A black and white postcard showing a reading room in a library. There is a balcony above.

Free to All: West End Branch of the Boston Public Library

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A black and white postcard showing a reading room in a library. There is a balcony above.

Libraries have always played an important role in their communities. The West End Branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) is no exception. As the site of BPL’s first Black librarian and first Jewish head librarian, this local library has grown and evolved with our neighborhood since it was first founded at the Old West Church 130 years ago.

In this special exhibit, explore how dedicated local librarians encouraged reading for fun while engaging with the many cultures that called the West End home. Witness the reinvention of this branch after urban renewal and how its collections gave rise to the West End Museum. Reflect on all libraries do for their communities.

At this pivotal moment, the West End Branch again faces change as it will be transformed once again by redevelopment to provide dozens of new affordable housing units. Join us to celebrate reading, community, and the West End’s own library branch in this exciting new special exhibit.

Research done in partnership with the West End Branch and the Special Collections and Archives of the Boston Public Library. 

On View: November 18, 2026 – Mid-February 2027