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History

The entrance to the National Historic Landmark McKim Building welcomes the public with a founding principle of the American public library movement carved in stone above the main door: FREE TO ALL. The building’s facades display bold inscriptions:

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON BUILT BY THE PEOPLE AND DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING.

FOUNDED THROUGH THE MUNIFICENCE AND PUBLIC SPIRIT OF CITIZENS.

John and Diddy Cullinane, William Bulger, and William O. Taylor—eighteen years ago, these dedicated supporters of the Library joined forces to bring new life and energy to one of the City’s most venerable institutions. In creating the Boston Public Library Foundation, they sought to build a new partnership among civic-minded individuals, the corporate community, and public funders. The combined strength and leadership of this partnership continues to move the great work of the Library forward.

Mission

The mission of the Boston Public Library Foundation is to enhance the public visibility and to raise public and private funds in support of the revitalization of the Boston Public Library. The Board of Directors, composed of business and community leaders, develops the Foundation’s strategies and steers its development initiatives. Since 1992, the Boston Public Library Foundation has raised more than $80 million.

Areas of Focus

Focus Area 1: To update the facilities and services of the Library’s 27 neighborhood branches, with an emphasis on enhancing youth and family programming.

The Boston Public Library Foundation raises funds for special projects and programs that are outside the scope of the Library’s general operating funds. Gifts made in this focus area have a significant impact on the number and the quality of programs for children, teenagers, and families that are offered close to their homes. Examples of special programs include the Homework Assistance Program, the Schools Collaborative, and Read Your Way to Fenway.

Focus Area 2: To improve access to resources through 21st century technology.

The digital revolution is transforming how people use the research and branch libraries and how the staff delivers services. The Research Library, holding vast collections, represents a local, state, regional, national, and international resource that will become increasingly accessible through the Internet. Neighborhood branch libraries will continue to increase in their ability to provide convenient, up-to-date access points to computers, data bases, and other developing technologies and media. The BPL Foundation works to support the Library in developing new ways to improve access.

Focus Area 3: To complete the restoration of the National Historic Landmark McKim Building in Copley Square.

The National Park Service designated the McKim Building a National Historic Landmark in 1986, citing it as “the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America.” Within the McKim Building are some of the finest murals in the United States; collections of rare books and manuscripts, maps, and prints that rank among the most significant, publicly owned compilations anywhere; splendid gallery space for displaying the Library’s numerous treasures assembled over the past 160 years; and amenities such as a restaurant and café, a peaceful inner courtyard recently furnished with bistro tables and chairs, and several comfortable and inviting reading areas. The Foundation continues to seek funds to complete the restoration of this great building.

Focus Area 4: To maintain, preserve, and electronically catalog the Library's collections.

The American Library Association ranks the Boston Public Library as the third largest library in the United States, holding more than 15 million volumes. Although the majority of the resources are in print format (books, manuscripts, periodicals, newspapers, documents), significant collections in other formats include prints, microforms, sound recordings, films, audio and video materials, maps, blueprints and other architectural drawings, sheet music and realia such as artifacts, souvenirs, models and dioramas. To cultivate lifelong learning in our diverse city, the Foundation supports the Library in developing new ways to maintain, preserve, and catalog the Library’s full spectrum of intellectual and cultural resources.

For more information please contact:
Brian Clancy, President
Daria McLean, Director of Development
The Boston Public Library Foundation
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA  02116
Phone (617) 247-8980
Fax (617) 247-1571
bplf@bplf.com