Visitors from near and far descended on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Dorchester last Wednesday (Feb. 19) when it reopened after an abrupt closure the day before amid a series of layoffs triggered by a White House executive order that impacted five library staff members. The sudden shutdown was roundly condemned by local leaders.

Library officials referred questions about the decision to the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency that employs some of the library’s staff.

Laura and Chris Mehl, a retired couple from Hyde Park, were among those who made it a point to visit the presidential museum last week. 

“We had a list of museums because we are retired and this is first on the list,” said Laura. “We decided we were going to come here first and then this happened (the closing) and we said tomorrow’s the day.”

Like many others, she was angered by the sudden closure and fearful that more would follow. “It’s indicative of everything going on,” she said. Added her husband: “It’s all chaos and nihilism. A nihilist burns everything down to gain control of it.”
Emily VanHeukelom from Chelsea shared in the disappointment.

“I grew up going to programs here,” said VanHeukelom. “All libraries are very important. Places should not be closed arbitrarily; this is our public space. To have things shut down for no good reason is scary.”

Unlike the Mehls, VanHeukelom’s trip to the museum wasn’t a last-minute decision. Instead, she had registered her four-year-old son Henry to watch the Okra Dance Company perform Dancing Journey of Africans in America, a storyteller event for kids that is part of the library’s ongoing Celebrate! series.

Manikka Bowman of Cambridge and her five-year-old daughter Zyla also attended the event.

Regularly scheduled programs continued following the reopening of the Library. Last week, visitors were invited to watch the Okra Dance Company perform “Dancing Journey Of Africans in America.” Cassidy McNeeley photos

“It’s a really good program geared toward young children that exposes them to the museum,” said Bowman. “I have an eleven-year-old. I’ve been bringing my children here since she was three, so we consistently come.”

Like VanHeukelom, Bowman registered for the event well in advance and was worried it would not happen.

“It’s disappointing because this is a public resource,” said Bowman. “It’s a public good and it’s unfortunate that it undermines the confidence of the public to continue to be present with institutions with the chaos that’s being created. It’s no one’s fault here, but it doesn’t go well with public confidence.”

Kyle Shanahan, a Bourne resident who visited on Feb. 20 with his son, said: “We have been here once before and today we wanted to come back in case it closes again.”

“It’s history, not just local history but American history,” he said. “If we don’t continue learning about our past, how can we go with our future?”

A spokesperson for NARA did not respond to a Reporter request for more information about the staffing cuts and any future decisions that might impact operations.