Honan-Allston Branch
🏢 Boston Public Library · Boston, Massachusetts
Honan-Allston Branch
The Honan-Allston Branch opened on June 16, 2001 in a building designed by Machado & Silvetti Associates — named in 2003 after City Councilor Brian Honan, who championed its construction — and serves the diverse, multilingual Allston community with collections in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish alongside a community room and the adjacent Mellone Park.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 300 North Harvard Street, Boston, MA 02134
Phone: (617) 787-6313
Website: bpl.org
Plus Code: 87JC9V6C+2W (Boston, MA)
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📖 About Honan-Allston Branch
Library service in Allston dates to 1889, when books arrived by horse-drawn carriage at a delivery station in a local drugstore. An Allston Reading Room opened in 1905 and grew into a full branch by 1924, operating at 161 Harvard Avenue until budget cuts forced its closure in 1981. Community advocacy finally prevailed: Mayor Menino committed to a new building in 1993, ground broke in January 2000, and the current branch opened June 16, 2001. On March 13, 2003, the building was renamed the Honan-Allston Branch in honor of City Councilor Brian Honan, who represented District 9 from 1996 to 2002 and was the branch's most persistent champion. The 300 North Harvard Street facility — part of the Boston Public Library system founded in 1848 as the first large free municipal library in the United States — offers multilingual collections in four languages, a function room with a Yamaha baby grand piano, and access to the full BPL digital catalog.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened June 2001, designed by Machado & Silvetti Associates; renamed 2003 for District 9 City Councilor Brian Honan
- Multilingual collections in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish serving Allston's diverse immigrant communities
- Community function room with Yamaha baby grand piano available for meetings and performances
- Adjacent to Raymond V. Mellone Park (opened 2011) with quarter-mile pathways and a misting fountain with salvaged granite lion heads
- Open until 8pm on Wednesdays — the late evening option for the Allston-Brighton neighborhood
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Honan-Allston cardholders can borrow, stream, and research for free through the full BPL digital collection:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- Laptop lending
- Multilingual collections in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian & Spanish
- Community room with Yamaha baby grand piano (reservable)
- After-hours book return
- Accessible entrance & bike racks
- Lucky Day collection (no holds, no waitlists)
- English language learning resources & ESOL conversation groups
- Interlibrary loan via the Boston Library Consortium
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes
- LEGO club for kids
- Craft nights
- ESOL conversation groups for English learners
- Community events and cultural programming
📍 Nearby BPL Branches & Boston-Area Libraries
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Boston · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Brian Honan, and why is this branch named after him?
Brian Honan served as Boston City Councilor for District 9 — which includes Allston and Brighton — from 1996 until his death in 2002. He was the branch's most dedicated advocate during the years-long campaign for a new library building to replace the one that closed in 1981. The BPL renamed the branch in his honor on March 13, 2003, less than two years after it opened.
Does the Honan-Allston Branch offer services in languages other than English?
Yes. The branch maintains multilingual collections in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, reflecting Allston's large immigrant communities. It also offers ESOL (English as a Second Language) conversation groups for residents working on English fluency.
Is there a function room or meeting space at the branch?
Yes — the branch has a community function room equipped with a Yamaha baby grand piano, which can be reserved for meetings, performances, and events. The adjacent Raymond V. Mellone Park, opened in 2011, also provides outdoor community space.
What are the latest hours at the Honan-Allston Branch?
The branch is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10am–6pm, Wednesday 12pm–8pm, and Friday–Saturday 9am–5pm. It is closed on Sunday. Wednesday is the only evening with extended hours until 8pm.
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