BPL Stories » Stories

Share your story

Gina Perille — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:55:12 +0000

Welcome to Boston Public Library’s “Stories” page, a place to share what your library means to you. You are invited to submit a story by clicking on the “share your story” button. Please tell us what the library means to you, what sorts of programs make a difference in your life, and how a staff member has helped you. We’ll post excerpts here. We look forward to reading.

Thank you.

from Lily

Gina Perille — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:32:36 +0000

The library has enabled me to enjoy a number of things that I would not be able to enjoy normally. With a fine selection of books, movies, music, and more generally media, the library is an incredible experience that nobody deserves to miss.

from Skott

Gina Perille — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:06:34 +0000

getting a card from the BPL has been one of the smartest things i’ve ever done. i have no idea why, but for some reason i totally forgot about how amazing it is. i go online, i find books / CDs / DVDs i want to borrow, i have them delivered to the branch closest to me and then within a few days i’m loaded with information!

i’ve been able to really dig into new kinds of music i wouldn’t really want to just buy straight away, like Blues and Jazz, i’ve been exposed to new operas that i never would have found, and i’m on the cusp of giving up my Netflix account because the BPL has just about everything i’d need!

and don’t even get me started on the books. EVERYTHING. and the things they don’t have you can go out and buy them because of all the $$ you’re saving by using the library as often as you will be.

it’s an amazing resource and it’s reentry into my life has been one of my favorite things this year.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month

Gina Perille — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:56:32 +0000

Encourage others to get a library card by sharing a picture of yourself and your Boston Public Library card (or just your card having some fun) via Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #BPLgetcarded and we’ll add it to our online gallery. The photo with the most likes at the end of the month will be featured as one of our Facebook cover photos during October.

Whether you are a picture-taker or not, the BPL is collecting stories about what having a library card means to you, what it enables you to do, and how it makes a difference in your life. You are invited to share your story by clicking on the button below. Excerpts will be posted here throughout the month.

P.S. Please encourage your friends to sign up for a Boston Public Library card. The Boston Public Library serves the entire state of Massachusetts as Library for the Commonwealth. If your friends live, work, or go to school in Massachusetts, they can have a Boston Public Library card. Help us spread the news and let others know that we are free to all. Invite them to “get carded” this month.

from Dan

Gina Perille — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:08:34 +0000

Even though I have to drive a little out of my way to reach my library, I feel that it is definitely worth it by the way that patrons are treated (myself included. I am tempted to keep it a secret, but it is Adams Street Branch/Dorchester) already a well known fact…Times are changing; many feel that libraries are no longer necessary. We can access via technology, etc., BUT people remember good service, the staff taking an interest in them and their needs, and a place that is welcoming.

from Florrie

Gina Perille — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:39:47 +0000

Imagine a child telling a librarian all about a story she just read while watching the librarian type every word that she utters. This is a treasured memory from the Uphams Corner Summer Reading Club. Oh, how I loved the stories of the twins from different counties. As I grew up, the library remained an integral part of my life. I found new authors, new ideas, and more through the wonderful librarians’ suggestions, The library became an important resource to me while I attended a commuter college. Today, my library is the Jamaica Plain Branch of the BPL and it is still a big part of my life. I get excited seeing and choosing new books, CDs, and DVDs. I appreciate the convenience of using the online library reservation system, but it is the librarians whom I cannot live without. And I have another favorite memory to treasure – my grandson participating in Barbara’s pajama story time at the Jamaica Plain Branch.

from Candelaria

Gina Perille — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:17:56 +0000

I left a job a few years back and assumed I would get another at the same salary quickly. The economy turned and that didn’t happen. One of the things I had to do to make ends meet was to stop buying books, a practice that seemed indispensable. This made me return to the most active use of my library as I had since I was a child.

Growing up in St. Louis, I went to the library every week and checked out as many books as allowed. I now do the same at the Adams Street Branch in Dorchester. The librarians and other staff are friendly, give great customer service, and make suggestions of books. The suggestions have expanded my reading.

I am also a short walk away from the other Dorchester branches which makes it convenient to return books to Field’s Corner when I’m doing errands in that area.

The library not only enriches my mind, it helps me stick to my budget and it has given me social connections. I am deeply grateful.

from Karen

Gina Perille — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:55:36 +0000

I was raised in libraries–we went all the time, where ever we were living, in the US or overseas. As my mother approached the end of her life, she planned her memorial service, and we discussed where it might be held. I suggested the library! Each time my children learned to write their name and were old enough for a library card they got one. During the almost 50 years I lived in Boston, I loved the Copley Square library and often went to special events there.

Thank you…

Gina Perille — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:11:24 +0000

Thank you for helping the Boston Public library launch its “BPL Stories” page. We created this page in honor of National Library Week in April 2012 and plan to keep it as an ongoing feature of our website.

You are invited to submit your story below by clicking on the “share your story” button. Please tell us what the library means to you, what sorts of programs make a difference in your life, and how a staff member has helped you. We’ll post excerpts here. We look forward to reading.

Thank you.

from Lara

Gina Perille — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:40:16 +0000

I don’t think I truly appreciated the value of BPL until I started a family. Now I realize what tremendous resources our local branches are. The playgroups, story times, sing-a-longs and other children’s activities are on our calendar every week. We love being part of our local community and my family enjoys learning, playing and making new friends at the library. Thank you to BPL and especially the Faneuil, Brighton and Honan staff for all they do.