Talk:Boston Public Library

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Wifi[edit]

izzysanime wrote the following in the body of the main article. Perhaps (s)he wanted to do it here. Cema 21:34, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)

One of the features that the Boston Public Library offered first is FreeWi-Fi wireless internet. It is offered throughout the entire library giving access to anyone who has wireless enabled laptop to access the biggest library in the world, the internet. Many large libraries now offer Wi-Fi, but not as fast and reliable. --izzysanime 01:59, 30 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Criticism[edit]

Library lovers can be uncritical in their affection for the institution. There's another way to be an aficionado of our Boston Public Library. Developing a critique of what needs improving. BPLers who staff the lib and BPLusers attempting to navigate the buildings' floors lament the lack of a good directory at the entrance that lists the lib's departments, locations and names and/or titles of department heads. dsaklad@zurich.csail.mit.edu 9 December 2005

Wikipedia is not a forum for publishing personal opinions, but if there are published or well-known criticisms, those would be welcome additions. - Beland 03:07, 6 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Comments directed at the library[edit]

How do you get http://overdrive.bpl.org fixed so that it's accessible to Boston Public Libraries' Mac users!?... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Donwarnersaklad (talk • contribs) 05:09, 30 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Boston Public Library board chairman Jeff Rudman http://bpl.org/general/trustees/trustees.htm should advocate for improving the navigability of the BPL buildings floors, department, collections. Entering the buildings there need to be building directories indicating

  • a) floor by floor,
  • b) room by room,
  • the locations of c) departments,
  • the names of the people who are the d) curatorial heads of the departments and
  • e) the locations of collections.

The library graphics at http://bpl.org/guides/plan.htm need a redo by a graphics experts like Edward Tufte

see also

Locations inside the Boston Public Library buildings need to be renamed and graphics around the floors of the BPL buildings need to be designed so people can move about more easily. A lot of the battle at BPL is how to figure out where are the parts of the collections that interest you and where are the BPL people who are the curatorial heads of departments and where are the experienced subject specialists of the BPL who have their own expertise with their favorite parts of the collections. Often BPL people are temporarily reassigned to other departments during staffing shortages or holidays.

Two listings are needed on the Boston Public Library website... Listings of BPL's experienced subject specialists and their expertise with their favorite parts of the collections.

Listings floor by floor, room by room where the departments, the collections and the names curatorial heads of departments. Boston Public Library curatorial department heads should be given more credit for their good works and more recognition individually as curators. For example at the Museum of Fine Arts the MFA curators get recognition individually there and in the media.

What can be done about the Boston Public Library bureaucracy?...

For more details next time you contact the lib ask for The Real Sheet newsletter of the BPLPSA Boston Public Library Staff Association

see also

These organizations have interesting critical analyses of the kinds of institutional bureaucratic practices. We have theater critics, we have restaurant critics, we have motion picture critics, we have art critics. We need more critical reviews of our libraries and more critical reviews of the curatorial departments of our libraries. dsaklad@zurich.csail.mit.edu 12:35, 13 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please don't feed the troll. 121a0012 01:10, 14 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

largest[edit]

Although I try to avoid grand claims, the BPL does happen to be the largest, by far, library in the US. This changed from "one of the largest" to "the largest". This is measured by volumes in its collection, which is typically how libraries are measured. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.5.24.11 (talk) 19:48, 7 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Largest? Are you sure about that? I question the assertion that BPL is the largest library in the US. It isn't even the largest public library in the US. Hmiklitz 20:57, 23 January 2009 (UTC)
I've just added a reference link to the ALA page ranking the largest libraries (by size of collection) in the US--the BPL appears at #3 on that list, after the LOC and Harvard. That would seemingly make it the largest municipal library in the country. I find it surprising, but the ALA seems like a fairly reliable source. 65.213.77.129 (talk) 16:20, 13 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Link is broken but I have seen the list before. On the ALA list, BPL has 15,686,902. The list doesn't have NYPL Research Libraries which have 15,985,192 books (based on NYPL 2007 Annul Report). I don't know why ALA only list NYPL, Branch collection. But if you are counting entire number of books in one institution, NYPL has BPL beat. (74.72.123.10 (talk) 04:25, 26 March 2009 (UTC))[reply]
BPL is not the largest library in the U.S. It has one of the largest research collections at a public library, second to NYPL. But it's circulating library is very small compared to other systems. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.54.225.207 (talk) 20:52, 9 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Publications of interest about Boston Public Library[edit]

  • Annual Report
  • Spring Gala booklets
    • Celebrating Treasures of the Boston Public Library
    • Treasures of the Boston Public Library
    • Treasures of the Boston Public Library building map
  • Boston Public Library Foundation The Campaign for the Library
  • BPL Press Catalog of Publications
  • The Boston Public Library Telephone Directory
  • Boston Public Library Floor Plan Directory and Guide to the Central Library
    • Boston Public Library Dudley Branch Library 65 Warren Street Roxbury, Massachusetts opening day brochure
    • Opening day brochures for branch libraries of Boston Public Library

the zak 02:43, 18 January 2008 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Donwarnersaklad (talk • contribs)

The heads of our Boston Public Library[edit]

Now that our new library administrator is setting a course and the transition to a revamped administration a look at our cities' public libraries' policies with respect to DRM digital restrictions management could be featured on another page...

“VOTED: unanimously that the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston extend an offer to Ms. Amy E. Ryan as President of the Boston Public Library.”

Candidate Report on Amy E. Ryan President Boston Public Library

--the zak (talk) October 2008 —Preceding undated comment was added at 09:49, 21 October 2008 (UTC).[reply]

Library of Congress System[edit]

On interesting difference between BPL and most other public libraries is that it uses the Library of Congress catalog system rather than Dewey Decimal. Most public and grade school libraries use the Dewey Decimal system, whereas most universities use the Library of Congress system. BPL is unusual for being more like a university research library. This should get mentioned in the article somewhere. grr (talk) 18:40, 16 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Design elements[edit]

The building is very important in terms of the urban design of Copley Square and the Back Bay; the spatial relationship with Trinity Church deserves mention.

I think the John Singer Sargent mural on the ceiling of the 5th floor, which allegorically depicts a narrative of the history of religion, and which has, I believe, been recently restored should be discussed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Georgearnold23 (talk • contribs) 18:20, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Bulletins, collections, lists, catalogues[edit]

http://books.google.com/books?id=Y6RUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=cPBWAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=6J4QAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=VUkiAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=to0WAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=xkpFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=xI0sAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=S0chAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=2wBFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=43CtAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=XvEtAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=NOZEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CGAQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=_P0QAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GIrwUOuIC5LE0AHqpoCQAw&ved=0CGwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=wWYZAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=rCIoAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=nfMsAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=W1XhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=KzYy2AB7swAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=YwIDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=SAbhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=ul9DAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gorwUN_bNsSo0AHGl4H4AQ&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=BcBXAPXdNeAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6IrwUJDCO-LH0QGVhYGADA&ved=0CF0Q6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=r5oQAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6IrwUJDCO-LH0QGVhYGADA&ved=0CGQQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZLAKAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=SuQ-AAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CDYQ6AEwATgU

http://books.google.com/books?id=krfNYnMDYHYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=4HgXAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=gCYNAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=qUIWAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBTgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=KfkYAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Boston+Public+Library%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIvwUMvfAoPG0QGUpYGoBw&ved=0CFkQ6AEwBjgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

Rajmaan (talk) 22:00, 11 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

BPL Not the First Library[edit]

Questions or comments may be added here. Please reference all information.Djsteve321 (talk) 15:36, 4 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

A little project[edit]

I've come up with something I was wondering if anybody else would be interested in finding some consensus on. I placed it on the talk page below:

It involves coming up with some way to better sort the maps of BPL that are scattered across both:

CaribDigita (talk) 00:31, 16 May 2014 (UTC

Such a project should be directed at the library itself, not this Wikipedia article. Maybe the library has a focus group taking suggestions or working on this issue.Parkwells (talk) 16:13, 8 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Branch Libraries--Plagiarism of cited sources[edit]

I've noticed a handful of directly quoted sections on the branch libraries, mainly from the BPL site. I don't want to remove this information until replacement text synthesizing the original information is put in, but I'm noting the current "offenders" below for attention:

  • West End Branch
  • Brighton Branch
  • Faneuil Branch
  • Honan-Allston Branch
  • Charlestown Branch
  • ALL Dorchester Branches Codman, Grove Hall left
  • East Boston Branch
  • Hyde Park Branch
  • Connolly Branch
  • Jamaica Plain Branch
  • Mattapan Branch
  • Dudley Branch
  • Egleston Branch
  • Parker Hill Branch
  • West Roxbury Branch

Only the North End Branch seems exempt, but I suspect it might be the same text as the BPL website, just without the quotation marks. I'll try to come back and fix these at some point if I can. Potato-ssiumChloride (talk) 22:22, 12 November 2021 (UTC)Potato-ssiumChloride[reply]

=== Went back and added strikethroughs on the list to the branches I've fixed so far. Potato-ssiumChloride (talk) 04:37, 13 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment[edit]

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Directors?[edit]

For the n dozenth time, I come to Wikipedia for a specific datum, and as usual it fails.

Unless I'm missing something, where's a list of all BPL directors? That is, a list of all persons who have held the top position of director since BPL's founding.

Jimlue (talk) 05:51, 30 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]

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