Book Clubs and Digital Libraries:
How Book Lovers Can Enjoy Boston
Boston has long been recognized as a city that takes reading and literacy seriously, fostering a culture where the written word is celebrated and cherished.
This dedication to literacy is perhaps most evident in the city's efforts to address literacy gaps in various communities. In 2021, Boston's city ordinance established the Literacy Task Force to ensure that all Bostonians have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive in a reading-rich environment. The task force seeks to bridge literacy divides and empower residents to fully engage with the city's vast cultural and intellectual offerings.
This emphasis on knowledge and learning has helped shape a vibrant literary scene filled with independent bookstores, thriving book clubs, and a deep-seated love of reading among its population. If you're visiting or planning to move to Boston, this article will guide you in exploring how book lovers can tap into the city's rich literary culture.
Join a book club
One of the best ways to dive into Boston's reading culture is by joining a book club. Book clubs provide the perfect backdrop to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in thoughtful discussions, and discover new books that you might not have picked up on your own. For example, the Over the Rainbow book club in the suburb of Hopkinton offers a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ readers. This club has featured books like White Houses by Amy Bloom, The Guncle by Steven Rowley, and Some Girls Do by Jennifer Duggan. The club's inclusive environment and diverse reading list make it a great choice for those looking to explore literature from different perspectives.
Another notable example is the book club for blind and low-vision children established by the National Braille Press in the Fenway. Each month, this club mails classic children's books to families, with custom braille pages meticulously crafted by staff and volunteers. This initiative exemplifies Boston's commitment to making literature accessible to all its residents, regardless of their abilities.
Subscribe to a digital library
Accessibility and affordability are critical considerations for book lovers, and digital libraries are the most practical solution. In an age where physical space for books can be limited, and purchasing new titles can be costly, the digital library Everand makes reading more accessible than ever. This platform provides subscribers with a vast catalog of titles, spanning genres from young adult to romance and mysteries. The ebooks on Everand include bestsellers like Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter and It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. For those interested in Boston's history, Everand also hosts ebooks such as Boston: A Historic Walking Tour, which guides readers on walking tours starting from the Massachusetts State House and covering key historical sites in the city.
With features like offline access and a low monthly subscription fee, such platforms ensure that anyone can carry a library in their pocket, ready to be accessed anytime, anywhere. This makes it an excellent option for tourists or future residents who want to immerse themselves in Boston's rich literary landscape, even before they arrive.
Pay a visit to the Boston Public Library
No exploration of Boston's literary offerings would be complete without a visit to the Boston Public Library (BPL). Massachusetts is home to hundreds of libraries, as detailed in our Guide to Libraries in Massachusetts. This includes the Abbott Public Library, Brooks Free Library, and Robbins Library in Arlington, but the BPL stands out as the state's crown jewel. With a collection of 23.7 million media items, including books, DVDs, and films, the BPL is the second-largest library in the United States, surpassed only by the Library of Congress. This impressive collection makes the BPL a must-visit destination for any book lover in Boston.
Fortunately, any Massachusetts resident can obtain a BPL card. This grants access to the library's extensive collection and additional perks such as free entry to most Boston museums, free admission to the New England Aquarium, and discounted access to Zoo New England. These benefits make the BPL card not only a gateway to the world of literature but also a ticket to some of the city's top cultural attractions.
Whether you're joining a book club, subscribing to a digital library, or exploring the vast resources of the Boston Public Library, there are countless ways to engage with the city's rich literary heritage.