BPL’s Annual Published Booklists

Every year our librarians compile booklists that celebrate the diversity of our world, starting with Black Is..., the very first list published in 1973, to honor Black History Month! Visit your local branch to pick up the latest booklist or view the digitized lists below and check out a title from the lists in our catalog!

Black Is... - Black Is... is a list of recent books concerning the African American experience. It is published as part of the Boston Public Library's observance of Black History Month each February. Black Is... was first published in 1973. Check out a book from the current Black Is... list via the library's catalog here!

Black Is... 2022 committee members:

Kirsten DeCortin - Black Is... Chairperson, Reader Services Librarian, Central Library

Opetoritse "Ritse" Adefolalu - Children's and Teen Librarian, Lower Mills Branch

Liz Blake - Programs & Community Outreach Librarian, Fields Corner Branch

Maija Meadows Hasegawa - Youth Programs Librarian, Central Library

Daniela Solano Hernandez - Young Adults Librarian, Teen Central


Asian/Pacific American Heritage - Asian/Pacific American Heritage is a list of recent books concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience. It is published as part of the Boston Public Library's observance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month every May. Asian/Pacific American Heritage was first published in 2019. Check out a book from the current Asian/Pacific American Heritage list via the library's catalog here!

Asian/Pacific American Heritage 2022 committee members:

Liz Blake - Programs & Community Outreach Librarian, at the Fields Corner Branch Library

Meia Geddes - Web Services Librarian, Central Library

Chris Glass - Research Services Librarian, Central Library

Veronica Koven-Matasy - Asian/Pacific American Heritage Chairperson, Reader Services Specialist, Central Library

Jingting Long - Workforce Development Librarian, Central Library

Maija Meadows Hasewaga - Assistant Neighborhood Services Manager

Uma Murthy - Branch Librarian, Brighton Branch Library

Monica Shin - Digital Services Librarian


We Are Pride - We Are Pride is a list of books published in the previous year for all ages concerning the diverse experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. This printing is part of the Boston Public Library’s annual observance of Pride Month every June. We Are Pride was first published in 2017, featuring books published in 2016. Check out a book from the current We Are Pride list via the library's catalog here!

We Are Pride 2022 committee members:

Jordan Draves - We Are Pride Chairperson, Reader Services Librarian, Central Library (she/they)

Veronica Koven-Matasy - Reader Services Specialist, Central Library (she/her)

Stephen Toropov - Teen Librarian, Roxbury Branch (they/them)

Allison Hahn - Children's Librarian, Brighton Branch (she/her)

Laura Berestecki - Collection Librarian, Central Library (she/her)


Latinx Life - Latinx Life is a list of recent books concerning the Latinx experience and is published as part of the Boston Public Library's observance of Hispanic Heritage Month each year from September 15th - October 15th. The list was first published in 2004 as Latino Life and in 2018, the name was changed to Latinx Life. Check out a book from the current Latinx Life list via the library's catalog here! 

Latinx Life 2022 committee members:

Amy Manson-Reese - Latinx Life Chairperson, Branch Librarian, Faneuil Branch

Diana Beltrao de Macedo - Generalist Librarian, East Boston branch

Jane Bickford - Branch Librarian, South Boston Branch

Kate Brown - Branch Librarian, Adams Street Branch

Denise de Boer - Reader Services Librarian, Central Library in Copley Square

Hope Genty - Children's Librarian, Honan-Allston Branch

Jackie Hincapie - Children's Librarian, Adams Street Branch

Sujei Lugo - Children's Librarian, Connolly Branch

Cory Sullivan - Branch Librarian, Lower Mills Branch


Native Lives, Native Stories - Native Lives, Native Stories is a list of books published in the previous year for all ages concerning the experiences of the Native and Indigenous communities throughout North America, as part of the Boston Public Library's annual observance of Native American Heritage Month every November. Native Lives, Native Stories was first published in 2021, featuring books published in 2020. Check out a book from the current Native Lives, Native Stories list via the library's catalog here!

Native Lives, Native Stories 2021 committee members:

Jordan Draves - Native Lives, Native Stories Chairperson, Reader Services Librarian, Central Library

Emily Todd - Branch Librarian, Connolly Branch

Elizabeth Cousins - Research Services Librarian, Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center

Mary Devine - Workforce Development Librarian, Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center


To see more digitized booklists created by Boston Public Library's librarians over the years, including Young Adult/Teen lists compiled by our Teen Librarians dating back to 1955, check out our digital booklist archives here.