Boston Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boston Public Library |
|
|---|---|
.png){kind=logo} |
|
| Motto: Omnium Lux Civium (Latin) "The Light of All People" |
|
| Country | US |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1852 |
| Coordinates | 42°20′57.55″N 71°4′41.78″W / 42.3493194°N 71.0782722°W |
| Branches | 24 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 24,079,520 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 3.69 million (FY 2013) |
| Population served | 6,547,629 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $31.2 million, plus $8.2 million from trust fund (2013) |
| Director | David Leonard, President Robert E. Gallery, Chairman of the Board |
The Boston Public Library is a huge public library system in Boston, Massachusetts. It was started in 1848. It's also known as Massachusetts' Library for the Commonwealth. This means that all adults living in Massachusetts can borrow books and do research there. The library gets money from the state to help with this.
The Boston Public Library has about 24 million items. This makes it the third-largest public library in the United States. Only the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library are bigger. In 2014, the library offered over 10,000 free programs. It also lent out 3.7 million items that year. The main building was named a Boston Landmark in 2000.
Contents
What Makes the Boston Public Library Special?
The Boston Public Library has over 23.7 million items. Most of these are in the main research section. Between 2012 and 2013, people borrowed 3.69 million items. Because its research collection is so important, the Boston Public Library is part of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). This group includes top research libraries in North America. The New York Public Library is the only other public library in this group.
The library has many special collections. These include rare books and old papers. For example, it has medieval manuscripts and very early printed books. It also has early editions of William Shakespeare's plays. You can find the personal library of John Adams, who was a U.S. President. There are also important papers about the fight against slavery. The library has huge collections of old prints, photos, and maps. It even has a lot of music items. This includes archives from the Handel and Haydn Society.
Because of all these amazing collections, historian David McCullough called the Boston Public Library one of the five most important libraries in the U.S.
History of the Library
How the Library Started
In the mid-1800s, many people helped create the Boston Public Library. George Ticknor, a professor at Harvard University, first suggested a public library in Boston in 1826. But at that time, not many people were interested.
In 1839, a French helper named Alexandre Vattemare had an idea. He thought all of Boston's libraries should join together for the public. Paris even sent gifts of books in 1843, 1847, and 1849 to help start a public library.
Josiah Quincy Jr., who was the mayor of Boston, secretly gave $5,000 to start the library's funding. Another important person was John Jacob Astor, a rich businessman. He left $400,000 to New York to start a public library there. This made Boston want its own public library even more!
In 1848, a law was passed to create the library. The library officially started in Boston in 1852. Edward Capen became the first librarian.
Edward Everett also helped by collecting government documents. He had them bound and gave them to the new library. In 1852, a rich person named Joshua Bates gave $50,000. After his gift, George Ticknor traveled a lot to buy books for the library.
The library's first home was an old schoolhouse on Mason Street. It opened on March 20, 1854. The library quickly grew too big for this building. So, in 1858, it moved to a new building on Boylston Street. This building was designed to hold 240,000 books. But even that building became too small later on.
Growing the Library System
In 1870, the library opened its first branch in East Boston. This was the first branch library in the United States! To reach more people, the library opened 21 more branches in Boston neighborhoods by 1900.
By 1880, the state allowed a even bigger library building to be built. The new spot was in Back Bay on Copley Square. This was a very important location. After much discussion, the famous New York firm McKim, Mead, and White was chosen to design the new library in 1887. The new building, called the McKim Building, opened in 1895. Its huge reading room was named Bates Hall.
Modern Times
In 1972, the Johnson building opened next to the McKim building. It was designed by architect Philip Johnson. In 1986, the McKim building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
The library keeps working to preserve its old books and papers. In 2011, the library made a plan called "BPL Compass." This plan focused on what the community wanted from their library. In 2017, the Boston Public Library won awards for renovating its Johnson Building and the East Boston Branch.
In 2017, nearly 4 million people visited the library's locations. They borrowed almost 5 million items. Also, nearly 10 million people visited the library's website! In 2019, a new fund was started to support the library.
The Central Library
The main Boston Public Library is in Copley Square in Boston's Back Bay. It has two connected buildings: the McKim Building and the Johnson Building. Together, they cover a huge area and hold 21 million items.
The McKim Building
The McKim Building is where the library's special research collection is kept. This includes many of the rare books and historical documents.
The Johnson Building
The Johnson Building was designed by Philip Johnson. It opened in 1972. This building is home to the library's main collection of books that people can borrow. It also serves as the main office for all 24 branch libraries.
The Johnson Building had a big renovation project that finished in 2016. It now has a new Children's Library and Teen Central area. It also has a business center, a radio studio, a 3D printer, and a café!
What You Can Do at the Library
Fun Programs and Events
The Boston Public Library has thousands of free programs every year. You can attend author talks, history lectures, and concerts. They also have art and history exhibits. For kids, there are story times and even therapy dog story times! Teens and adults can join book clubs, watch movies, or take classes.
Computers and Internet
The library offers desktop computers for public use. You can also print things for a small fee. Free wireless internet is available at the Central Library and all 24 branches. If you have a library card, you can even borrow laptops to use inside the library for two hours.
Digital Services
The library has many online services. You can search their online catalog to find books, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs. You can also download ebooks, e-audiobooks, music, and videos. They offer digital magazines too. With a library card, you can stream movies, TV shows, and more through Hoopla.
Many of the library's special collections are available online. This includes rare books, old maps, historical images, and even silent films. You can find many of these on the Boston Public Library Flickr page or through their collections on the Digital Commonwealth.
Branch Libraries Around Boston
The library has worked hard to create a system of branch libraries. This helps the library reach people all over the city. The first branch opened in East Boston in 1870. Today, there are 25 branches serving different neighborhoods.
- Chinatown
- Chinatown Branch, 2 Boylston Street. This branch reopened in 2018 after being closed for 60 years.
- North End
- North End Branch, 25 Parmenter Street. This branch moved to its current building in 1965.
- South End
- South End Branch, 685 Tremont Street. Library service started here in 1877. The current building opened in 1971.
- West End
- West End Branch, 151 Cambridge Street. This branch opened in 1968 in a new building.
- Brighton
- Brighton Branch, 40 Academy Hill Road, Brighton. This branch became part of the Boston Public Library in 1874. It reopened in 2018 after big renovations.
- Faneuil Branch, 419 Faneuil Street, Brighton. This art-deco style building opened in 1931. It is currently closed for renovations.
- Allston
- Honan-Allston Branch, 300 North Harvard Street, Allston. This branch opened in 2001 and was named after City Councilor Brian Honan in 2003.
- Charlestown
- Charlestown Branch, 179 Main Street, Charlestown. This library joined the Boston Public Library in 1874. It moved to its current spot in 1970.
- Dorchester
- Adams Street Branch, 690 Adams Street, Dorchester. The current building for this branch opened in 2021.
- Codman Square Branch, 690 Washington Street, Dorchester. This branch opened in 1905.
- Fields Corner Branch, 1520 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester. This branch opened in 1969.
- Grove Hall Branch, 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester. The new building for this branch opened in 2009.
- Lower Mills Branch, 27 Richmond Street, Dorchester. This branch has been around since 1875. It moved to its current location in 1981.
- Uphams Corner Branch, 500 Columbia Road, Dorchester. This branch expanded into a former swimming pool area!
- East Boston
- East Boston Branch, 365 Bremen Street, East Boston. This was the first public branch library in the U.S. It opened in 1869. The current building opened in 2013.
- Hyde Park
- Hyde Park Branch, 35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park. This library became a Boston Public Library branch in 1912. It's now the third-largest branch.
- Jamaica Plain
- Connolly Branch, 433 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain. This beautiful stone building opened in 1932. It was renamed in 1940.
- Jamaica Plain Branch, 12 Sedgwick Street, Jamaica Plain. This branch opened in 1876. It reopened in 2017 after renovations.
- Mattapan
- Mattapan Branch, 1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan. The new building for this branch opened in 2009.
- Roslindale
- Roslindale Branch, 4238 Washington Street, Roslindale. This branch has been serving the area since 1898. The current building opened in 1961.
- Roxbury
- Roxbury Branch, 65 Warren Street, Roxbury. This branch opened in 1978.
- Egleston Square, 2044 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury. This branch opened in 1953.
- Parker Hill Branch, 1497 Tremont Street, Roxbury. This Gothic-style building opened in 1931.
- South Boston
- South Boston Branch, 646 East Broadway, South Boston. This was the second branch library in the U.S., opening in 1872.
- West Roxbury
- West Roxbury Branch, 1961 Centre Street, West Roxbury. This branch became a full library in 1896. It's now the second-largest branch.
Images for kids
-
Temporary building, Mason Street, 1854-1858
-
Exterior of Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1858–1895
-
Lower hall stacks, Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1858–1895
-
Upper (Bates) hall, Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1858–1895
-
Lower hall indicator, Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1858–1895
-
Lower hall reading room, Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1858–1895
-
Engraving of exterior, Kirby Building, Boylston St., 1850s
-
McKim Building construction 1889
-
McKim Building courtyard, soon after opening, c. 1895.
-
Dartmouth Street facade of McKim Building during the holiday season, December 2015
-
Orient Heights Branch, 2011. A branch in East Boston which closed in 2013.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Pública de Boston para niños
- Boston Public Library, McKim Building
- List of public libraries in Massachusetts
- Library system
