Did you know that the Boston Public Library (BPL) was founded in 1848, and was the fi rst large, free municipal library in the United States? Today, there are 26 BPL locations across the city. You can visit the Central Library in Copley Square or any of the branches to apply for a library card; check out a laptop for in library use; use a computer; check out books, DVDs, and CDs; get museum passes; and much more. You can even participate in programs for toddlers, preschoolers, children, teens, adults or the whole family together.
Its youth and adult services include a literacy center, computer access and training classes, English classes and conversation groups, a map center, business library, and a website (www.bpl. org) fi lled with digital content, ranging from e-books to a collection of more than 60,000 images. All its programs and exhibitions are free to everyone.
There are many exciting programs the BPL off ers to youth during out-of-school time. (www.bpl.org/boost) There is homework help and programs with other partners that follow a theme every month focusing on arts, writing, science, math and robotics. Look for monthly themes in the BPL calendar (www.bpl.org/calendar). March delivers science programs, including chemistry for teens and science experiments for children. April focuses on paper weaving and poetry. May will feature art programs like watercolor painting. Summer programming for children and teens begins on July 1 and will off er activities from the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium, along with science programs, art programs, and regularly scheduled branch programs given by children’s and teen librarians. Check your local branch for dates and times for out-of-school time programs.
