Newspapers, pamphlets, and broadsides gathered by the Reverend Charles Burney (1757-1817) representing the largest and most comprehensive collection of early English news media, containing approximately 1,270 titles from London, the British Isles, and the colonies. Local Coverage: Boston Gazette (1721-1722); New England Courant (1721-1723).
Over 180,000 full-text searchable 18th century books, pamphlets, essays, broadsides, and more, primarily in English, covering all aspects of life and knowledge, including history, geography, arts and literature, law, science, medicine, and the social sciences.
Searchable full-page and article reproductions of newspapers from across the country. Massachusetts Coverage: Boston: Atlas, Congregationalist, Courier, Daily Advertiser, Emancipator & Republican, Investigator, Liberator; Lowell: Lowell Daily Citizen.
Alternative Press Index is a database of journal, newspaper, and magazine articles from hundreds of international alternative, radical, and left periodicals. Topics include anarchism, ecology, democracy, feminism, organized labor, LGTBQ+, indigenous people, and emerging social movements. Covers 1991--present. Not full-text.
Multiple collections of genealogical and public records from around the world, focusing primarily on the U.S. and New England. Includes access to publications of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Only available at Central Library
Partnering with the American Antiquarian Society (AAS), EBSCO provides digital access to a comprehensive collection of American periodicals published between 1684 and 1912 in fifty subject-based thematic subsets.
American Indian Newspapers is a collection of newspapers, ranging from historic pressings to contemporary periodicals, which together explore nearly 200 years of Indigenous print journalism from the US and Canada.
A music history database that highlights social and political songs by and about American indigenous, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers and cowboys.Included in the database are the songs of Civil Rights, political campaigns, Prohibition, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, anti-war protests, and more.
Billions of genealogical records focusing primarily on the United States, with some records from Europe and Canada. Highlights include immigration and naturalization records, fully indexed U.S. Census records from 1790 to 1940, and Massachusetts vital records from the colonial era to the early 20th century.
Available for in-library use only
Searchable Associated Press content, including 4.6 million photographs (1826-present) as well as graphics, audio (1920-present), and articles (1997-present).
Describes over 220,000 collections of primary source material in thousands of repositories across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Detailed descriptions of archival collections, including historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and other materials at thousands of libraries, museums, historical societies, and archives worldwide.
Students, educators, and researchers can now engage with a vast resource that connects them to rare and unique documentation of LGBTQ+ history through fully-searchable newsletters, government documents, manuscripts, pamphlets, and other types of primary sources.
Our subscription contains:
A diverse collection of mostly U.S. primary source and historical materials, including city and business directories for southern states, miscellaneous county & regional histories and atlases, Civil War reports, newspapers, and narratives, the archives of the Federal Writers’ Project (1933-1943), and some Canadian and Irish historical materials.
Periodicals covered include English-language periodicals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins. Additional periodicals are published in French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Swedish. This database also indexes reproductions of works of art that appear in indexed periodicals.
Coverage: indexing of periodicals from 1984-present and abstracting from 1994-present.
Formerly known as Arts:Search, this resource includes:
A bibliographic database that cumulates citations to Art Index volumes 1-32 of the printed index published between 1929-1984. The database cites articles from periodicals published throughout the world, including English-language periodicals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins, as well as periodicals published in French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Dutch. Reproductions of works of art that appear in indexed periodicals are also included.
Coverage: 1929-1984.
The backfile of Artforum (later Artforum International), the leading magazine for coverage of international contemporary art, from its launch in 1962 to 2020. Spanning six decades of reporting on art in all media, Artforum offers features, reviews, and interviews relating to artists, exhibitions, publications, and other art world events / trends.
Coverage: 1962-2020.
The Artstor Digital Library is a nonprofit resource that provides over 1.6 million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences with an accessible suite of software tools for teaching and research. This community-built collections comprise contributions from outstanding international museums, photographers, libraries, scholars, photo archives, and artists and artists' estates.
252 plays by 42 Asian American playwrights, accompanied by searchable information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. Includes selected playbills, production photographs, and other ephemera. Half of the plays are previously unpublished.
Atlascope is a tool for exploring historic urban maps in metropolitan Boston and telling stories about how places have changed over time. It currently includes 106 atlases of the Boston metropolitan area.
AtoZ World Food contains traditional recipes and covers food culture for 174 countries of the world in six categories: National Cuisine, Regional Cuisine, Daily Meals, Dining Etiquette, Special Occasion Foods, and Food Trivia.
AtoZdatabases is a leading job search, reference & mailing list database including 30 million business profiles & 240 million residents. Ideal for sales leads mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, finding friends and relatives, and more.
Streaming audio performances of more than 290 important dramatic works of the 19th-21st centuries, from the curated archive of the nation’s premiere radio theatre company.
Information on archaeology, architecture, furniture, urban design, historic preservation, landscape architecture and urban planning history.
Coverage: 1930s-present, selective coverage dating to 1860s
Delivers access to award-winning news coverage of the Massachusetts real estate, banking, and financial industries. This resource provides access to the most comprehensive database of real estate and credit records in MA and RI. In-library use only.
Available for in-library use only
Barron's is a weekly financial magazine founded in 1921 published by Dow Jones & Company. Barron’s covers U.S. financial information, market developments, and statistics and is a valuable resource for researchers studying financial history, market trends, and investment strategies. Coverage: 1921 - 2010
biblio+ is a streaming service with a highly-curated selection of films and television, from award-winners and nominees to independent discoveries, thoughtful documentaries, and everything in between. With biblio+, library members have unlimited access to an ad-free catalog of video content on many devices.
This resource is now delivered through Gale Directory Library, so the interface will look different.
Comprehensive index of current and historical biographical sources containing information on living and deceased individuals of prominence from all over the world.
1,462 plays by 233 African American playwrights, accompanied by searchable information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. Includes selected playbills, production photographs, and other ephemera. 600 of the plays are previously unpublished.
This resource features select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history. It is designed to support a wide range of students, as well independent researchers and anyone interested in learning more about the foundation of ongoing racial injustice in the U.S.—and the fights against it.
Searchable full-page and article reproductions back to the first issue on March 4, 1872. Coverage: Morning Edition only.
Text-only articles (not page reproductions). Does not contain all content found in the published version of the Globe, such as advertisements, charts, classified ads, graphs, most images, and non-staff written items. Updated daily by 8 a.m.
This resource requires you to create a free temporary account.
Up-to-the-moment access to www.bostonherald.com with no limit on the number of articles viewed. Choose 72-hour authenticated access or 24-hour anonymous access. Coverage: 2006-present
Searchable content from WGBH, WCVB, WHDH, and Cambridge Community Television. Coverage: 1960-1999.
Curated by our Research Services librarians, this comprehensive guide brings together dozens of free resources to help you
An interactive learning environment for ages 4 to 7 that gives early learners developmentally appropriate skill-building activities. Includes art and reading activities, games, a visual atlas, audiovisual materials, vocabulary builders, and more.
Three levels of age-appropriate encyclopedia content for adults, middle and high school students, and children. Includes articles, primary sources, audiovisual materials, dictionaries, a world atlas, web links, and a country comparison feature. Research tools include citation assistance and a step-by-step planner and tutorial for research and reports.
Britannica Moderna, designed for older students, offers more than 47,000 articles, 8,000 images, maps, and audiovisual materials. It includes the Merriam-Webster Spanish-English Dictionary and the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language (RAE) dictionary. Native Spanish speakers, bilingual students, and students learning Spanish may find it valuable.
Britannica Moderna, diseñada para estudiantes mayores, ofrece más de 47,000 artículos, 8,000 imágenes, mapas y material audiovisual. Incluye el diccionario español-inglés Merriam-Webster y el diccionario de la Real Academia Española (RAE). Puede ser un recurso valioso para hablantes nativos del español, estudiantes bilingües y aquellos que estén aprendiendo español.
Three comprehensive encyclopedias for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Consiste en dos recursos principales: Enciclopedia Moderna (para edades de escuela secundaria y posteriores) y Britannica Escolar Online (para edades de 6 a 12).
Consists of two resources: Enciclopedia Moderna (for high school students and above) and Britannica Escolar Online (for ages 6-12).
Full page reproductions of national and regional newspapers specially selected to best represent nineteenth century Britain, including newspapers that helped lead political or social movements and penny papers aimed at the working and clerical classes.
Reproductions of manuscripts, letters, and diaries, handwritten drafts of poems, plays, novels, and other literary works, and similar materials. Catalog records can be searched, but the manuscripts themselves are not full-text searchable.
Primary sources relating to the arts in the 18th and 19th centuries, including playbills, scripts, operas, scores, letters, manuscripts, meeting minutes, and financial records.
Research Guides written by BPL librarians focusing on a wide range of business topics including: Copyright, Historical Company Research, How to Write a Business Plan, Researching Antiques and Collectibles, Researching Mutual Funds, Researching Old Stocks, and Managing Your Money for Beginners.
Research Guides written by BPL librarians focusing on a wide range of workforce development topics including: Green Workforce Development, Job Seekers' Guide, and Reentry Resources for Returning Citizens, their families, and loved ones.
Delivers a chronological history of a stock's changes in corporate capital structure, including name changes, mergers, spin-offs, bankruptcy filings, and stock splits.
This resource requires you to create a free individual account. See the New User link on the login screen to register.
Available for in-library use only
Encyclopedias for children from Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Searchable page reproductions of U.S. newspapers from 1789-1963 and a directory of U.S. newspapers from 1690 to the present. Produced by the National Digital Newspaper Program, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
Containing hearings and committee prints, legislative histories on the landmark legislations, CRS and GAO reports, briefs from major Supreme Court cases, and publications from the Commission on Civil Rights, this database allows users to educate themselves on the ways our civil rights have been strengthened and expanded over time, as well as how these legal protections can go further still.
Classical Music Library's growing collection of 50,000-plus tracks for listening and searching is supplemented by extensive reference materials and backed by a powerful suite of tools designed to support learning.
Classical Scores Library provided an authoritative source for scores of the classical canon and contemporary works. Includes works from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga — without worrying about holds, wait lists, or monthly limits. You can also use the Comics Plus mobile app to download comics for offline reading.
Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga — without worrying about holds, wait lists, or monthly limits.
Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga — without worrying about holds, wait lists, or monthly limits.
Full text of the Congressional Record (1873-1997), Congressional Globe (1833-1873), Register of Debates (1824-1837), and Annals of Congress (1789-1824), representing the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
A music database that offers the streaming of music from all regions of the world. Includes popular music, film scores, and genres of all kinds.
Founded in 1923 as Editorial Research Reports, CQ Researcher is noted for its in-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the economy. Each single-themed, 12,000-word report is researched and written by a seasoned journalist. Includes access to CQ Almanac, which provides authoritative analysis on the major legislation and actions of congress for each year since 1945.
Creativebug has thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists.
This resource requires you to register an account so you may save and continue your progress.
Full-text searchable articles and entries from hundreds of sources, including general and subject-specific encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other books covering a wide range of topics. Includes an alphabetical topic list for easy browsing.
Journal, magazine, and news articles and reports covering a wide range of topics, including law, criminology, forensics, sociology, psychology and mental health, and substance abuse and addiction.
Over 600 performances and over 600 documentaries, interviews, and instructional videos featuring the most influential performers and companies of the 20th century, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, experimental, and improvisational dance, as well as forerunners of the forms and the pioneers of modern concert dance.
DemographicsNow: Business & People enables users to produce comprehensive business and residential lists as well as detailed demographic reports or use a mapping tool that visualizes trends.
Demographics Now will no longer be available effective November 15th 2024.
Contains annotated references from more than 450 design and craft journals published between 1973-2001, and data on nearly 50,000 designers, craftspeople, studios, workshops, firms etc., making the largest database of its kind in the world. Coverage: 1973-2001.
Available for in-library use only
Digitized photographs, manuscripts, books and other material of local and historical interest from the Boston Public Library and other libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies in Massachusetts.
Search across decades of art and architecture magazine back issues. Titles include:
Search across decades of business magazine back issues. Titles include:
Search across decades of news and broad-interest magazine back issues. Titles include:
Search across decades of back issues from magazines focusing on political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. Titles include:
Search across decades of Sports Illustrated back issues.
Full searchable reproductions of The Economist starting with the first published issue, including exportable financial tables.
Delivers current news, company and industry information, and market and economic analyses for emerging markets in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia.
Available for in-library use only
Intends to list every book and periodical printed in Britain or any of its dependencies, or in English anywhere else in the world, from 1473-1800. Identifies libraries with known copies of each title and provides references to reproductions on microfilm and in other formats. Hosted by the British Library.
An index and full-text digital library of English-language education research, including journal articles, government publications, reports, theses, dissertations, books, conference proceedings, and audiovisual materials. All items are described using the ERIC Thesaurus, a special collection of subject terms for education topics. This resource is created and maintained by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.
Searchable federal and state case law, statutes, regulations, rules of court, constitutions, and more. Coverage varies by state.
Available for in-library use only
Searchable article and page reproductions of the world’s most authoritative daily business newspaper. For additional full text coverage (1999-30 days ago), please visit Gale General OneFile.
Up-to-the-moment access to www.sentinelandenterprise.com with no limit on the number of articles viewed. Choose 72-hour authenticated access or 24-hour anonymous access. Coverage: 2006-present
Explore, download, and read current magazine issues on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
A Flipster app for iOS or Android devices is also available. To install the Flipster app on a Kindle Fire tablet, follow these directions.
Foundation Maps is Foundation Center’s premier data visualization tool and the easiest way to see who is funding what and where around the world. With millions of grants from 2006 to the present, innovative ways to visualize funding data, and the flexibility and precision to tailor research, Foundation Maps helps funders and nonprofits access the knowledge they need to make strategic decisions and strengthen their impact.
Only available at Boston Public Library locations
Access Foundation Center databases, directories, fundraising and philanthropy publications, and training resources from a single link.
Candid is a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits serve their communities. Candid’s key tools include GuideStar and Foundation Directory. Patrons can access GuideStar to research local nonprofits to support and to find services. Nonprofits and individuals seeking funding, scholarships, or fellowships can access Foundation Directory to find and connect with funders.
Searching for grants to individuals in Foundation Directory is simple. This help article outlines the steps to conducting a search.
Only available at Boston Public Library locations
Full-text journal and magazine articles and citations covering the sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature, and other subjects. Coverage:1901-present; most full-text coverage after 1980.
Full-text news and scholarly journal articles, audiovisual materials, reports, and primary source material covering all academic disciplines. Includes translation and citation tools and a TopicFinder to expand your research. Coverage: 1980-present.
Small Business Collection provides access to academic journals and magazines perfect for both business school students and entrepreneurs, that will help you start, plan, fund, and manage a small business.
Gale Business: Plan Builder is a step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing and optimizing a business or nonprofit. The program’s intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success.
Searchable directories of businesses, brands, organizations and associations, information sources, and more.
Encyclopedias and other specialized reference sources covering the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences, including medicine, business, law, and more.
Full-text journal and magazine articles, newspapers, and audiovisual material covering a diverse set of general interest and academic topics.
Encyclopedias, books, journal and magazine articles, and audiovisual materials, with nearly 300 topic pages offering organized collections of resources on medical conditions, treatments, tests, procedures, and medications.
Indexed full-text biographies and news items covering a wide range of individuals from many fields, gathered from reference sources and periodicals.
Designed for children in kindergarten through grade 5, this resource includes reference books, news and magazine articles, and audiovisual materials covering a wide range of topics, as well as teacher resources and a translation tool.
This resource was formerly named Kids InfoBits.
Understand environmental issues that affect people globally through topic overviews, journals, news, and multimedia content.
Current news, journal articles, primary sources, statistics, audiovisual material, and web links. Over 600 topic pages offer organized collections of resources about events, countries, organizations, and subjects of national and international concern.
Designed for middle school students, this resource includes magazine and news articles, reference books, primary sources, and audiovisual materials covering a wide range of topics, as well as research and writing tips and teacher resources.
Covers today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana.
Journal, magazine, and news articles, reference books, audiovisual material, maps, experiments, and web links. Over 600 topic pages offer organized collections of resources about scientists and scientific subjects.
Primary source materials, periodical articles, reference works, and multimedia. Over 375 topic pages offer organized collections of resources about people, events, movements, and ideas from the precolonial period to the present.
Primary source materials, periodical articles, reference works, and multimedia. Over 350 topic pages offer organized collections of resources about people, events, civilizations, and ideas from the ancient world to the present.
Manipulate 3D interactive models to visualize and understand concepts in biology, chemistry, earth, and space science.
Thousands of legal forms with more forms being added daily. Official, State Specific, Federal, Business, Personal, Real Estate, and General forms covering hundreds of legal subjects and issues. Warning: Public users should consult an attorney in their state for serious legal matters.
Includes the full-text literary criticism articles, reference books, and biographical information from Literature Criticism Online and Literature Resource Center (below).
Full-text literary criticism articles covering works from the ancient world to the present, including poetry, short stories, drama, and children’s literature.
Full-text literary criticism articles, reviews, work overviews, and biographical information.
Biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures. More than 420 volumes and 164,000 pages. An invaluable source for tracing the development of authors' catalogs and the evolution of their reputation.
Historical newspapers and periodicals, primarily from Britain and the United States, covering the 17th -21st centuries.
Access current and authoritative periodical content covering agriculture and its related fields.
Analyze company performance and activity, industry events and trends back to 1980 as well as the latest in management, economics and politics. Includes broker research reports, trade publications, newspapers, journals and company directory listings with full text and images available.
Search millions of articles covering all aspects of communications, including advertising, public relations, and more.
Cooking and nutrition magazines, culinary journals, and reference books, including industry information and thousands of searchable recipes and restaurant reviews.
Access a range of periodical content to explore cultural differences, contributions, and influences in the global community.
Discover content useful for starting a business, marketing a product, developing policy, analyzing trends, and more.
Journal and magazine articles, reference books, and trade publications offering diverse perspectives and information from the scientific community, government policy makers, and corporate interests.
Search millions of articles about drama, music, art history, and filmmaking. Diverse resource for serious fine arts students.
Journal and magazine articles, textbooks, and other materials covering plant science, aesthetics and design, and practical skills.
Discover balanced coverage of topics related to gender studies, family and marital issues, and more.
Scholarly and professional journal articles, books, reports, newsletters, popular health magazines, and audiovisual materials for students, researchers, and health care professionals.
Designed for high school students, this resource includes journal, magazine, and newspaper articles, reference books, primary sources, and audiovisual materials covering a wide range of topics. Includes citation and translation tools and a TopicFinder to expand your research.
Search home improvement topics such as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and more.
Full-text articles from scholarly journals, popular magazines, and trade publications, as well as travel guides and reference books covering the cultural, economic, and practical aspects of these industries.
Access articles covering all aspects of managing and maintaining information and technology. Updated daily.
Discover information about physical and intellectual asset protection, from individuals to multinational corporations.
Search authoritative periodical content covering topics like organizational dynamics, adult learning, and more. Updated daily.
Search scholarly journals, magazines, and reports covering all aspects of past and present military affairs. Updated daily.
Text-only articles (not page reproductions) from national and international newspapers, newswires, and some magazines. Coverage: 1981-present. Local Coverage: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis (09.18.2002-11.05.2014); Christian Science Monitor, Boston (01.08.1998 to present); Jewish Advocate, Boston (08.22.1991-09.25.2020); Telegram & Gazette, Worcester (full coverage: 11.29.2006-05.05.2015; scattered coverage: 02.14.1989-11.28.2006)
Journal articles, books, videos, and other content covering all aspects of the nursing profession, from direct patient care to health care administration. Coverage: 1980-present.
Journal and magazine articles, including content from popular sports magazines and coverage of physical fitness and outdoor recreation.
Access scholarly journals and magazines that both analyze and contribute to popular culture.
Access the most searched magazines across Gale OneFile focusing on current events, sports, science, and health issues.
Find authoritative periodical content supporting research in all fields of psychology.
Research the impact of religion on culture throughout history, including literature, arts, and language. Updated daily.
This collection focuses on finding the right career and an appropriate institution of learning, job searching, and maintaining a career. It offers content from nearly 400 journals from general career guides to trade publications.
Gain insight into conflicts and their causes, impact, and perception on a global scale.
Access Gale's Excel Adult High School, Peterson's Test Prep, and Peterson's Career Prep all through one portal.
Excel Adult High School offers the opportunity for Massachusetts residents age 19+ to earn an accredited high school diploma, fully online! Students can access courses 24/7 and can finish the program in lest time with transfer credits. Ongoing support from instructors and success coaches is available through an online tutoring program.
Peterson's Test Prep and Peterson's Career Prep offer free resume and job search help, career advice, career assessments, military crosswalk guidance, self-paced courses on vocation tests, and full-length practice tests.
Cross-search Gale OneFile, Gale In Context, and Gale eBooks. Subjects include: agriculture, biography, business, communications and mass media, criminal justice, culinary arts, diversity studies, economics and theory, environmental studies and policy, fine arts, gardening and horticulture, gender studies, global issues, health and medicine, high school edition, home improvement, hospitality and tourism, information science, insurance and liability, leadership and management, military and intelligence, news, nursing and allied health, opposing viewpoints, physical therapy and sports medicine, pop culture studies, popular magazines, psychology, religion and philosophy, science, U.S. history, war and terrorism, and world history.
Cross-search all Gale databases to which BPL subscribes. Subjects include: agriculture, biography, business, communications and mass media, criminal justice, culinary arts, diversity studies, economics and theory, environmental studies and policy, fine arts, gardening and horticulture, gender studies, global issues, health and medicine, high school edition, home improvement, hospitality and tourism, information science, insurance and liability, leadership and management, military and intelligence, news, nursing and allied health, opposing viewpoints, physical therapy and sports medicine, pop culture studies, popular magazines, psychology, religion and philosophy, science, U.S. history, war and terrorism, and world history.
Explore career tools to help you get a handle on what you're interested in, the skills and training you'll need, and what you can expect from your career path. Discover which careers suit you best, research potential career options, and explore the requirements and outlooks for the occupations you're interested in.
This resource requires you to create an individual account so you may save your work.
Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks. A companion to Peterson's Career Prep.
A ten volume encyclopedia of music from all ends of the globe indexed by location, genre, cultural group, instruments, and subjects.
Boston Public Library has partnered with Grow with Google to offer the Google Career Certificate program. The certificates are 100% online and are typically completed in three to six months part-time (5-10 hours per week). Users must pass 150+ assessments, and they also require hands-on experience so learners have the necessary skills to be successful on the job.
Google Career Certificates can help you prepare for jobs in: Cybersecurity, Advanced Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, IT Automation with Python, Business Intelligence, and more.
Contains the full searchable text and images of Grove Art Online, The Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms.
Resources in the broader Oxford Art Online may not be available.
GuideStar connects donors and grant makers to non-profit organizations, helping non-profit organizations prosper through successful social sector partnerships. Easily search data on 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations, gather insights on financials, people/leadership, mission, and more.
GuideStar Pro is only available at Boston Public Library locations. You will see "Boston Public Library" in the upper right-hand of the page as the current signed-in user. You will also see the word PRO in the search box instead of BASIC. From off-site, you will automatically revert to GuideStar Basic, and will be asked to create, and then sign in with your own credentials. You will see far less information through the free Basic site, rather than through our Pro subscription.
Only available at Boston Public Library locations
Included are periodicals, key compiled federal legislative histories, relevant congressional hearings, CRS Reports, Supreme Court briefs, and more. Links to nearly 500 scholarly articles, an extensive bibliography, and a balanced selection of external resources to further research this subject are also provided.
Full-text searchable page reproductions of the leading 19th century U.S. illustrated journal, browsable by date, subject, and page thumbnails.
Available for in-library use only
Digitized books, government publications, and other documents from the collections of an international community of research libraries. All material is indexed and searchable, but access to full reproductions is limited to material not under copyright.
Experience the benefits of meditation through guided meditations, animations, articles, and videos. The BPL has a limited number of licenses to assign to BPL cardholders. Licenses expire on the 1st of each calendar month, but you may return here to obtain a new license.
This resource requires you to register for an individual Headspace account.
HeinOnline contains more than 140 million pages and 125,000 titles of legal history and government documents in a fully searchable, image-based format.
Only available at Central Library
Genealogical sources and research aids, including city directories, family and local histories, U.S. Census records from 1790-1940, and military records from the Revolutionary War and other conflicts.
The HistoryMakers records and preserves video oral history interviews highlighting the accomplishments of individual African Americans and African-American-led groups and movements.
Movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, and comics for online streaming or download to mobile devices, with no waiting lists. Borrow up to 7 items per calendar month.
The International Music Score Library Project was started in 2006 and contains digitized versions of public domain music scores free of charge.
Indexes the 1,118 magazines and journals in the American Periodicals Series, a microfilm set available from the Research Services Department.
Indexes 233 titles in the English Literary Periodicals microfilm set, available from the Research Services Department. A variety of other subjects are also covered, including life in British America and the American Revolution.
The International Herald Tribune Historical Archive (1887-2013) features the complete archive of the International Herald Tribune from its origins as the European Edition of the New York Herald and later the European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune. The archive ends with the last issue of the International Herald Tribune before its relaunch as the International New York Times.
Digitized texts, audio, video, software, and archived web pages, including books, manuscripts, and other written documents from the Boston Public Library.
Over 4 million unedited public auction sales records of both fine art and the decorative arts compiled from hundreds of auction houses worldwide. This database can help determine market value and find information about an artist or manufacturer.
Coverage: 1989-present.
Only available at Central Library (requires a Research Services librarian to log in)
Searchable full-page and article reproductions back to the first issue on March 29, 1859.
The largest and most comprehensive collection of streaming jazz available online with thousands of jazz artists, ensembles, albums, and genres.
Searchable full-page and article reproductions back to the May 26, 1905 issue. Published as the Boston Advocate: New England’s Jewish Weekly from 1905-1909.
Full-text articles from hundreds of scholarly journals from the mid-19th century to the early 21st century covering a wide range of subjects, including complete runs of many historical journals. The most recent 3-5 years of current journals are not available in full-text.
Kanopy includes acclaimed movies and documentaries on-demand from award-winning filmmakers. Browse the collection of over 30,000 documentaries, classic films, world cinema, popular movies and films for children of all ages.
Each month BPL patrons receive 18 tickets. Depending on the length and viewing period of each title, movies in Kanopy will require between 0-5 tickets per viewing. You can see your remaining tickets for the month in the top-right corner of the homepage.
Note: Kanopy Kids doesn't use tickets. You can access an unlimited number of Kanopy Kids titles each month.
Kovels.com provides the prices and descriptions of 1,000,000+ items that will help you identify, date and value your antiques and collectibles. Kovels also offers a database of 18,500+ pottery, porcelain and silver marks and listings, and access to the monthly publication, Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles.
Only available at Central Library (requires a Research Services librarian to log in)
Poetry, short fiction, novels, and more than 450 plays by U.S. writers of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, and South American heritage, including previously unpublished and rare materials.
LawDepot is now available through OverDrive. Log in using the Libby app or website.
LawDepot allows you to create your own personalized legal documents specific to your state/province and personal situation.
Test preparation materials and practice exams for K-12 subjects, high school equivalency, college and graduate admissions, military, U.S. citizenship, and professional licensing and certification exams. Includes the Job & Career Accelerator to help you achieve your career goals, and the Computer Skills Center to learn popular software and computer basics.
Indexes over 600 journals, books, reports, and proceedings covering librarianship, cataloging and classification, information retrieval, information management, and more. Also includes over 400,000 full-text items. Coverage: 1866-present.
LinkedIn Learning offers 16,000 video courses in business, software, technology, and creative skills, taught by recognized industry experts. Courses are offered in English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
To use our free collection of LinkedIn Learning courses, do not visit LinkedIn Learning directly. Always follow links from bpl.org to access our subscription portal.
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Weekly transcripts of BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) radio and television programs, representing the only record of many early broadcasts and including coverage of contemporary events as well as intellectual, literary, and musical topics.
Language learning for ages 3 through 6, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
Kids can enjoy thousands of picture books in more than 70+ languages, including sign language, with English translations.
Up-to-the-moment access to www.lowellsun.com with no limit on the number of articles viewed. Choose 72-hour authenticated access or 24-hour anonymous access. Coverage: 2006-present
MakeMake has 300 Spanish-language eBooks for children. The collection includes picture books, read-along books and interactive books. The interface and search are also in Spanish.
MakeMake le ofrece 300 libros electrónicos en español para niños de todas las edades. Ésta colección contiene libros interactivos donde los niños pueden leer y escuchar el texto al mismo tiempo y la interfaz es también en español para facilitar su uso.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has throughout its history consistently stood at the center of controversies involving the rights of Americans. Its records offer researchers a unique view of the inner workings of the organization and the hundreds of groups with which the ACLU interacted.
Our subscription contains:
Over 62,000 searchable books, pamphlets, periodicals, essays, and primary source documents illustrating the development of the economic world system from the 15th-20th centuries, including coverage of trade, banking, finance, transportation, manufacturing, political science, history, philosophy, and sociology.
An interactive language-learning resource supporting dozens of languages, including Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), English, Hindi, and Spanish.
Additionally, Mango Reader, a Google Chrome extension available in 12 languages, allows you to go to any website and get translations in real time. The extension requires a Mango Languages account. Watch a video explaining what Mango Reader is and how to use it.
Car, motorcycle, and CDL practice tests and handbooks, presented in partnership with driving-tests.org.
Access an extensive library of historical documents featuring in-depth analyses on thousands of global companies in the United States, Canada, and Europe going back to the early 1900s.
EventsData delivers on-going updated information on stock-splits, mergers, tender offers, partial/full calls, and name changes. EventsData message feeds capture and analyze breaking business developments as they occur. Users are able to research corporate actions, dividends, fixed Income and unit Investment trust data from a historical perspective.
Delivers private and public United States and international business data, industry news, facts and figures, executives and industry profiles. Provides contact information for over 250 million United States consumers and shows job listings specific to each company.
In depth reports on over 30,000 public companies, both U.S. and Global. Information includes financials from company SEC filings, annual reports (current and archived), institutional holdings and insider trading from 1995 to the present.
Morningstar® Investment Research Center provides real-time access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments, spanning mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds.
A database which provides audio and video in order to provide music teaching materials spanning all time periods and genres of music and dance.
A subject-author guide to music periodical literature compiled from over 775 international music periodicals from over 40 countries. Offers historiographic, ethnographic, and musicological data. In addition, book reviews, reviews of music recordings, tapes, and performances are indexed. First performances and obituaries are also noted.
Coverage: 1975-present (with some backfile data from 1962-1975)
Available for in-library use only
Research the Chinese diaspora through access to international collections which cover Mainland China, Southeast Asia, North America, and the Caribbean. This resource also includes genealogy clan books, immigration case file indexes, Chinese association membership records, Chinese business directories, overseas Chinese cemetery records, guides to get started, and more. Includes over 150 million searchable individuals and over 14 million images. You can search for records in English and Chinese across all collections.
MyHeritage Library Edition is one of the largest, most internationally diverse genealogy databases of its kind. It provides access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos, historical newspapers, and other resources in thousands of databases that span the past five centuries.
Full reproductions of National Geographic magazine (1888-present) and National Geographic Traveler (2010-present), as well as searchable collections of books, maps, images, and videos.
The New Oxford Shakespeare presents an entirely new consideration of all of Shakespeare's works, edited from first principles from the base-texts themselves, and drawing on the latest textual and theatrical scholarship.
Searchable full-page and article reproductions back to the first issue on Sept 18, 1851.
Text- only articles (not page reproductions). Does not contain all content found in the published version of the Times, such as advertisements, charts, classified ads, graphs, most images, and non-staff written articles. Updated daily by 8 a.m.
Up-to-the-moment access to nytimes.com with no limit on the number of articles viewed. Read today's news stories as they happen.
Unlimited access while connected to the internet at the library. A limited number of 72-hour passes are available daily for home or remote use. Access may be restricted once the daily limit is reached.
This resource requires you to create a free individual account. You may use your existing nytimes.com account, if you have one.
Searchable full-page reproductions of historical newspapers, some of which were made from the collections of the Boston Public Library. Boston coverage includes: Boston Globe (morning and evening editions), 1872-1922; Boston Post, 1831-1922. Also includes historical newspapers published in these states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, D.C., New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, created in 2004, is a nonprofit organization established as a public-private partnership between the Library and philanthropist Norman Leventhal.
244 plays by 48 North American Indian playwrights, accompanied by searchable information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. More than half of the plays are previously unpublished.
1,517 plays by 330 North American women playwrights, accompanied by searchable information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. Includes selected playbills, production photographs, and other ephemera. Over 30% of the plays are previously unpublished.
Helps kids find books that are just right for their reading level and interests. Parents, teachers, and librarians can also find tools to teach with books and engage young readers.
Fiction and nonfiction reading recommendations for adults, including reviews, articles, reading lists, and more.
The Obituary Database is an index of obituaries that appeared in the Boston Evening Transcript (BET), Boston Globe (BG) and the Boston Herald/Herald American (BH). Currently, this database includes obituaries published between 1932 and 1941 and between 1953 and 2010.
Full-text journal articles in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, including ethnic studies, women’s studies, history, and more. Coverage: 1972-present.
Over 100,000 eBooks available for borrowing and reading in-browser or on mobile devices using Adobe Digital Editions. Creation of a free account is required for borrowing.
Indexes British and U.S. dissertations from the early 20th century to the present, including the entries in Doctoral Dissertations Accepted by American Universities, 1933-1955. Some entries include links to full-text versions of the dissertations.
Over 200 performances selected for their importance to the operatic canon, as well as over 60 interviews and documentaries representing the world’s best performers, conductors, and opera houses.
Thousands of digital titles available for download directly to your computer or mobile device.
Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks for children, including Boston Public Schools summer reading lists.
Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks for teens, including Boston Public Schools summer reading lists.
Over 3000 popular magazines are available, including several in Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more.
All Magazines are available instantly, and do not count against the number of OverDrive items that can be checked out at one time.
This dictionary contains entries for more than 45,000 English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames in the UK and Ireland.
Widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.
Oxford Music Online is the world’s premier online music encyclopedia, offering comprehensive coverage of music, musicians, music-making, and music scholarship.
The Oxford History of Western Music online offers an account of the evolution of Western classical music by musicologist Richard Taruskin.
Access 60k+ titles (including O’Reilly books in early release), 30k+ hours of video, case studies, certification prep materials, interactive tutorials, expert playlists, audiobooks, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 other publishers including McGraw Hill, Taylor & Francis, HarperCollins, and Wiley. Topics include cloud computing, data engineering, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, programming languages, software architecture, IT/Ops, security, design, business, and more.
A curricular content hub for K-2 students. Informational articles, activities, and literacy support for students.
Popular Music Library contains a wide range of popular music including thousands of tracks from genres including alternative, country, Christian, electronic, hip-hop, metal, punk, new age, R&B, reggae, rock, soundtracks and more.
Color full-page and article reproductions of thousands of U.S. and international newspapers and magazines including the Boston Globe (backfile covers Oct 25, 2003-Feb 24, 2016; July 26, 2022-present mostly in color which are accessible through calendar). Coverage: usually current 3 months or more.
This database is a resource for students studying both the applied and general sciences. With coverage dating back to 1986, ProQuest Science Journals features over 1030 titles, with more than 760 available in full text. Search over 2.7 million records, dating back to the mid 1980s.
Subject coverage:
Indexes articles, book reviews, poems, and short stories from general-interest U.S. periodicals, including Time, Newsweek, and Ladies’ Home Journal.
This database provides detailed analyses of writings on musical history and culture between 1760 and 1966. It includes exclusive content provided by internationally recognized scholars and editors.
Available for in-library use only
RISM series A/II: Music manuscripts after 1600 is an annotated index and guide to music manuscripts produced after 1600, containing more than 564,000 records by over 19,500 composers into one database which can be easily searched. The manuscripts are found in over 740 libraries and archives in 31 countries.
Coverage: after 1600 (mainly 1600-1850)
Contains the complete backfile of Rolling Stone, from its launch in 1967 to 2018. It has been a leading vehicle for rock and popular music journalism, as well as covering wider entertainment topics such as film and popular culture.
These high-definition, surround-sound recordings of William Shakespeare's plays featuring the world's best Shakespearean actors bring performances filmed at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Stratford-upon-Avon theater to your computer screen.
S&P Global NetAdvantage provides timely access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments including mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds. Access breaking news, current company financials, broker research, and market information.
Available for in-library use only
Searchable reproductions of 29,000 books, pamphlets, periodicals, and other documents about the Americas, providing original accounts of exploration, trade, colonialism, slavery and abolition, westward expansion, Native Americans, military actions, and much more.
SAGE Business Cases provides access to more than 3,650 authoritative cases from over 100 countries. SAGE curates interdisciplinary cases on in-demand subjects such as entrepreneurship, accounting, healthcare management, leadership, social enterprise, and more.
BookFlix is a literacy resource that pairs interactive, fictional video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks for kids 3-9 years old.
An online hub of 30,000 ready-to-use printable learning resources for every subject, pre-K to 6th grade.
Boston Public Library is excited to partner with Interplay Learning to offer SkillMill for all-things maintenance training and skilled trades training course online. SkillMill offers the opportunity to:
A library card and an email address are required to use this resource. Complete the registration form to request access to SkillMill. All interested candidates will be contacted by a staff member of the BPL for confirmation and introduction to the Interplay Platform.
Primary sources on the transatlantic slave trade and the global abolitionist movement, including contemporary books and periodicals, British, Spanish, and American colonial and legal records, manuscripts, correspondence, the papers of abolitionist organizations, and other materials from the collections of research institutions around the world. Includes essays, chronologies, reference and biographical articles, and bibliographies to support and contextualize the primary source material.
Primary and secondary legal and historical materials on the institution of slavery, primarily in the United States and the English-speaking world. Includes every relevant colony, state, and federal statute and all reported state and federal cases on slavery, as well as historical and current periodical articles and commentaries, book reviews, and an extensive bibliography of additional print and electronic sources.
Full reproductions of Smithsonian Magazine (1970-present) and Air & Space Magazine (1986-present) with searchable text and illustrations.
A virtual encyclopedia of the world's musical and aural traditions. The collection provides an unprecedented variety of online resources that share diverse musical forms.
The Social Law Library in Boston has made a subset of its legal research databases available to public library patrons in Massachusetts. These databases focus on legal topics relevant to Massachusetts, both state and federal. Please ask a BPL librarian for access to this resource.
Available for in-library use only
Recordings of lectures, presentations, and musical performances given at the Boston Public Library. Due to copyright restrictions, some recordings are only accessible in full at the Central Library in Copley Square, with 30-second samples available for remote listening.
SBRnet provides a source of sports market analytics. It offers a comprehensive perspective of the sports business, drawing on syndicated and custom proprietary market research, industry reports, and licensed industry articles from leading trade publications.
Available for in-library use only
Published annually by the Federal Government since 1878, The Statistical Abstract of the United States is the best-known statistical reference publication in the country, and perhaps, the world. It is used as both an answer book (“How much corn is grown in Iowa?”) and a guide to statistical sources (“What organization has the most authoritative data on foreclosures?”). As a comprehensive collection of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States, it is a snapshot of America and its people for the current year.
Indexes U.S. Federal statistics (1973-present), state government and business statistics (1980-present), and international statistics (1880-present). Full-text coverage: 2004-present (U.S. Federal), 2007-present (state, business, international).
Searchable page reproductions of Britain’s premier Sunday newspaper, renowned for its investigative journalism and especially valuable for social sciences and humanities research.
Over 150 definitive dramatic performances and over 300 documentaries and interviews featuring directors, designers, writers, and performers. Videos include closed captioning and synchronized scrolling transcripts.
Searchable page reproductions of one of the world’s most important and longest-running newspapers.
Learn over 110 languages using any Internet-connected device. The Transparent Languages online app requires activation before it can be used.
Online math eBooks, grades K-6.
1,905 plays by 419 playwrights, accompanied by searchable information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. Includes selected playbills, production photographs, and other ephemera.
Value Line provides a vast array of financial measures for over 6,000 stocks, 18,000 mutual funds, 200,000 options, and other securities. Delve into Value Line’s accurate estimates, projections and historical data to discover opportunities that fit your investment strategy.
Vault publishes numerous employer, career, internship, resume, and interviewing guidebooks. The guides cover industries such as law, consulting, investment banking, accounting, investment management, private equity, hedge funds, Internet and social media, IT and engineering, energy, health care, advertising, and more.
Provided by Oxford University Press, Very Short Introductions offer concise introductions to a diverse range of subject areas from Climate to Consciousness, Game Theory to Ancient Warfare, Privacy to Islamic History, Economics to Literary Theory.
This resource requires you to create a free individual account. You may use your existing wsj.com account, if you have one.
