Heights branch on chopping block

The president of the Boston Public Library supports a plan that would shut down the Orient Heights branch and three others across the city to save $3.3 million. The other branches closed under one of the three plans the BPL trustees are considering are in Brighton, Dorchester and South Boston.

There are also two other plans, one closing seven branches and the other closing none, but cutting hours throughout the library system. Each proposal cuts the same number of jobs and saves the same amount of money. The trustees, the mayor and the city council would have to approve the changes, and the council sent to Ryan a letter signed by nine councilors -- including East Boston's Sal LaMattina -- who object to closing branches. The BPL trustees vote on the plans tomorrow.

Photo of the Heights branch from the BPL web site.