Boston Public Library
Press Room

Boston Public Library Unveils New Collections of Distinction

Posted on February 3rd, 2015 by admin in Media Releases
Tags: , , , ,

Collections include historical works detailing American and European history

gleasonBoston Public Library unveiled its newest Collections of Distinction, adding six to the initial 18 collections that represent the most outstanding, expansive, and renowned of its holdings of more than 23 million items. The collections include Massachusetts Newspapers, Boston Artists, Boston Pictorial Archive, the Book of Common Prayer, works by Daniel Defoe, as well as the Mellen Chamberlain Collection of Autographs. Within the collections is an array of books, prints, letters, drawings, and other original works dating back as early as the 14th century.

“It is our privilege to share these distinguished collections; from manuscripts to modern art, they bring stories and culture of the past and present to life for the world to view,” said Amy E. Ryan, President of the Boston Public Library. “We invite the community in to discover the rich history these collections hold.”

Among the historical items from Massachusetts are works of Boston artists from the 1940s to the present, a collection of photographs and lithographs of Boston scenery from the 18th through 20th centuries, and an archive of Massachusetts newspapers dating back to 1706. Additionally, the Mellen Chamberlain Collection of Autographs contains 20,000 letters, engravings, and documents highlighting American and European history, including documentation of the Salem Witch Trials, the American Revolution, and correspondence from famed authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and John Singleton Copley. Read more »

Celebrate Black History Month

Posted on February 1st, 2015 by admin in General
Tags: , , ,

black is 2015 coverOne of the ways the Boston Public Library celebrates Black History Month each February is through the annual publishing of the Black Is booklist, a list of  recent books concerning the African American experience. The list is compiled by a committee of BPL librarians across the system and is organized into the following categories: historical fiction, international, urban, nonfiction, expressions, history and contemporary issues, and fiction. Authors include Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, Toni Braxton, Oprah Winfrey, and more. Copies of the booklist are available at all Boston Public Library locations across the city.

The BPL also honors Black History Month through a variety of themed programming, including film series and presentations. Highlights include:

  • Film Series: The West End and Lower Mills branches host a Black History Month Film Series on Wednesdays and select Fridays in February.
  • Panel Discussion: Erica DeSimone and Fidel Louis facilitate conversation about their book Voices Beyond Bondage: An Anthology of Verse by African Americans of the 19th Century on Tuesday, February 10, at 6 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library.
  • Photo Presentation: Boston-based photojournalist Don West discusses his book Portraits of Purpose: A Tribute to Leadership, a collection of photographs and profiles on 127 African-American leaders. Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the West End Branch.

To view dates, times, and more information on these and additional programs, please visit the library’s calendar.

February Literary Events at Boston Public Library Locations

Posted on January 29th, 2015 by admin in Media Releases
Tags: , , ,

Branches and Central Library to host

Boston Public Library locations will host a variety of literary events, including author talks, book clubs, and programs for readers of all ages in February. Highlights include:

  • books2Romance & Mystery Book Club: Participants discuss Sandra Brown’s Standoff, which tells the story of a reporter caught in a deadly hostage drama while investigating a kidnapping on Thursday, February 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lower Mills Branch, located at 27 Richmond Street in Dorchester.
  •   The City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library host a book sale on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the third floor of the McKim building in the Cushman Room at the Central Library in Copley Square.
  • Local historian and Beacon Hill resident Vincent Licenziato gives a presentation about the Emancipation Trail and the stories behind 23 statues, sculptures, and monuments relevant to the African American experience in America. Saturday, February 7, at 1 p.m. at the Codman Square Branch, located at 690 Washington Street in Dorchester. Read more »

DPLA Board of Directors Appoints Amy Ryan as New Chair

Posted on January 27th, 2015 by Gina Perille in General
Tags: , , ,

DPLA_logo_squareThe nine-member Board of Directors of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) announced the appointment of Amy E. Ryan, President of the Boston Public Library, as its next chair, beginning in July 2015 and effective for two years. Ryan will succeed the current chair, John Palfrey, Head of School at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

As Board chair, Ryan will collaborate with Dan Cohen, DPLA’s Executive Director, and the rest of the Board of Directors to fulfill DPLA’s broad commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and access. 

Read the full announcement from DPLA. 

Literary Landscapes: Maps from Fiction Exhibition Opens February 2

Posted on January 26th, 2015 by admin in Media Releases
Tags: , , , ,

panemMaps feature locations from action, adventure, fantasy, and children’s fiction

The exhibition Literary Landscapes: Maps from Fiction opens at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library on Monday, February 2, and runs through October 25. The exhibition, curated by Stephanie Cyr and Lauren Chen, examines the many types of maps that accompany works of fiction and features items from the 16th century to the present day.

“Literary Landscapes is for readers and map lovers of all ages and stages,” said Stephanie Cyr. “The collection of maps and books in the exhibition offers a creative and fun look into the relationship between literature and placemaking.”

In this exhibition of 40 items, visitors will discover maps from a variety of fictional genres, learn how authors create imaginary worlds, and appreciate why descriptive geography is essential to a story. People and creatures, even those who exist only in tales, are related to place, and maps of their imaginary worlds allow readers to be transported into the geography of fantasy. Maps of imaginary places have accompanied literature for centuries, as visualizing the fanciful worlds described in works of fiction sets the stage for events taking place in a story and often provides insight into the characters themselves. Read more »

« Older Entries