Our exhibitions gallery is free to the public, and no advance booking is necessary to view exhibitions. Plan to set aside between 30 minutes and 1½ hours for a full experience in the Gallery, though you are always welcome to spend more or less time, and to come back for multiple visits. The Gallery features captions and activities for children and families as well as adults.
Visiting Hours
Gallery Hours
| Day | Hours |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 am – 5 pm |
| Wednesday | 1 pm – 7 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am – 5 pm |
| Friday | 11 am – 5 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am – 5 pm |
| Sunday | 1 pm – 5 pm |
Special Hours
| Day | Holiday | Hours |
| December 24, 2024 | Christmas Eve | Closed |
| December 25, 2024 | Christmas Day | Closed |
| January 1, 2025 | New Year's Day | – |
| January 20, 2025 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | – |
| February 17, 2025 | President's Day | – |
| March 14, 2025 | BPL Staff Professional Development | All BPL locations will be closed |
| April 20, 2025 | Easter Sunday | – |
| April 21, 2025 | Patriot's Day | – |
| May 25, 2025 | Sunday Closure | – |
| May 26, 2025 | Memorial Day | – |
| June 19, 2025 | Juneteenth | – |
| July 4, 2025 | Independence Day | – |
| August 31, 2025 | Sunday Closure | – |
| September 1, 2025 | Labor Day | – |
| October 13, 2025 | Indigenous People's Day | – |
| November 11, 2025 | Veteran's Day | – |
| November 26, 2025 | Day before Thanksgiving | – |
| November 27, 2025 | Thanksgiving | – |
| December 24, 2025 | Christmas Eve | Special Hours: 11-5pm |
| December 25, 2025 | Christmas | – |
| December 31, 2025 | New Year's Eve | Open from 1-5 pm |
Directions
See Hours & Directions for a map to the Map Center and information about transportation and parking.
Gallery Tours
Our free gallery tours last approximately 30 minutes and do not require advance registration. To join a gallery tour, meet at the gallery front desk at the scheduled time.
| Day | Gallery tour hours |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 11:30 am |
| Saturday | 11:30 am |
Special Exhibition Events
Group and Education Visits
We welcome groups of visitors both from the general public and from educational institutions. For more information about K-12 visits, see our K-12 School Visits page. For university-level visits, see the University Programs page.
For private exhibition tours for a group, please fill out the form on our Group Visits page.
Accessibility and Translation
Our physical spaces are ADA accessible via a lift from the main level of the BPL’s McKim Building. Most, though not all, spaces in the Central Library in Copley Square are accessible. For more information, see the BPL’s Resources and Services for Users with Disabilities.
Occassional tours are offered in languages other than English.