Boston Public Library

Book It Around Boston is BACK!

🗺️ Join us and Heartbreak Hill Running Company on Saturday, October 3 for guided routes kicking off and concluding at the Shaw-Roxbury Branch. Participants can walk, run or bike one of five routes to other BPL branches along the way.

🏃🏼‍➡️ The event encourages participants to take part in the program, open to everyone year-round.

🚲Visit a local BPL branch to pick up a Passport, a booklet outlining routes to walk, run, or bike between each of the BPL's 26 locations.

Learn more at bpl.org/book-it-around-boston

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Sign up for a library card at any BPL location and receive an "I got a library card" sticker! Available while supplies last.

There's a new way to search old newspapers 📰🗞️

BPL and the Institutional Data Initiative at Harvard Law School Library are releasing a new dataset drawn from more than 1.47 million scanned newspaper pages — a window into 135 years of the public record, from 1795 to 1930.

This is the next stage in making these collections even more useful for research and discovery!

Learn more: https://www.bpl.org/news/boston-public-library-and-harvard-idi-release-open-dataset-from-135-years-of-historic-newspapers/

The Parker Hill Branch of the Boston Public Library will close at the end of day Saturday, September 12 and will reopen on Saturday, October 10, for the installation of a new air conditioner.

For in-person service, patrons are encouraged to visit nearby branches including Shaw-Roxbury and Connolly.

All holds placed for pickup at Parker Hill will instead be directed to Shaw-Roxbury during the closure.

We've been waiting all year for this...it's Library Card Sign-Up Month!

📚 September 1st marks the start of a month-long celebration of everything that makes libraries so special.

Whether you're discovering a new favorite book, finding a cozy place to study, or making friends at book club, it all starts with a library card!

See you at the library!

All BPL locations will be closed on Sunday and Monday, September 6-7, in observance of Labor Day.

The winners of our recent Library Card Design Contest are here just in time for Library Card Sign-Up Month!🦁

With over 400 entries from BPL library card holders, the following patrons were selected as winners!

Elly Otharsson, Adult (18+)
Carolyn Taylor, Teen (13-17)
Julianna Peng, Youth (0-12)

The three new designs printed on library cards will be available starting on Sep 1, 2026, at all locations, and will remain in circulation throughout 2027 while supplies last.

Learn more: https://www.bpl.org/news/boston-public-library-unveils-three-new-cardholder-designed-library-cards/

Join us today, August 27 for Zine Making!

Through an art-making opportunity, reflect on what the document means 250 years later and how the American Revolution relates to other protest movements and revolutions that have occurred in the United States.

We will have supplies available to use and staff will be present to assist as needed.

Learn more:

Zine Making: What Does the Declaration Mean 250 Years Later? This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through an art-making opportunity, reflect on what the document means 250 years later and how the American Revolution relates to other protest movements and revolutions that have occurred in the United States. W...

Join us today, August 27 for a Film Screening of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing"!

The screening of the film will be followed by a brief informal discussion for those who wish to participate. The 1989 film is 120 minutes and rated R.

Learn more:

Film Screening: Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" Join us and Wundrus for this screening of the noted, award-winning film, Do the Right Thing (1989, 120 minutes, rated R). The screening of the film will be followed by a brief informal discussion for those who wish to participate. About the film: Racial tensions grow in a Brooklyn neighborhood on th...

Join us on Monday, August 31 for a workshop on reducing your energy bill!

This brief and informative presentation will be followed by personalized one-on-one assistance.

Learn more about this event: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a6759cb0e562e28009cb6b6

Reduce Your Energy Bill Workshop Confused by your energy bill? Want to see if you can reduce it? Join us for a brief, informative presentation followed by personalized one-on-one assistance. Join the City of Boston's Energy Saver team to: Learn practical ways to lower your energy billsImprove your home's comfortAccess rebates and i...