The Boston Public Library Fund plays an essential role in supporting the evolving needs of our community.
Explore how the Fund brought the Library to new heights of innovation this past year.
Thank you to our supporters who help make the Library’s extraordinary work possible.
The Boston Public Library Fund plays an essential role in supporting the evolving needs of our community.
Explore how the Fund brought the Library to new heights of innovation this past year.
Thank you to our supporters who help make the Library’s extraordinary work possible.
The BPL is committed to serving every person who enters: individuals experiencing homelessness, people making a career change, children and families in search of a great book, immigrants on their way to becoming citizens, students in need of a quiet place to complete their schoolwork, and seniors who want to learn more about a newfound passion. The free and open access to knowledge we offer gives patrons unlimited opportunities to explore their interests, acquire literacy and language skills, find employment, indulge in their love of reading, advance themselves and their communities, and find joy in learning.
Our staff do an exceptional job of meeting patrons where they are and helping guide them toward where they want to be. With the support of the Fund, we’re developing new ways for visitors to discern what’s most important to them, master new skills, access invaluable resources, and feel supported in their pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement.
More than ever before, libraries play a pivotal role in civic society. They are centers of diverse thought where people become more informed, involved, and engaged, and where every voice is heard, welcomed, and respected. By revealing the world around us and the part we play within it, libraries enrich our perspective and help us achieve greater knowledge and understanding. Support for the Boston Public Library Fund affirms the BPL’s role as a respite from the confusion of modern life and a trusted source of information and learning.
It demonstrates a commitment to uphold the openness, honesty, and transparency that keep our democracy vital. From assistance with citizenship and voter registration, to tools for giving voice to community leaders, to a unique convening power that brings neighbors together, the Fund provides resources that help ensure our nation—like the Library—endures as a place “built by the people.”
John Singer Sargent’s breathtaking murals. First editions of Shakespeare’s masterworks. Cuneiform tablets from ancient Sumer. John Adams’ handwritten notes from the Boston Massacre trial. Branches that act as vibrant community hubs. The BPL encompasses an abundance of spaces and collections, all of which belong to the people of Boston. Every day, our dedicated staff work to preserve and animate a treasure trove of records and objects that illuminate social and cultural issues across time, help educators reimagine teaching and learning, and spark engaging conversations about our collective history.
Our branches deliver this valuable, engaging programming within walking or biking distance of every Boston resident. We owe it to future generations to preserve and animate the BPL’s rich collections, so that we can keep using the past to help shape a brighter future. The BPLF supports the activation of these vibrant resources that define and distinguish the Library.
We had a great Morning Brew conversation @bplboston Newsfeed Cafe this morning to launch the Boston Community History Project, thanks to the incredible support from Bank of America. The panelists were outstanding - Heang Leung Rubin, Angie Chatman, Eson Kim, Dory Klein, and Dan Cohen moderated by President David Leonard and Kenzie Bok. We will be sharing more on how we celebrate the rich histories and stories of our bright and bold Boston communties! #communityhistory
May 18
The Boston Public Library is honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by releasing the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month booklist. Compiled by staff librarians from the Central Library, the Brighton Branch, the Chinatown Branch, the Fields Corner Branch, and the Roslindale Branch, the booklist is comprised of 75 recently published titles focusing on the experiences of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities of the United States. Visit bpl.org to view the list of titles.
#aapimonth
May 17
Thank you, David McGrath, for dedicating a seat in the Central Library’s Rabb Hall @BPLBoston. David dedicated a seat for Beth Picardi as a Christmas gift in honor of her love of libraries. Beth spoke fondly of her local library in Wakefield, and is looking forward to visiting the BPL more often and enjoying programs in Rabb Hall. She chose seat B 202—B for “Beth” and 202 for her birthday on February 2! To learn more about dedicating a seat in Rabb Hall and the impact your gift can make on the Library, visit bplfund.org/rabb.
May 12
Looking for a special way to honor the mother figure in your life? Mother’s Day is almost here, and the Boston Public Library Fund has the perfect gift idea for you! When you make a gift today of $50 or more, a bookplate with a personalized message will be placed inside a newly circulating book at the Boston Public Library.
To make your gift visit the link in our bio.
May 9
Environmental justice warrior, Rhodes Scholar, and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru will converse with Boston Public Library President David Leonard as part of our 2023 Lowell Lecture Series. Be sure to join us on May 11 from 6-7:30 PM in the Central Library for this incredible discussion.
Register at bpl.org.
May 8
This Mother’s Day, support the mother figures in your life by dedicating a @bplboston book in their name. When you make a donation of $50 or more, a personalized message honoring this special individual will be placed inside a newly circulating book at the Library. Go to the link in our bio to dedicate a book before Mother’s Day on May 14.
May 5
“All of my life, libraries have been very important to me. Going back to my youth during war time. We were moving around a lot, and every time we moved the first thing my mom would do was to take us to the public library and sign us up. It’s an experience not to be forgotten.” - James Bartlett
Thank you, Hanna Bartlett, for dedicating a seat in the Central Library’s Rabb Hall @BPLBoston. Hanna dedicated a seat for her husband, James, pictured here, in celebration of his lifelong love of libraries. To learn more about dedicating a seat in Rabb Hall and the impact your gift can make on the Library, visit bplfund.org/rabb.
May 4
Best-selling author Terry McMillan will talk about her book “It’s Not All Downhill From Here,” which illustrates the many challenges its female protagonists face and how they pull themselves up through the power of friendship and forgiveness. Join us in Mattapan on May 6 from 12-1:30 PM to enjoy this author talk.
Register at bpl.org.
May 3
Boston Public Library Fund
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-859-2027
info@bplfund.org
Site Development + Design: Bonnie Katz Design Site Concept Designer: Adam & Co
Site Development + Design: Bonnie Katz Design Site Concept Designer: Adam & Co