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This From the Vault Map Collections Showing will spotlight plans of global, pre-industrial cities founded by non-European cultures.
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Summer Reading 2025 Activities, Reading Lists, and More!

Summer Reading for all ages takes place June 1 through August 31! Pick up a bingo card in person at any BPL location or download one online.

Concerts in the Courtyard

The 2025 Concerts in the Courtyard series will run from June to August with performances in the McKim Building Courtyard.

Popular at the BPL

Newspapers Available Online

Explore our collection of online newspapers, historical and current, local and international, specific and wide-interest.

Genealogy at the Boston Public Library

We have many resources including databases. guides, events, and newspapers to help you research the history of your family.

Borrow a Museum Pass

You can reserve museum passes with your BPL card. Whether you're planning a visit to the MFA or Zoo New England, reserve free passes here!

Job & Career Success!

We've compiled all of our resources for finding a job, developing career skills, education and certification programs, and more.

Revolutionary Art

Exploring the connection between art and social change, “Revolutionary Art” continues the three-year cycle of programs leading to the 250th.

Hands-On History: Conservation Stories from the BPL

Hands-On History showcases select projects from the Boston Public Library’s Conservation Lab.

Art Exhibit: Javier Amador-Peña - (RE)Evolving GENESIS

Jul 11th - Sep 13th | All day
The Connolly Branch is proud to host the exhibition, (RE)Evolving GENESIS: An Origin Story in Motion, by artist Javier Amador-Peña.

Proposing Programs for the Boston Public Library

Learn about proposing programs to be held at the Boston Public Library.

Get a Boston Public Library Card Today

Your library card is your passport to technology, literacy, fluency, community, and so much more.

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Explore the Possibilities

SkillMill

SkillMill offers maintenance & skilled trades training courses online in HVAC, plumbing, solar, and electrical and appliance repair.

LOTE4Kids App

Kids can enjoy thousands of picture books in more than 70+ languages, including sign language, with English translations.

LawDepot

LawDepot allows you to create your own personalized legal documents specific to your state/province and personal situation.

LinkedIn Learning

Take business, tech, and creative courses online, taught by recognized industry experts.
Allan Rohan Crite Collection

Allan Rohan Crite Collection

Crane Museum of Papermaking

Crane Museum of Papermaking

Dartmouth St. and Boylston St. sides, construction of the McKim Building

BPL McKim Building Construction Photos

Two leaves from the Beauvais Missal

Medieval and Early Renaissance Manuscripts

In memory of Mrs. Phebe Parker

American Revolution Gravestone Rubbings

WHDH Collection

WHDH Local News from the 1960s

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Calligraphy & Lettering

Books about calligraphy and different types of lettering for World Calligraphy Day (August 13th).

Crafting a Creative Business

Check out these resources to help you develop your career as an artist, craftsperson, or maker.

13 Happily-Ever-Afters Outside Georgian England

Check out one of these romances that imagine historical happily-ever-afters beyond ballgowns and barons.

Blog Posts

Influencer: The Alice Jordan Story

Boston Public Library's Alice Jordan embraced incoming youth services librarians and championed youth patron services.

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Read the BPL Blog

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Join a Book Group

Libby by OverDrive

eBooks, audiobooks, & magazines available for download to your computer or mobile device. To read on your tablet or phone use the Libby app.

PressReader

Full-color reproductions of thousands of U.S. & international newspapers & magazines from the last three months available via web or app.

biblio+

With biblio+, library card holders have unlimited access to an ad-free catalog of movies, TV shows, and documentaries on many devices.

Kanopy

Kanopy includes acclaimed movies and documentaries on-demand from award-winning filmmakers. Each month BPL patrons receive 18 tickets.

BPL World Language Collections

For Kids

Find content for kids of all ages. The Boston Public Library has many resources, events, and much much more.

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DISCOVER KIDS

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Join a Story Time!

Check out our upcoming Story Times for your little ones on the events calendar!

Online Resources for Kids

Discover our online resources for kids. We have encyclopedic resources, resources for reading and for language learning. Learn more here.

Back to School

Picture books for National Back to School Prep Day (August 15th).

For Teens

Find content for teens of all ages. The Public Library has many resources, events and much much more.

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DISCOVER TEENS

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Browse Boston Public Library's New Zine Collection

Come check out our new collection of more than 945 zines (300+ unique titles)! A zine is a small, independently-produced publication.

Comics Plus: Teen Library

Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga — without holds, wait lists, or monthly limits.

Massachusetts Driver’s License Practice Tests

Access car, motorcycle, and CDL practice tests and handbooks, presented in partnership with driving-tests.org.

Business & Career Success

BPL offers many resources and events for job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, makers, and more.

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Business Library Resources

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Job & Career Success

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Adult Education

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Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center Alcoves

Patrons and groups of up to 6 can book a KBLIC Alcove for work or other tasks which may not be accomplished in other areas of the library.

Business Online Resources

Explore our many business online resources including databases, newspapers, periodical indexes, and directories.

Community Learning

The Community Learning Center can help with citizenship, immigration, English classes, adult education, technology, job success, and more.

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SkillMill

SkillMill offers maintenance & skilled trades training courses online in HVAC, plumbing, solar, and electrical and appliance repair.

Community History

We help Boston history become more inclusive by offering support for anyone who wants to document, share, and save their stories.

Research

Research Services staff can assist you with finding collections for your use, whether for the casual learner, for formal education support, or for scholarly research.

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Research Services

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A-Z Online Resources

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Research Guides

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Researching at the Boston Public Library

This guide can help you get started researching at the Boston Public Library.

Genealogy at the Boston Public Library

We have many resources including databases. guides, events, and newspapers to help you research the history of your family.

Special Collections

The Special Collections Department facilitates discovery and fosters public engagement with rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials held by Boston Public Library.

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Apply for a Research Fellowship in BPL's Special Collections

The Boston Public Library is proud to announce two new research fellowships to support the use of special collections.

Community Cookbook Collection

The BPL's growing Community Cookbook Collection documents the culinary history of New England communities.

Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center

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Visit Our Map Center

Researching Your House

Resources for researching questions such as how old your house is, who the architect was, how to find plans of your house, and more.

Boston's Annexed Towns and Some Neighborhood Resources

Boston is a city of neighborhoods, an amalgamation of towns that were annexed in the 19th and early 20th century.

Getting Started with Oral History

Find tips and tools to help you plan and implement an oral history project in this research guide.

Departments at the BPL

Kids

Kids

Get homework help assistance in multiple languages at over half of our locations and online, join the Future Readers Club, and more!

Teens

Teens

We have events, online resources, spaces across our BPL locations, and more specifically for teens.

Community Learning Center

Community Learning Center

The Community Learning Center can help with citizenship, immigration, English classes, adult education, technology, job success, and more.

Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)

Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)

KBLIC invites media creators, innovators, job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, coders, and makers to its space.

Reader Services

Reader Services

Our Reader Services team is knowledgeable about new books, trends in publishing, and helping readers find what they should read.

Research Services

Research Services

Research Services staff can assist you with finding collections for your use, for formal education support, scholarly research, and more.

Leventhal Map & Education Center

Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center

The Map Center uses maps, geography, and history to explore the connections between places and people in Boston, New England, and beyond.

Special Collections

Special Collections

The Special Collections Department fosters public engagement with rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials held by BPL.

Special Events

Guests are gathered behind the pillars in seats in the courtyard, while a group of people, including the bride and groom, stand in the courtyard, facing the guests

Special Events

The Special Events staff looks forward to helping you plan your event. Contact us for more info, date availability, or to arrange a visit.

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