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.

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.

]]> http://www.bpl.org/press/2013/09/16/boston-public-library-by-the-numbers/feed/ 0 http://www.bpl.org/press/2013/08/28/five-fun-finds-in-collections-of-distinction/ http://www.bpl.org/press/2013/08/28/five-fun-finds-in-collections-of-distinction/#comments Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:33:42 +0000 admin http://www.bpl.org/press/?p=3160 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.

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.

The selection committee included Children’s Librarian Amanda Bressler, President of the Friends of the Honan-Allston Branch Paula Alexander, Assistant Director of Community Relations for Harvard University Jim Barrows, and James Curley from the office of Representative Kevin Honan. To view additional photos and to learn more about programming at the Honan-Allston Branch, please visit their Facebook page or events calendar for more information.