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Author Talks at Boston Public Library Locations in September

Posted on August 28th, 2013 by admin in Media Releases

Local film critic Peter Keough and ‘Schindler’s List’ author Thomas Keneally featured

Throughout September, Boston Public Library will host author talks at the Central Library in Copley Square and branch locations. Author appearances include:

  • Author Stephen Hornsby discusses his book Surveyors of Empire: Samuel Holland, J. F. W. Des Barres, and the Making of the Atlantic Neptune on Thursday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
  • Film critic and editor Peter Keough speaks about the book Kathryn Bigelow: Interviews on Saturday, September 14, at 2 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. This collection details Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow’s journey to become one of Hollywood’s most influential directors. Read more »

Five Fun Finds in Collections of Distinction

Posted on August 28th, 2013 by admin in General
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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.Francis Clalin
  • 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.

Saturday Hours Return to Neighborhood Branches; Sunday Hours Return to Central Library

Posted on August 22nd, 2013 by admin in Media Releases

Detailed hours information available on the Boston Public Library website

Saturday hours at the neighborhood branches of the Boston Public Library return on September 7. Saturday hours at Boston Public Library branches vary per location, but are typically 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Three Boston Public Library branches have 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. hours on Saturday: Lower Mills, North End, and West End.

The Roslindale Branch, located at 4246 Washington Street, will have a full week of updated public service hours beginning in September. The branch will be open Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. On Thursday, the branch will be open 12 – 8 p.m. On Friday, the hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday the hours are 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Read more »

BPL Outdoor Reading Spaces

Posted on August 16th, 2013 by admin in General
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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.

Young Library Users Name Lions in Ray Mellone Park

Posted on August 9th, 2013 by admin in General
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Last week, the Honan-Allston Branch of the Boston Public Library and members of the Allston-Brighton community gathered on a beautiful summer evening behind the library in Ray Mellone Park to celebrate the winners of the “Name the Lions” contest, in which children submitted their ideas for naming the lion statues that reside in the park. The celebration included a picnic, free children’s books, a lion craft, face painting, and music from the group Ben Rudnick and Friends. Congratulations to Kiana, who wrote the best story on how the lions arrived at the park and came to make it their home, and to winners Dontay, Sheila, Aurora, and Ryland for coming up with wonderful names for the lions – Lionel, Rusty, Hermione, and Courage are nameless no more. The lions will soon have permanent plaques engraved with their names and those of the children who named them.

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.


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