2023 Life Logs, Day 87: Newcomers Field Trip to the Boston Public Library
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Weather: Overcast, Rainy, Cooler; High 42, Low 32 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
The Boston Public Library (BPL) was founded in 1848 and opened in 1854. It is not the oldest public library in the US. That honor goes to the Darby Public Library in Philadelphia, “America’s oldest public library, in continuous service since 1743.” But the BPL holds the distinction of being the first publicly supported free municipal library in the world. Yes, the world, not just the United States. And even though when it was opened, you had to be 16 years old to enter, that was eventually changed, and it became the first library to establish space designated specifically for children.
I was supposed to drive today if needed, but at the last minute a few people backed out and I ended up as a passenger and navigator in Karen Baranowski’s van. There were two other women in our group, Bonnie Howard and Toby Richard, and two other car loads. We thought we would see everyone at the library, but it is big, and my group was almost finished touring before we made contact with others.
There are actually two libraries—the old McKim Building and the new Johnson Building.
All modern day library activities take place in the newer building, but the art is in the old building which is “crammed with spectacular paintings, tapestries, architectural details, and sculpture. The buildings themselves are impressive and we really enjoyed touring the three floors.
As you climb the steps from the impressive main entrance to the second floor, you pass two enormous lions carved from single blocks of marble commemorating Massachusetts Civil War infantry regiments.
And as you climb you see a series of murals done in shades of blue, pale green, and ivory by 19th century French artist, Puvis de Chavannes.
Then you come to what I would say is the crown jewel, Bates Reading Room.
It runs the runs the full length of the front half of the building with high arched windows and a vaulted ceiling. The desks and the English oak bookcases are the originals, and the setting literally invites you to sit and read awhile. On the second floor there is also the ornate Abbey Room with 15 murals depicting Sir Galahad’s Quest of the Holy Grail.
The third floor houses the John Singer Sargent murals titled The Triumph of Religion.
My problem with his works is that the murals depict only the world religions of interest to Sargent—Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity—ignoring other world religions.
We then walked through the outside courtyard between the old and new buildings and into the “working” library of today.
It is modern and vibrant.
There is one fabulous little map room tucked to one side
before you enter the open-concept modern reading tables, shelves and shelves and shelves of books, and the circulation desks which serve the library’s 28 branches as well as walk-ins. Then, finally we came to the Newsfeed Café and the live production of WGBH radio’s three-hour mid-day program, the very popular Jim and Margery show.
We bought lunch and sat and watched Jim and Margery interview a couple of guests as we ate. Fantastic day.
I truly enjoyed the self-guided tour of this most impressive public library.
