Special collections materials are discoverable and accessible through a variety of different interfaces, both online and offline
Research catalog
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Best option when searching for rare books and individual manuscripts - Records display full bibliographic data on primary screen
- All descriptive fields, including subject headings, genre headings, and copy-specific descriptions are keyword searchable
Catalog
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Good option if title or author are already known - Better ability to search/browse collections by department and/or date range
- Must "broaden search" to see full results list
- Records display abbreviated bibliographic data, with option to view full description
Finding aids
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Search and browse archival finding aids or descriptive inventories of manuscript collections held within the Boston Public Library
Digital Commonwealth
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Online repository of digitized materials from BPL collections and from the collections of hundreds of other Massachusetts institutions - Facilitates discovery and download of digitized prints, drawings, manuscripts, books, works of art, and photographs not always indexed in the online catalogs
Boston Public Library at Internet Archive
- Online repository of digitized materials from BPL collections, including special collections
- Good resource if you already know the exact title you are looking for and that it has been digitized
Printed catalogs, lists, and inventories
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Certain items and collections are not yet cataloged online and are primarily searchable on-site and in print form only - Individual departments maintain card catalogs, paper finding aids, accession lists, and other inventory documents
- Researchers are encouraged to visit in person or to contact the appropriate department for further information
