Her engagement initiatives included bringing social justice groups like Wee the People to the library, enriching the lives of the children and the community as a whole.
A key player in local literacy efforts, Rhodes also served as a founding Advisory Member of JP Reads, an initiative designed to encourage communal connection through literature. Her leadership in this program alone resulted in all of the children's programming for JP Reads, while simultaneously enlisting the support of fellow librarians. Acknowledging her contributions, Rhodes received the 2023 Shattuck Public Service Award from the city, celebrating her legacy of service that improved the lives of countless children throughout Boston.
To memorialize her impact on the community, the Council has now adopted a resolution, backing the initiative put forth by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library to change the name of the children's room to the Barbara Rhodes Children’s Room. This gesture of renaming signifies the indelible mark left by Rhodes on the literary and cultural landscape of the community, ensuring her work continues to inspire future generations.
