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The Boston Public
Library is both a community library and a research institution.
We have resources on almost any topic you may wish. However, many
millions of our books and materials are not yet listed in
any catalog or database that can be searched electronically. We
are working towards this goal, but it will take us many years and
many millions of dollars to reach it.
Below is information about our various resources. Please do not
hesitate to contact us if you are not sure of which resource to
use or cannot find what you are looking for. You may contact us
by telephone (617-536-5400 - hours), electronically,
by mail, and, of course, in person.
1. Boston Public Library Catalog.
This catalog contains both the circulating and research collections
of the Boston Public Library. These
materials are listed in the catalog of the Metro-Boston Library
Network (MBLN). MBLN is a cooperative resource-sharing network linking
the resources of the public libraries of Boston, Chelsea, and Malden,
the Massachusetts State Transportation Library, and the Boston Public
Schools. The MBLN online catalog has over 6 million books, CDs,
videos, cassettes, and other materials listed. The Library has over
six million books for in-library research, along with over 20,000
journals, hundreds of thousands of maps, musical scores, photographs,
millions of patents, rare books, manuscripts, etc. Currently,
we only have about 2 million of the research books listed in this
electronic catalog. You will also find a few of our periodicals,
CD-ROMs, etc. listed here. Please check with us, however, if you
don't find what you want. The older (pre-1974) books and other research
materials cannot be searched electronically, but we will gladly
assist you in locating these.
NOTE:
Newspaper records in this catalog may not be complete in reflecting
the holdings of the library. Years and dates listed in the item
descriptions in this database indicate general publication information
only. For more accurate information refer to the Lists of Newspapers
For circulating
materials: If materials are currently charged out to someone else,
you may place a reserve on them. When you have the title on the
screen, just click on "Request title" and follow the steps.
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
Our specialized
reference departments are staffed by professional librarians
that hold masters degrees in library science, some also with a post-graduate
degree in subject areas. We are here to assist you in your search
for information and resources. You may contact us by telephone (617-536-5400
- hours), electronically, by
mail, and, of course, in person.
Search this
catalog
Key to Locations and Collections
How to request circulating
materials
Looking
Up Your Account Information
How to have some research
materials held for you
Go back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
2. Electronic books (e-books) collection
(netLibrary),full-text
The Boston Public Library owns a collection
of electronic books (e-books). These electronic books hold the complete
electronic version of the printed books. These can be searched in
a variety of ways. Patrons can check them out, or just browse them.
Patrons need to create a user account (this is free) to check out
the books.
The collection consists of approximately
3000 electronic books that cover topics in the following areas:
Business, Psychology, Buying and Selling a Home, Self Help, Careers,
Sports, Coaching, Complete Idiot's Guides, Sports How-to Books,
Computer How-to Books, Study Guides, Consumer Health, Travel, Consumer
Law, and Web Development.
An additional 3,500 eBook titles in
the public domain - no longer under copyright (e.g., usually classic
novels) are also available (click the "public eBooks"
button. Users do not need to sign up for a netLibrary account to
use these public domain e-books.
Search e-books
Go
back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
3. List of newspapers currently received
by the Boston Public Library.
These are lists of the titles of newspapers currently subscribed
to by the Boston Public Library. There is one listing for U.S. newspapers,
that is listed by state/territory. The other is for non-U.S. newspapers,
listed by geographic area and then nation.
Search U.S. list
Search
foreign list
Go
back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
4. State and Local Government Documents
This is a catalog of documents from Boston city and Massachusetts
state government agencies, as well as publications of selected civic
groups, research institutions, and public policy organizations.
We have millions of additional government documents that are not
listed in an electronic catalog. Please check with our Government Documents Department staff
to access these documents.
Search the database
Go
back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
5. Special collections
These subjects represent broad areas in which the Library has holdings
in monographs, serials, government documents, scores, microfilm,
maps, manuscripts, photographs, prints, and sound recordings and
other formats. Patrons are encouraged to ask research departments about materials in
their specific research topic or field.
Search the finding aids
Go
back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
6. Media catalog (for institutions only)
The 16mm film and VHS video materials represented in this online
catalog are available for borrowing by participating libraries in
Massachusetts and branches of the Boston Public Library.
Search the catalog
Go
back to list of options
Still have questions? The Library also provides information over
the telephone 617-536-5400, and electronically.
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