Boston Public Library

Founded in 1848, by an act of the General Court of Massachusetts, the Boston Public Library (BPL) was the first large free municipal library in the United States. The Boston Public Library's first building of its own was a former schoolhouse located on Mason Street that was opened to the public on March 20, 1854. The Library's collections approximated 16,000 volumes, and it was obvious from the day the doors were first opened that the quarters were inadequate. In December of that same year the Library's Commissioners were authorized to locate a new building upon a lot on Boylston Street. The present Copley Square location has been home to the Library since 1895, when architect Charles Follen McKim completed his "palace for the people."
In the latter half of the 19th century, the Library worked vigorously to develop and expand its branch library system. Viewed as a means to extend its presence throughout the city, the branch system evolved from an idea in 1867 to a reality in 1870, when the first Branch Library in the United States was opened in East Boston. Between 1872 and 1900, twenty-one more Branches began serving communities throughout Boston's diverse neighborhoods. In 1972 the Library expanded its Copley Square location with the opening of an addition designed by Philip Johnson. Today, the McKim building houses the BPL's vast research collection and the Boylston building holds the circulating collection of the general library and serves as headquarters for the Boston Public Library's 24 branch libraries.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the Library worked vigorously to develop and expand its branch library system. Viewed as a means to extend its presence throughout the city, the branch system evolved from an idea in 1867 to a reality in 1870, when the first Branch Library in the United States was opened in East Boston. Between 1872 and 1900, twenty-one more Branches began serving communities throughout Boston's diverse neighborhoods. In 1972 the Library expanded its Copley Square location with the opening of an addition designed by Philip Johnson. Today, the McKim building houses the BPL's vast research collection and the Boylston building holds the circulating collection of the general library and serves as headquarters for the Boston Public Library's 24 branch libraries.
In addition to its 8.9 million books, the library boasts a wealth of rare books and manuscripts, maps, musical scores and prints. Among its large collections, the BPL holds several first edition folios by William Shakespeare, original music scores from Mozart to Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf;" and, in its rare book collection, the personal library of John Adams. Due to the extent of the collections, many items are displayed on a rotating basis. These unique Special Exhibits are shown in the Research Library and offer the public an opportunity to view books and documents which are usually available only to research scholars.
Over 3 million people visit the BPL each year, many in pursuit of research material, others looking for an afternoon's reading or the use of the computer or to attend a class, still others for the magnificent and unique art and architecture of many library locations.
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Over 3 million people visit the BPL each year, many in pursuit of research material, others looking for an afternoon's reading or the use of the computer or to attend a class, still others for the magnificent and unique art and architecture of many library locations.
Digital Collections: (277)

19. Barre Gazette

25. Boston Beacon

28. Boston Chronicle

49. British Artists

54. Cape Ann Breeze

56. The Cape Cod Bee

72. Circus Posters

82. The Daily Spy

89. Dorchester News

109. Essex Register

110. The Evening Journal

111. Evening Standard

112. The Fenway News

114. Fore-Edge Paintings

118. French Artists

123. The Guardian

126. Hingham Journal

131. The Hyde Park Times

132. Hyde Park Tribune

140. Jamaica Plain News

141. Jamaica Plain Press

153. Le Journal de Lowell

155. Lancaster Gazette

161. Lou Jones Collection

164. The Lynn Bee

166. Magic Posters

178. Mattapan Tribune

179. Mattapan-Milton News

182. Milton Mattapan News

188. North End Slides

190. Old Colony Memorial

192. Our Bodies Ourselves

199. The Pine and Palm

201. Produce Crate Labels

203. Quincy Evening News

208. The Roxbury Advocate

209. The Roxbury Citizen

211. Roxbury City Gazette

213. The Roxbury Gazette

217. The Salem Gazette

219. The Salem Mercury

221. Salem Register

222. The Salem Register

234. South Boston Gazette

237. South Boston Tribune

254. The Town Crier

255. Travel Photography

256. Travel Posters

257. Trustees' Library

264. War Posters

268. The West End News

269. WHDH Collection

274. Worcester Daily Spy
