Boston Public Library’s Collections of Distinction feature eighteen of the most outstanding, expansive, and renowned of the library’s holdings. Behind the collections are the curators who can expertly describe the significance of all the treasures found within. The curators recently answered questions about each of the collections, including their favorite sections, surprising finds, and which audiences they may appeal to. The first four collections highlighted include Shakespeare, Maritime Charts and Atlases, the John Adams Library, and our Local & Family History collection. Throughout October, more curators will be featured. Visit the Collections of Distinction page to meet them and learn more about the library’s collections.
Category Archives: General
Meet the Collections of Distinction Curators
Posted on October 2nd, 2013 by admin in General
Tags: Inside BPL Collections
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Posted on September 18th, 2013 by admin in General
Tags: Around the BPL
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), Boston Public Library has a variety of programs planned across the City. In addition, the library’s annual Latino Life booklist, featuring recent books about the Hispanic experience, is available online and at all library locations.
Program highlights include:
- Classical guitarist Michael Nigro takes audiences on a journey through Latin America, featuring works by South American and Spanish composers in the month of September at the Dudley, Jamaica Plain, Grove Hall, Parker Hill, and South End branches.
- On September 28, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Public Library, Handel and Haydn Society, and Zoo New England collaborate to present a free Family Opera Day at the BPL.
- Starting October 1, the Connolly Branch hosts an exhibition featuring paintings by Dominican artist Nasiri Guzman.
- Starting October 7, the Central Library’s Monday night film series celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.
- In October, Veronica Robles educates children on Mexican music, dance, and culture at the Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Lower Mills, and West End branches.
- La Piñata, an organization dedicated to promoting Latin American culture, provides children and teens in grades K-8 an introduction to Latin America through a variety of art, games, and music activities.
To view dates, times, and more information on these programs, please visit the BPL calendar.
Boston Public Library by the Numbers [#infographic]
Posted on September 16th, 2013 by Gina Perille in General
A summary of some of the key numbers from Boston Public Library’s most recently completed fiscal year.
The library shares a variety of facts and figures on the “BPL by the Numbers” page on this website. There you will find library-generated statistics, links to the City of Boston’s performance management program — known as BAR, which stands for “Boston About Results.” On the same page, links to data shared and collected by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners are available.
Five Fun Finds in Collections of Distinction
Posted on August 28th, 2013 by admin in General
Tags: Inside BPL Collections
Boston Public Library unveiled its initial eighteen Collections of Distinction in June, which represent the most outstanding, expansive, and renowned of its holdings of more than 23 million items. Within the collection is an array of books, maps, manuscripts, letters, drawings, and other works dating back to as early as the 10th century. Staff recently identified five fun finds within the collections to share with library users and visitors:
- Shakespeare: The first four folios of Shakespeare’s work are included among the 15,000 volumes.
- Urban Maps: The holdings feature the second largest collection of birds-eye and panoramic maps in the United States.
- American Civil War Massachusetts 20th Regiment: A photograph of Francis Clalin, a woman who served as a man in the Civil War (pictured at right), is the most requested item in the Rare Books Department.
- Incunabula: The two earliest titles in the collection are attributed to Johann Gutenberg, including a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, printed between 1454–1455, and Catholicon, printed in 1460. The latter is one of only twelve copies located in the United States and the only one printed on vellum (calfskin).
- Colonial and Revolutionary Boston: The collection contains Paul Revere’s original manuscript and sketch of the Boston Massacre.
Boston Public Library gives priority to Collections of Distinction in terms of access, acquisition, digitization, and preservation; and continues to identify additional candidates for Collections of Distinction status. To view the criteria for identifying Collections of Distinction or to learn more about the individual collections, visit www.bpl.org/distinction.
BPL Outdoor Reading Spaces
Posted on August 16th, 2013 by admin in General
Tags: Around the BPL
While some library users enjoy reading indoors in the air conditioning on hot summer days, the Central Library and the branches have many options for those who may prefer to read outside and breathe in some fresh air. And, you don’t have to leave the city to do it. In addition to the Central Library’s courtyard, which features story times and lunchtime Friday concerts this summer, several branches have beautiful green spaces that are ideal for programming and reading. Branch locations that feature outdoor areas include the Adams Street, Honan-Allston, Grove Hall, Hyde Park, Mattapan, South Boston, and West Roxbury branches. The Hyde Park Branch hosts summer concerts every Thursday evening in their garden, and the South Boston Branch outdoor space was re-landscaped in June, adding new shrubs and flowers to the reading space. The Honan-Allston and Mattapan branches even have interior courtyards for users to enjoy. Dig into Reading summer programming featured garden crafts, story times, and sidewalk art activities outdoors, and children are now waiting patiently to see their vegetables and plants grow as fall approaches. Boston Public Library welcomes all to visit its outdoor spaces and to enjoy the beautiful weather while reading.