TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

B110

Classification

1200

Street

700 BOYLSTON ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Other organizations at this address

4 other organizations in the IRS Business Master File list the same street address. matched by us

We match the street line and ZIP code as the IRS gives them, ignoring case and outer spaces and nothing else, so "AVE" and "AVENUE" count as different streets and this list can miss some. A shared address can mean related organizations or a shared office, but it can also be a registered agent, a mail drop or a service provider holding mail for unrelated clients. It is not, by itself, evidence that two organizations are connected.

• ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY INC

  EIN 04-2900822

• BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND INC

  EIN 04-3150560

• CITY WIDE FRIENDS OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

  EIN 04-2966860

• NORMAN B LEVENTHAL MAP & EDUCATION CENTER INC

  EIN 26-0887197

Mission and programs · 2023

• The Boston Public Library (BPL) is an extraordinary institution that has served the citizens of Boston since 1848. Founded as the first municipal library and the first public library to lend books, the Boston Public Library is dedicated to the advancement of learning and is "Free to All," as is carved in the facade of the historic McKim building in Copley Square. The BPL encompasses a Central Library, twenty-five vibrant neighborhood libraries, a robust website, and classes and programs for all ages. The Library's collection of more than 23 million items includes circulating books, eBooks, DVDs, and music, as well as research and special collections that encompass rare manuscripts, prints, photographs, drawings, maps, posters, and more. The Boston Public Library's Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, and Collections of Distinction such as the personal library of John Adams, the Anti-Slavery collection, the Thomas Pennant Barton Collection of Shakespeare, and the Boston Pictorial Archive attract researchers and scholars from across the city and around the world. In fiscal year 2024, Boston Public Library hosted 14,337 public programs reaching 202,344 people, had 1.3 million in person visitors, and loaned 6.5 million items. Of those 6.5 million lends, more than 4.3 million were digital downloads of e-books and audiobooks. In the same fiscal year, the Boston Public Library helped 147,444 Massachusetts residents - adults, children, and teens - sign up for new library cards, hosted 241,281 free computer sessions and enabled 659,623 free wireless internet sessions. Engaging the Public Through Programming + Active Spaces: The Library offers a variety of programs for all Children, teens and adults including: Future Readers Club, Homework Assistance, Local & Family History, Writing programs, Theatre Productions, The Lowell Lecture Series, Copley Concerts, Never Too Late Programs, Children's Music and Storytelling. Serving the Public with Improving technology: BPL is a national leader in library service technology. The Library has been improving the Library's IT and business systems, increasing access to knowledge through the provision and creation of digital content, and closing the digital divide by providing the public improved access to the kinds of cutting edge technology that ensure equity. Restoring and Preserving our History: At an estimated one million manuscripts, holdings are particularly strong in medieval and early Renaissance manuscripts, colonial Boston and New England, and the American anti-slavery movement. The library is also home to hundreds of archival collections with strengths in local business, political, cultural, and social history. Caring for the Public's Special Collections The Library maintains and cares for of one the world's most important public collections of art, rare books, maps and other special objects and make these precious objects, owned by the public, accessible to patrons today and far into future generations. Statewide Collection Development & Access: This program provides residents of the Commonwealth access to print, electronic, and downloadable collections not available in their individual libraries. Anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or owns property in Massachusetts can have a Boston Public Library card.

  Expenses $12,884,202 · Revenue $129,365

As filed on the 2023 return.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2023

  Revenue

  $17,793,385

  Expenses

  $16,257,913

  Contributions

  $10,772,544

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $15,587,519

  Expenses

  $15,793,637

  Contributions

  $9,301,520

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,868,848

  Expenses

  $14,506,628

  Assets (EOY)

  $89,216,582

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $16,249,859

  Expenses

  $9,817,480

  Assets (EOY)

  $99,754,907

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,953,414

  Expenses

  $10,341,953

  Assets (EOY)

  $79,863,386

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $11,799,921

  Expenses

  $9,974,904

  Assets (EOY)

  $80,386,119

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,163,352

  Expenses

  $8,748,023

  Assets (EOY)

  $77,648,642

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $17,428,380

  Expenses

  $10,061,175

  Assets (EOY)

  $74,904,608

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $8,484,721

  Expenses

  $10,275,205

  Assets (EOY)

  $66,644,122

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,700,152

  Expenses

  $8,531,374

  Assets (EOY)

  $68,877,203

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $11,910,574

  Expenses

  $8,348,843

  Assets (EOY)

  $69,011,109

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $8,573,395

  Assets (EOY)

  $64,234,512

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY INC

  $1,182,424

  2022 · Conservation digitization& cataloging

• ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY INC

  $1,099,312

  2024 · CONSERVATION, DIGITIZATION, AND CATALOGING.

• ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY INC

  $1,097,688

  2023 · CONSERVATION, DIGITIZATION, AND CATALOGING.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Other IRS files