Central Library: Research Services

Washington Room, McKim Building, second floor


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. Information about the community, how to plan a vacation, or genealogical research into your family tree are all areas with which the Research Services staff can help. View this guide to help you get started researching.

For the best service, e-mail the library at ask@bpl.org in advance of your visit. This will allow the staff to prepare for your arrival, whether collections need to be retrieved from closed stacks, or online research is needed before assisting you. Have an in-depth research question you'd like help with? Book a librarian appointment.

The BPL has extensive research collections available for use within the Library, including newspapers and magazines on microfilm, and government documents. Digitized prints and documents are also available through our online repository,  Digital Commonwealth, and we have many online research guides, opens a new window to assist users remotely.

For research related to our special collections, please head over to our Special Collections page to find more detailed information on our collections and how to request items to view.

Maps, atlases, and other cartographic materials are located at the Leventhal Map & Education Center, located in the Central Library in Copley Square. Research services are available at the Center on weekdays and by special appointment.

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Researching at the Library FAQ

  • In-Library Use Only Materials
    You can access materials found via the online catalog marked In-Library Use Only by coming to the Delivery Desk at the Central Library in Copley Square at least thirty minutes before closing. Some materials are stored offsite and may take up to ten days to process and deliver. You can always call the Delivery Desk beforehand to make sure your item will be available when you arrive.


    Other Materials

    Much of our research collections, particularly those older than 1974, are not represented in our online catalog. Please consult our special collections index to find contact information for requesting access to individual collections, or get in touch with our Research Services librarians via ask@bpl.org for help or to have materials pulled for you in advance of your visit.

  • Online
    Fill out our contact form or email us at ask@bpl.org. Our librarians will be in touch over email within twenty-four hours. Depending on your needs, we might recommend a phone call or visit when we get back to you. If your research need is complex, please indicate in the form that you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your research needs.

    Phone
    We have librarians on-call to help you with research and reference from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. You can reach us at 617.536.5400.

    In-Person
    There is a librarian on duty at all BPL locations who can help you with research. More intensive research help is available at the Central Library in Copley Square in Bates Hall.

    Book a Librarian
    You can also book a 30 minute appointment with a research librarian. After you request an appointment, the Library will get back to you within 2 business days letting you know if your appointment was approved; information about joining the meeting will be sent in a separate email. Appointments must be requested at least 5 days in advance. 

  • You can get a research card at the Central Library in Copley Square at either the Borrower Services Desk (Level One of the Boylston Street building) or the Delivery Desk (Level Two of the McKim building). This card is free and allows use of materials inside the library. To get this card, you need a photo ID and a document that states your current address. A driver's license or state ID should fulfill both requirements.

    If you are coming to the BPL from far away for extensive research, we encourage you to reach out to our Research Services librarians ahead of your visit to ensure the most efficient use of your time here. You can email our Research Services librarians at ask@bpl.org.

  • Generally speaking we do not make copies for patrons but we do offer photocopiers for your use. If you have trouble using one of our copiers let us know at the nearest service desk.

    Please note: some of our materials can’t be photocopied for preservation reasons. In many such cases digital photography would be allowed but please consult with a research librarian before photographing any research materials.

  • The Boston Public Library has millions of books. Some you can take home, and some you can’t. The books you can’t take home are intended to be permanent copies and are marked “In-Library Use Only” in the catalog.

    You can request that an In-Library Use Only book serviced through the Delivery Desk be considered for loan outside the building by placing a request for it on ILLiad. If the request is approved, we will place the item on hold for you.

Research Guides

24 Unusual eBook Encyclopedias

No longer reference only — download any of these Unusual Encyclopedias to your device and browse immediately!

Palestine in Nonfiction

With the ongoing violence in Palestine, it is more important than ever to understand Palestinian history.

Graphic Medicine

"Graphic Medicine" is a term coined by Dr. Ian Williams, a comics artist, physician, and Founder of GraphicMedicine.org.

Researching Your African American Ancestors

The names of enslaved people in the United States were rarely recorded. This can make researching your African American ancestors hard...
A photograph of a mural painted by Gregg Bernstein and the Mayor's Mural Crew in 2004. Covering a wall of the William Monroe Trotter K-8 School in Roxbury, the mural depicts the school's namesake. The mural shows two people, one on each of the bottom corners of the mural and each beside a tree and white dove, holding up an image of William Trotter. Other motifs, such as a river, music sheet, brick building, and moon phases are also included in the mural.

Black History Boston: William Monroe Trotter

Read about William Monroe Trotter & the fight against "The Birth of a Nation" in this piece by Research Services Librarian Malana Krongelb.

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.

Genealogy at the Boston Public Library

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.

Local & Family History Lecture Series Recordings

Watch recordings of some of the Boston Public Library's Local & Family History Lecture programs on our YouTube channel.
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