Special Collections: Visit Us
Special Collections is located at the Central Library in Copley Square, at 700 Boylston Street in Boston.
Inside the library, we are located on the 4th floor of the Boylston Street Building.
Take the Glass Elevator near the Boylston entrance to "3U."
The library is conveniently located near many public transit stations, including the Copley station of the Green Line, the Back Bay station of the Orange Line and Commuter Rail, and bus lines 9, 10, 55, 39, 504, 57, 553, and 501. Use the MBTA Trip Planner for more information on traveling by transit.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an Appointment
Take a Tour
Explore our Historic Building
Currently on Display
Hands-On History: Conservation Stories from the Boston Public Library
Hands-On History showcases select projects from the Boston Public Library’s Conservation Lab. Books and art made from paper, parchment, leather, and wood deteriorate as they age, and BPL conservators employ a variety of techniques and materials to treat and repair collection objects so they can be used by researchers today and preserved for future generations. While conservation typically occurs behind the scenes, this display shares more about decisions that inform treatment plans, as well as the tools and materials used.
