Featured
Spoken Word Albums to Stream
Nine spoken word and poetry albums for you to enjoy!
National Poetry Month
Boston Public Library celebrates National Poetry Month across our locations and online!
10 Poetry Collections for National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month highlights the continued relevance of poetry and poets in our world.
Celebrating National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate it by checking out one of these recent titles.
Spoken Word Albums to Stream
Nine spoken word and poetry albums for you to enjoy!
National Poetry Month
Boston Public Library celebrates National Poetry Month across our locations and online!
10 Poetry Collections for National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month highlights the continued relevance of poetry and poets in our world.
Celebrating National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate it by checking out one of these recent titles.
Popular at the BPL
Newspapers Available Online
Explore our collection of online newspapers, historical and current, local and international, specific and wide-interest.
Genealogy at the Boston Public Library
We have many resources including databases. guides, events, and newspapers to help you research the history of your family.
Job & Career Success!
We've compiled all of our resources for finding a job, developing career skills, education and certification programs, and more.
Your Library Card
Your library card is your passport to technology, literacy, fluency, community, and so much more.
Newspapers Available Online
Explore our collection of online newspapers, historical and current, local and international, specific and wide-interest.
Genealogy at the Boston Public Library
We have many resources including databases. guides, events, and newspapers to help you research the history of your family.
Job & Career Success!
We've compiled all of our resources for finding a job, developing career skills, education and certification programs, and more.
Your Library Card
Your library card is your passport to technology, literacy, fluency, community, and so much more.
Concerts in the Courtyard: Apply for our 2025 Series!
The Central Library is now accepting applications for our Summer 2025 Concerts in the Courtyard Series!
Celebrate Zines with the Greater Boston Zine Library Crawl!
During the month of April, 2025, you’re invited to check out as many zine libraries in the Greater Boston area as you can!
Terrains of Independence Exhibition at LMEC
Mar 03, 2025
Terrains of Independence, a free public exhibition at the Leventhal Map & Education Center (LMEC) at the Boston Public Library, is now open.
Leventhal Map & Education Center Exhibition: Becoming Boston
Mar 31st - Feb 1st | All day
Maps trace out the complicated history of places, and we can use them to document geography in much the same way that we can use diaries…
Concerts in the Courtyard: Apply for our 2025 Series!
The Central Library is now accepting applications for our Summer 2025 Concerts in the Courtyard Series!
Celebrate Zines with the Greater Boston Zine Library Crawl!
During the month of April, 2025, you’re invited to check out as many zine libraries in the Greater Boston area as you can!
Terrains of Independence Exhibition at LMEC
Mar 03, 2025
Terrains of Independence, a free public exhibition at the Leventhal Map & Education Center (LMEC) at the Boston Public Library, is now open.
Leventhal Map & Education Center Exhibition: Becoming Boston
Mar 31st - Feb 1st | All day
Maps trace out the complicated history of places, and we can use them to document geography in much the same way that we can use diaries…
Get a Boston Public Library Card Today
Your library card is your passport to technology, literacy, fluency, community, and so much more.
LOTE4Kids App
Kids can enjoy thousands of picture books in more than 70+ languages, including sign language, with English translations.
SkillMill
SkillMill offers maintenance & skilled trades training courses online in HVAC, plumbing, solar, and electrical and appliance repair.
LawDepot
LawDepot allows you to create your own personalized legal documents specific to your state/province and personal situation.
LinkedIn Learning
Take business, tech, and creative courses online, taught by recognized industry experts.
LOTE4Kids App
Kids can enjoy thousands of picture books in more than 70+ languages, including sign language, with English translations.
SkillMill
SkillMill offers maintenance & skilled trades training courses online in HVAC, plumbing, solar, and electrical and appliance repair.
LawDepot
LawDepot allows you to create your own personalized legal documents specific to your state/province and personal situation.
LinkedIn Learning
Take business, tech, and creative courses online, taught by recognized industry experts.
Allan Rohan Crite Collection
Allan Rohan Crite Collection
Crane Museum of Papermaking
Crane Museum of Papermaking
Dartmouth St. and Boylston St. sides, construction of the McKim Building
BPL McKim Building Construction Photos
Two leaves from the Beauvais Missal
Medieval and Early Renaissance Manuscripts
In memory of Mrs. Phebe Parker
American Revolution Gravestone Rubbings
WHDH Collection
WHDH Local News from the 1960s
BPL Staff Picks: May 2025
Every month staff from across the BPL system recommend their favorite books for all ages across a variety of genres.
Haitian Heritage Month: Workforce Edition
Books and resources for and about Haitian-Americans in the workforce.
Love in Close Protection: 13 Bodyguard Romances
Will professionalism keep them apart, or is falling for your bodyguard inevitable?
BPL Staff Picks: May 2025
Every month staff from across the BPL system recommend their favorite books for all ages across a variety of genres.
Haitian Heritage Month: Workforce Edition
Books and resources for and about Haitian-Americans in the workforce.
Love in Close Protection: 13 Bodyguard Romances
Will professionalism keep them apart, or is falling for your bodyguard inevitable?
Blog Posts
Women Who Built BPL: Elaine Leeder, Donor
Elaine Leeder is a professor, author, activist, prisoner advocate, psychotherapist, and Dean Emerita at Sonoma State University.
Libby by OverDrive
eBooks, audiobooks, & magazines available for download to your computer or mobile device. To read on your tablet or phone use the Libby app.
hoopla
Movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, and comics for online streaming or download to mobile devices, with no waiting lists. 7 items per month.
biblio+
With biblio+, library card holders have unlimited access to an ad-free catalog of movies, TV shows, and documentaries on many devices.
Kanopy
Kanopy includes acclaimed movies and documentaries on-demand from award-winning filmmakers. Each month BPL patrons receive 18 tickets.
Libby by OverDrive
eBooks, audiobooks, & magazines available for download to your computer or mobile device. To read on your tablet or phone use the Libby app.
hoopla
Movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, and comics for online streaming or download to mobile devices, with no waiting lists. 7 items per month.
biblio+
With biblio+, library card holders have unlimited access to an ad-free catalog of movies, TV shows, and documentaries on many devices.
Kanopy
Kanopy includes acclaimed movies and documentaries on-demand from award-winning filmmakers. Each month BPL patrons receive 18 tickets.
For Kids
Find content for kids of all ages. The Boston Public Library has many resources, events, and much much more.
Kids Carousal
Join a Story Time!
Check out our upcoming Story Times for your little ones on the events calendar!
Online Resources for Kids
Discover our online resources for kids. We have encyclopedic resources, resources for reading and for language learning. Learn more here.
DÃa Virtual Comic Workshop with Rosa Colón Guerra
Apr 30th | 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Author and illustrator, Rosa Colón Guerra will offer an art workshop about the basic of comic-making and how to create your own.
Join a Story Time!
Check out our upcoming Story Times for your little ones on the events calendar!
Online Resources for Kids
Discover our online resources for kids. We have encyclopedic resources, resources for reading and for language learning. Learn more here.
DÃa Virtual Comic Workshop with Rosa Colón Guerra
Apr 30th | 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Author and illustrator, Rosa Colón Guerra will offer an art workshop about the basic of comic-making and how to create your own.
For Teens
Find content for teens of all ages. The Public Library has many resources, events and much much more.
Teens Carousal
The Celtic Bells: Irish Music and Boston Irish History
The Celtic Bells are the mother and son duo of musician, storyteller, and fiber artist Nancy Bell and multi-instrumentalist Calum Bell.
Browse Boston Public Library's New Zine Collection
Come check out our new collection of more than 945 zines (300+ unique titles)! A zine is a small, independently-produced publication.
Gale Presents: Peterson's Test Prep
Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks.
The Celtic Bells: Irish Music and Boston Irish History
The Celtic Bells are the mother and son duo of musician, storyteller, and fiber artist Nancy Bell and multi-instrumentalist Calum Bell.
Browse Boston Public Library's New Zine Collection
Come check out our new collection of more than 945 zines (300+ unique titles)! A zine is a small, independently-produced publication.
Gale Presents: Peterson's Test Prep
Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks.
Business & Career Success
BPL offers many resources and events for job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, makers, and more.
Business & Career Success Carousal
Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center Alcoves
Patrons and groups of up to 6 can book a KBLIC Alcove for work or other tasks which may not be accomplished in other areas of the library.
Business Online Resources
Explore our many business online resources including databases, newspapers, periodical indexes, and directories.
Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center Alcoves
Patrons and groups of up to 6 can book a KBLIC Alcove for work or other tasks which may not be accomplished in other areas of the library.
Business Online Resources
Explore our many business online resources including databases, newspapers, periodical indexes, and directories.
Community Learning
The Community Learning Center can help with citizenship, immigration, English classes, adult education, technology, job success, and more.
Business & Career Success Carousal
Community History
We help Boston history become more inclusive by offering support for anyone who wants to document, share, and save their stories.
Excel Adult High School: Earn a High School Diploma
Earn an accredited high school diploma with our free, self-paced, 100% online, education program.
Community History
We help Boston history become more inclusive by offering support for anyone who wants to document, share, and save their stories.
Excel Adult High School: Earn a High School Diploma
Earn an accredited high school diploma with our free, self-paced, 100% online, education program.
Research
Research Services staff can assist you with finding collections for your use, whether for the casual learner, for formal education support, or for scholarly research.
Research Carousal
Researching Black History at the BPL
This is a BPL staff guide on researching Black history in the U.S. at the BPL and beyond.
Researching at the Boston Public Library
This guide can help you get started researching at the Boston Public Library.
Researching Black History at the BPL
This is a BPL staff guide on researching Black history in the U.S. at the BPL and beyond.
Researching at the Boston Public Library
This guide can help you get started researching at the Boston Public Library.
Special Collections
The Special Collections Department facilitates discovery and fosters public engagement with rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials held by Boston Public Library.
Special Collections Carousal
Apply for a Research Fellowship in BPL's Special Collections
The Boston Public Library is proud to announce two new research fellowships to support the use of special collections.
Community Cookbook Collection
The BPL's growing Community Cookbook Collection documents the culinary history of New England communities.
Apply for a Research Fellowship in BPL's Special Collections
The Boston Public Library is proud to announce two new research fellowships to support the use of special collections.
Community Cookbook Collection
The BPL's growing Community Cookbook Collection documents the culinary history of New England communities.
Researching Your House
Resources for researching questions such as how old your house is, who the architect was, how to find plans of your house, and more.
Boston's Annexed Towns and Some Neighborhood Resources
Boston is a city of neighborhoods, an amalgamation of towns that were annexed in the 19th and early 20th century.
Getting Started with Oral History
Find tips and tools to help you plan and implement an oral history project in this research guide.
Researching Your House
Resources for researching questions such as how old your house is, who the architect was, how to find plans of your house, and more.
Boston's Annexed Towns and Some Neighborhood Resources
Boston is a city of neighborhoods, an amalgamation of towns that were annexed in the 19th and early 20th century.
Getting Started with Oral History
Find tips and tools to help you plan and implement an oral history project in this research guide.
Departments at the BPL
Kids
Kids
Get homework help assistance in multiple languages at over half of our locations and online, join the Future Readers Club, and more!
Teens
Teens
We have events, online resources, spaces across our BPL locations, and more specifically for teens.
Community Learning Center
Community Learning Center
The Community Learning Center can help with citizenship, immigration, English classes, adult education, technology, job success, and more.
Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)
Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)
KBLIC invites media creators, innovators, job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, coders, and makers to its space.
Reader Services
Reader Services
Our Reader Services team is knowledgeable about new books, trends in publishing, and helping readers find what they should read.
Research Services
Research Services
Research Services staff can assist you with finding collections for your use, for formal education support, scholarly research, and more.
Leventhal Map & Education Center
Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center
The Map Center uses maps, geography, and history to explore the connections between places and people in Boston, New England, and beyond.
Special Collections
Special Collections
The Special Collections Department fosters public engagement with rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials held by BPL.
Special Events
Special Events
The Special Events staff looks forward to helping you plan your event. Contact us for more info, date availability, or to arrange a visit.
Browse new titles, resources, and more!