Arts Department, Special Collections

Many digitized materials from the Arts Department's collections are available in two repositories: Digital Commonwealth and Internet Archive. Although a large amount of our collections have not yet been digitized, both databases are continually updated as collections become digitized. Read more detailed information about each repository below. 

Digital Commonwealth is a database that provides digital images, image data, and, in some cases, downloads of high-resolution files directly from the database. This resource is the best place to start searching for digitized materials from the Fine Arts, Photography, and Prints & Drawings collections.

• To search for specific images, works by particular artists, or to browse and get to know digitized collections, visit the Digital Commonwealth Entry Page for Boston Public Library.
• All BPL holdings can be searched at the top of the entry page using the search box labeled "Search this institution's collections."
• To search within individual collections, scroll down to "Digital Collections" and select a specific collection. *Please note that collection sets are organized alphabetically, by first name.*

Click here for general search instructions.

Internet Archive is a database containing digitized versions of library materials from Boston Public Library as well as many other libraries throughout the world. This resource is a good place to start searching for digitized music materials as well as historical publications relating to music and fine arts (such as books, journals, etc.).

• Click here to browse music materials from BPL's collections in Internet Archive.
• To search for specific materials digitized from BPL's collections, visit the Internet Archive landing page for Boston Public Library. 
  • Use the search box on the top left side of the page with the label "Search this Collection" to search BPL-specific holdings.

Click here for general search instructions.

For more information, further questions, or assistance with using Digital Commonwealth or Internet Archive, please contact specialcollections@bpl.org.