Meeting Spaces

The Central Library in Copley Square has a number of community rooms and event spaces available for public meetings and for private rental.

Study Rooms

The three study rooms on the Mezzanine level are part of the Community Learning Center. 

The rooms are available to individuals for small group work or other tasks, which may not be easily accomplished in other areas of the Library. For individual or group work around business or entrepreneurial endeavors, video or audio recording, or other collaborative work, please visit the Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center. Study room bookings are not considered confirmed until approved by the Library’s Special Events Department

This application form should be filled out, signed and returned for review. Requests for study rooms at the Copley Square location can be submitted via email: events@bpl.org.

• Reservations must be made with a minimum of 2 days’ notice and no more than 2 weeks ahead of the requested date
• Study rooms may be booked for 4-hours maximum per day; up to two reservations a week, maximum 4 per month, unless authorized by the library
• At this time we are unable to accommodate day-of requests

Once your request has been processed you will be contacted as to its status. Please read the guidelines before you fill out the application (both below).

• Guidelines for Booking Study Rooms
• Study Room Application

Please contact the Special Events Office at 617.859.2212 or events@bpl.org for additional information.

Study Rooms Available for Use

Mezzanine Conference Room 1: 2-4
Mezzanine Conference Room 2: up to 20
Mezzanine Conference Room 3 (LCD Screen built in for laptop connectivity): up to 14

Community Rooms

A community room is available to 501(c) non-profit organizations holding meetings that are free and open to the public based on the policies and procedures outlined below:

• Meeting Room Use Policy
• Meeting Room Use Procedures
• Meeting Room Application

A community room may be requested up to 90-days in advance, and are granted on a first come first serve basis. No organization may use the Library as its primary meeting location. Please contact the Special Events Office at 617.859.2212 or events@bpl.org for additional information.

Community Rooms Available for Use

McKim building Commonwealth Salon: Lecture seating for 80 attendees. Presentation stage with podium and microphone; projection screen

McKim building Orientation Room: Lecture seating for 60 attendees, or classroom seating for 32 attendees

Conference Rooms for Rent

The Boston Public Library has a number of meeting rooms available to accommodate your next corporate conference. Please contact the Special Events Office at 617.859.2212 or events@bpl.org to begin planning your meeting in this historic and centrally located venue.

• Conference Room Rental Pricing.
• The Catered Affair Conference Catering Menu

Conference Rooms

McKim building Orientation Room: Lecture seating for 60 attendees, classroom seating for 32 attendees, conference table for 20 attendees.

McKim building Lower Level Conference Rooms: Lecture seating for 100 attendees, banquet seating for 100 attendees, conference table seating for 30 attendees.

Johnson building Mezzanine Conference Room: Conference table seating for 14 attendees. LCD screen for laptop presentations.

Johnson building Rabb Hall: Auditorium seating for 306 attendees. Full audio-visual capabilities, with up to 9 microphones. Green Room available.

McKim building Guastavino Room: Lecture seating for 200, banquet seating for 180