Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for materials?

Use the text box on our search page to do a keyword search of our collections. The sidebar on the page will allow you to filter your results by curatorial department, format, subject, creator, or creation date.

If you prefer to only view results which contain a thumbnail image, choose “Yes” under “Has Image” on the sidebar filters.

Collections are primarily searchable by title, creator, and medium. For help searching, contact our curators at specialcollections@bpl.org.

How do I see these items in person?

Arts collections are available for any member of the public to view by appointment in the Special Collections Reading Room at the Central Library of the Boston Public Library.

To request an appointment:

  • Create a reading room account at readingroom.bpl.org.
  • Under “New Request” select a request form and fill out as much detail as you can about the item(s) you’d like to see, including title, creator and date (if possible).
  • For Request Type, choose “Schedule appointment”.
  • Select the date and time you’d like to come in and submit the request. For any additional requests, you can add them to an existing appointment using the dropdown menu.  

Appointments should be made three weeks in advance. Once you’ve submitted a request, our curators will be in touch to clarify any details, confirm your appointment, or discuss rescheduling if the materials require longer preparation time.

Can I request a digital copy of a work on this website?

We do our best to make other items in our collections available to view remotely. However, our ability to provide digital copies of items in our collection is dependent on the copyright, size, and condition of the item.

Many items from our collections are available virtually through Digital Commonwealth; if copyright allows, there is an option to download high-resolution files from that platform.

For works that have not been digitized, you can submit a request for a reference scan through your reading room account. For more details on our reference scanning services, see our website.

In most cases, the Boston Public Library does not hold the copyright to the items in our collections. Furthermore, we do not assert any additional restrictions on copies of these items beyond those that might exist in the original. As such, we cannot grant or deny permission to use copies of these items. It is the sole responsibility of the user to make their own determination about what types of usage might be permissible under U.S. and international copyright law.

For questions about copyright and permissions of images, please contact our staff at specialcollections@bpl.org.

Can I talk to someone about an item on this site?

Our curators are happy to answer questions about the items in our collections. Email us at specialcollections@bpl.org.

I can’t find what I’m looking for. Are all the arts collections on this site?

Email our staff at specialcollections@bpl.org and we will be happy to check internal inventories or connect you with the best department to answer your question. While this portal represents the vast majority of the collections held by our Arts Department, other art may be held by another department within the Boston Public Library or not yet have been added to this site.

Can I use images from this website for my project?

In most cases, the Boston Public Library does not hold the copyright to the items in our collections. Furthermore, we do not assert any additional restrictions on copies of these items beyond those that might exist in the original. As such, we cannot grant or deny permission to use copies of these items. It is the sole responsibility of the user to make their own determination about what types of usage might be permissible under U.S. and international copyright law.

If the material you are working with is in the public domain, you do not require our permission to publish; you are free to use the images in any way that you would like, including in print. For material that is still in copyright, you will need to determine if the intended use may be considered exempt from copyright restrictions under the fair use section of U.S. copyright law or secure permission from the copyright holder(s).

For any questions about permissions, contacting copyright holder(s), or use of our collections, please contact our staff at specialcollections@bpl.org.

Can I donate my art to the BPL?

Thank you so much for considering the Boston Public Library as a home for your work! To learn more about the donation process, please review our donation page and fill out a donation form.  If you have any questions, reach out to us at specialcollections@bpl.org.

How can I search other collections at the BPL?

The Boston Public Library also holds large music, rare books, manuscripts, maps, and archival collections. See our website for other discovery tools or connect with staff by emailing specialcollections@bpl.org.