Impact
The Boston Public Library Fund helps provide the resources for the Library not only to serve the people of Boston, but also to dream to grow. We welcome your support as we strive to keep the BPL—and our beloved city—strong and vital.
Unlocking Opportunity
HONORING THE SPIRIT OF “FREE TO ALL”
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.
Featured Projects
Activating Democracy
Celebrating civic engagement
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.”
Featured Projects
Sharing Treasures
Our gift to future generations
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.
