Tour the Stunning Boston Public Library, a Historic Gem

The Stunning Beauty and Rich History of the Boston Public Library

As one of the original public library systems established in America, the Boston Public Library has a long and storied history. Founded in 1848, it was the first large free municipal library in the United States. The main branch of the Boston Public Library is located in Copley Square in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

The Building's Breathtaking Architecture

The central library building was completed in 1895 and stands as an architectural masterpiece. The Renaissance Revival style building was designed by Charles Follen McKim of the prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. It contains magnificent arched windows, grand staircases, ornate ceilings, and beautiful murals painted by John Singer Sargent and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes.

The most stunning room in the central library is the lavish Bates Hall reading room with its barrel-vaulted ceiling stretching 50 feet above the green lamps of the long oak reading tables below. Housing the library's research collection, Bates Hall is named after Joshua Bates, the library's first great benefactor.

Free Resources and Events Open to the Public

The Boston Public Library provides free access and services to all who visit its 28 locations throughout the neighborhoods of Boston. It houses over 23 million items, including books, journals, manuscripts, music scores, DVDs, CDs, and more. Resources are available in over 50 languages.

In addition to its circulating collections, the library hosts free exhibitions, concerts, lectures, readings, and other events. Some popular ongoing events include free health and fitness classes, English language learning sessions for non-native speakers, career development workshops, technology training classes, author talks and readings, children's storytimes and crafts, teen anime clubs and gaming events, chess and bridge clubs, live music performances, art and history exhibitions, and film showings.

Special Collections and Rare Books

The Boston Public Library has many special collections and rare books that attract scholars and researchers from around the world. The Rare Books and Manuscripts Department contains over 250,000 rare books dating back to before the 15th century. Treasures include medieval manuscripts, the personal library of John Adams, ancient cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, and the very first book printed in British North America in 1640.

Other noteworthy special collections include the Anti-Slavery Collection, the Chinese Collection, the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center containing 400,000 maps and 5,000 atlases, the Federal Documents collection, and the collection related to the occult and witchcraft assembled by scholar Rossell Hope Robbins.

Literary Lions and Famous Visitors

Many celebrated writers and thinkers have walked through the doors of the Boston Public Library over the decades. The library contains thousands of original letters and manuscripts from famous authors such as Virginia Woolf, Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, John Keats, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Sylvia Plath.

Other notable people who have visited the library include Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, Vladimir Nabokov, Eudora Welty, Elizabeth Bishop, Amy Tan, Ulysses S. Grant, Winston Churchill, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Noam Chomsky.

Accessing the Library's Resources

The Boston Public Library seeks to provide free access and services to all. Obtaining a library card is simple and free for Massachusetts residents as well as students enrolled in Massachusetts schools. Out of state residents can obtain a temporary 30-day pass. The library also welcomes thousands of daily visitors who wish to read, study, attend events, utilize the free wifi, admire the architecture, access databases, view exhibitions, request research assistance from the knowledgeable librarians, and explore this venerable institution.

The magnificent main branch in Copley Square is open 7 days a week and is easily accessible by public transportation. The Children's Library, Teen Central, computer labs, and many reading spaces are available for public use and enjoyment. This civic and cultural gem provides a quiet oasis and invaluable resources to the people of Massachusetts and the world.

FAQs

When was the Boston Public Library founded?

The Boston Public Library was founded in 1848, making it one of the first free municipal public library systems in the United States.

Who can get a library card and access resources?

Library cards are free to all Massachusetts residents as well as students enrolled in Massachusetts schools. Out-of-state visitors can obtain a 30-day pass.

What are the library's hours?

The Central Library in Copley Square is open 7 days a week. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm.

Are there special collections and rare books?

Yes, the library has over 250,000 rare books dating back before the 15th century. There are also rich special collections related to history, art, science, music, and more.

Are events and tours offered?

Yes, the library hosts free public events almost daily, including concerts, lectures, readings, exhibitions, classes, and tours. Check the event calendar online for current offerings.