Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library is the largest municipal public library in the United States and is the third-largest library in the country. It was the first public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use.

When it opened in 1895, the building was proclaimed a "palace for the people." It included the first Children's Reading Room in the nation and a sculpture garden in its central courtyard surrounded by an arcaded gallery.

Bates Hall is the great reading room of the library. It is rectangular but has a semi-circular apse on each end, much like a Roman basilica.

Location

700 Boylston Street
Copley Square
Boston, Suffolk County
Massachusetts
USA

Getting There

The Boston Public Library is accessible by public transportation. The closest subway station is Copley Station, which is served by the Green Line. You can also reach the library by taking the Orange Line to Back Bay Station, which is about a 10-minute walk away. Additionally, several bus routes serve the library, including the 1, 9, 10, 39, and 55.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Massachusetts that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.