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Boston Public Library Celebrates Black History Month

Jan 30, 2025
BPL’s observance of Black History Month includes new booklist, special events, and highlighted Special Collections items

Black Feminist Classics

Black feminism is a school of thought that focuses on Black women's experiences and recognizes the intersectionality of racism and sexism.

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.

Black Musicians in Classical Music

These 18 albums represent just a taste of some of the performers and composers that one can listen to.

Blind Date with a Book

Looking for a date for Valentine's Day? Let the library set you up with a book! Visit the Central Library in Copley Square, Brighton Branch, East Boston Branch, Mattapan Branch, or Roxbury Branch this February to pick up an anonymously wrapped book.

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.

Immigration: Joys and Hardships

The Art Committee of the Friends of the Roslindale Branch Library would cordially like to invite everyone to see their new exhibition.

Mary Russell: Revisiting Climate Science Through Art

Feb 1st - Feb 27th | All day
Check out West Roxbury's new exhibition, Mary Russell's "Narrative Interrupted."

Art Exhibit - Jack Lueders-Booth: The Orange Line

Jan 18th - Mar 14th | All day
The Connolly Branch is proud to host an exhibit of ten photographs by photographer Jack Lueders-Booth.

Central Library Gallery J Exhibition: We Read Banned Books!

It is Moss's hope that this series contributes to a wider understanding of the importance of access to books by all who wish to read them.

Get a Boston Public Library Card Today

Your library card is your passport to technology, literacy, fluency, community, and so much more.

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Explore the Possibilities

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.

Crane Museum of Papermaking

Dartmouth St. and Boylston St. sides, construction of the McKim Building

BPL McKim Building Construction Photos

Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts

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

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While You're Waiting for The Substance...

Try some of these books and movies featuring themes of beauty, horror, bodily destruction, and the hidden costs of getting what you wanted.

Career Resources: Pivoting

Pivoting careers? Check out these resources to help you navigate the process.

14 Hockey Books for the 4 Nations Face-Off

Check out one of these hockey books to get into the spirit or to learn more about the sport!

Blog Posts

Queer Lit Review: February 2025

This month: Muslim teens fighting for abortion, a nomad falling for the new guy in town, two exes falling in love over a murder on Jupiter.

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Read the BPL Blog

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Join a Book Group

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.

BPL World Language Collections

For Kids

Find content for kids of all ages. The Boston Public Library has many resources, events, and much much more.

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DISCOVER KIDS

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Join a Story Time!

Check out our upcoming Story Times for your little ones on the events calendar!

Literacy

Your BPL card opens doors for kids to learn to love reading. Children from birth to kindergarten can join the Future Readers Club.

Online Resources for Kids

Discover our online resources for kids. We have encyclopedic resources, resources for reading and for language learning. Learn more here.

For Teens

Find content for teens of all ages. The Public Library has many resources, events and much much more.

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BPL Teen Galahad Creative Writing Contest

This contest is open to teens ages 12-17, grades 6th to 12th grade. The deadline is Monday, January 20, 2025.

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.

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Business Library Resources

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Job & Career Success

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Adult Education

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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.

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Excel Adult High School: Earn a High School Diploma

Earn an accredited high school diploma with our free, self-paced, 100% online, education program.

Welcome to Boston

Boston Public Library welcomes you to the beautiful city of Boston! Find resources and more on this webpage.

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.

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Research Services

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A-Z Online Resources

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Research Guides

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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.

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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.

Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center

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Visit Our Map Center

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

Guests are gathered behind the pillars in seats in the courtyard, while a group of people, including the bride and groom, stand in the courtyard, facing the guests

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.

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