Central Library in Copley Square
🏢 Boston Public Library · Boston, Massachusetts
Central Library in Copley Square
Opened in 1895 as what architect Charles Follen McKim called a 'palace for the people,' the Central Library in Copley Square is both a National Historic Landmark and Boston's literary and cultural anchor — a place where Sargent murals line the walls, a peaceful courtyard opens to the sky, and daily free art-and-architecture tours bring the building's Renaissance Beaux-Arts grandeur to life.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 11am–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 536-5400
Website: bpl.org
Plus Code: 87JC8WXC+PG (Boston, MA)
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📖 About Central Library in Copley Square
The Central Library in Copley Square at 700 Boylston Street is the flagship of the Boston Public Library, the first large free public library in the United States and long a model for public library design worldwide. The original McKim Building — designed by Charles Follen McKim of McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1895 — was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 as 'the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America.' Its Bates Hall reading room, named for London banker Joshua Bates who donated $50,000 to found the library in 1852, is one of Boston's most celebrated interiors. A 1972 Philip Johnson addition connects to the McKim building and houses the Children's Library, Teen Central and Community Learning Center. Today the Central Library offers research collections, the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center (one of the world's largest cartographic collections), a GBH broadcast studio, daily free art-and-architecture tours, notary services, museum passes, and a full calendar of public programming. The library is open seven days a week.
⭐ What makes this library special
- National Historic Landmark (1986): McKim Building (1895) is 'the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America'
- Iconic Bates Hall reading room — named for Joshua Bates, whose 1852 donation of $50,000 established the library
- John Singer Sargent mural cycle 'Triumph of Religion' and murals by Edwin Austin Abbey and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes viewable on free daily tours
- Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center — one of the world's largest collections of historic maps, open to the public
- Open seven days a week including Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and weekday evenings until 8 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
BPL cardholders can research, stream and borrow free through Boston's statewide and system-wide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Notary services — available at the Central Library (appointment recommended for most branches)
- Museum passes — reserve free or discounted passes to MFA, ICA, Peabody Essex, Zoo New England, Trustees GO Pass, Mass Audubon and more
- Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center — historic cartographic collection open to researchers and the public
- Research services and special collections including rare books and manuscripts
- Tech Central: public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- Community Learning Center: adult education and digital literacy programs
- Daily free art-and-architecture tours of McKim Building
- Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)
- GBH broadcast studio on premises
- Meeting and event spaces available for community and private rental
🎸 Programs
- Free daily art-and-architecture tours of the McKim Building
- Children's Library storytimes and youth programming
- Teen Central programs and summer reading
- Adult author talks, lectures and cultural events
- Community Learning Center classes: ESL, GED, digital literacy
- Exhibitions and gallery programming year-round
📍 Nearby BPL Branches in Boston
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Boston · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Central Library in Copley Square and when did it open?
The original McKim Building was designed by architect Charles Follen McKim of the firm McKim, Mead & White, appointed in 1887. It opened in 1895 and McKim described his intention as creating a 'palace for the people.' The National Park Service designated it a National Historic Landmark in 1986, calling it 'the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America.' A second wing designed by Philip Johnson was added in 1972.
What is Bates Hall and why is it named that?
Bates Hall is the grand reading room on the second floor of the McKim Building — a 218-foot-long barrel-vaulted space with tall arched windows and long oak reading tables. It is named for Joshua Bates, a London merchant banker born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, who in 1852 donated $50,000 to establish the Boston Public Library, on the condition that the library provide a large room for the public to read in comfort.
Does the Central Library offer notary services?
Yes. The Central Library in Copley Square provides notary services to the public. Unlike some BPL branches where an appointment is required, Central Library offers this service to walk-in patrons. Contact the library at (617) 536-5400 or ask@bpl.org to confirm current availability and any scheduling details.
Can I visit the Sargent murals and get a tour of the building?
Yes — free art-and-architecture tours are offered daily and are one of the most popular ways to see the building's treasures. The murals by John Singer Sargent ('Triumph of Religion'), Edwin Austin Abbey ('The Quest and Achievement of the Holy Grail') and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes line the McKim Building's upper floors and are open to the public during library hours at no charge.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
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