author
Boston Public Library
Founded in 1848, this landmark institution was the first large free municipal library in the United States. Its story blends public service, grand architecture, and a long commitment to making books, research, and culture available to everyone.
1 Audiobook
Catalogue of books on philately in the Public Library of the city of Boston
by Boston Philatelic Society, Boston Public Library
About the author
The Boston Public Library is a municipal library system in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1848. It is widely recognized as the first large free municipal library in the United States, and it also serves as Massachusetts' "Library for the Commonwealth," extending borrowing and research privileges to adult residents across the state.
Its Central Library in Copley Square is especially well known. The historic McKim Building helped make the library a cultural landmark, and the system has grown into a major public resource with millions of items in its collections and branches serving neighborhoods across Boston.
Today, the library stands out not only for its scale but for its mission: free access to reading, study, history, and public life. That mix of civic purpose and architectural presence has made it one of the best-known public libraries in the United States.