Apparently February is National Library Lover’s Month and since this week especially has been all about love, I thought this would be a great opportunity to gush about the Boston Public Library.
Especially now that I work freelance, the library has become an integral part of both my workflow and my love of literature. I’m at the library probably 4+ times a week. Some weeks I’m there every day. Here are a few features you might love about the library too:
Personalized Reading List
If you have a BPL e-account you can get a custom reading list made by a librarian for FREE. All you have to do is fill out a brief survey explaining what books you like, what books you don’t like, what you’d like to read more of, etc. and a real life librarian will pick out suggestions for you.
I was unsure about this, figuring I might get a generic response. But the list I received (6 books) was PERFECTLY tailored to my somewhat strange interests. Even better, it’s called a “Shelf-Service Personalized Reading List.” Extra points for the pun, BPL.
Affordable Printing
Don’t waste your money at FedEx or Kinkos where they charge you to use the computer AND print. The BPL has free computer access and you can print in black and white for 15 cents a page and color for 30 cents a page. Scanning is free and it’s all built into your library card so you don’t need an extra ticket to use it.
Plus you can use this card for computer resources at any of the BPL branches around the Boston area. And using a computer itself is free. I turned to the library computers many a time when my old laptop decided to crash unexpectedly.
An Insane Book Selection & Sales
This seems like an obvious one, but the library has an INSANE selection of books. New titles are coming in to the system every day. I’ve almost always been able to find my desired books at the library and, as I mentioned, I have some weird interests. If they don’t have it at your library they can transfer it from any other branch to you. You can also request that they purchase a book for their collection. Plus your BPL card can be used at the Minute Man library branch in the suburbs and vice versa.
On the first Saturday of every even numbered month there’s a book sale at the BPL Central where they flush out their excess stock, books they have too many of or that aren’t getting checked out. It’s an awesome way to pick up new titles cheap, and it’s recycling!
Public Programming
The BPL has a phenomenal selection of public programming. You can take classes in anything from Adobe Photoshop to Spanish to how to use a smartphone. They host regular lectures and authors talks with book signings. I saw Junot Diaz here before it came out that he’s not a great human. In the summer they hold concerts and other performances in the courtyard which is a gorgeous way to spend a lunch break.
At the Central location they have a WGBH studio where they broadcast live and a great cafe where you can get wine and beer after 3pm as well as coffee, tea, and food. Basically there’s no reason to ever leave.
What do you love about your library?