There may be no institution in the city as diverse as the Boston Public Library, whose resources entice students, intellectuals, high culture types, the elderly, foreign language speakers, the homeless, and bookworms of all persuasions. Recently, though, the BPL has also been attracting some unwanted attention from Mayor Tom Menino.

Menino's administration has taken greater control over how the BPL uses money that has been donated to it by benefactors. According to the Globe, the library system has about 180 trust accounts valued around $54 million. Previously, the BPL would receive a lump sum of that money from the city to use at its discretion. Now, the city will have to approve the library's purchases before allowing money from the trusts.

The NY Times frames the problem nicely: "If this city is known for both intellectual heft and political blood sport, the Boston Public Library, one of its proudest institutions, aligns itself strictly with the former." Unfortunately for the BPL, it is also reliant on the city for $28 million of its $40 million dollar annual budget.

Though no allegations of misuse have been offered, the city says that the move will allow greater fiscal transparency, so that benefactors will know their money is being used properly. However, considering Menino recently sent the current BPL president packing, some view this as another pure power play from the mayor.

One large donor told the Globe, "[The BPL] is one of a handful of the greatest public institutions in America, but this mayor doesn't care. The treasures are phenomenal, and he's going to wreck it. He's got to be stopped."