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A Virtual Visit to the State Library

If you can't come to the State Library in person, take our web tour! The State Library has resided in its present location in the Brigham Addition of the State House since 1895 in Room 341, our Main Reading Room, and in Room 442, our Mezzanine Level.

Table of Contents

Welcome to the state library of massachusetts.

Welcome to our Main Entrance on the third floor of the Massachusetts State House. Before you enter, please view our current exhibit in the display cases that flank the left and right of the entrance. Don't worry--you can view them virtually on our Flickr site. 

Architectural Details in the Main Reading Room

Stained glass windows.

These intricate works of art were designed by architect Charles Brigham and crafted by the Lewis F. Perry Painting & Decorating Firm. The three ceiling windows each measure 15' x 9 ' and commemorate three historically significant dates in U.S. history: 1620 (the landing of the Mayflower), 1775 (the start of the Revolutionary War--pictured in the header section), and 1861 (the start of the Civil War).  The stained glass fanlights that decorate the top of the windows in the reading room measure 6' x 3' and were designed to complement the Library’s original paint scheme of greens, ochres, and terra cottas.

Decorative Ceiling

The same painting and decorating firm that created the Library's stained glass windows also painted the original decorative ceiling with a raised fleur-de-lis design. Although the ceiling was painted over in 1964, the original paint colors are still visible in one small section located above the Library's mezzanine level. 

Decorative Columns

As part of the Library's 2014-2015 renovations, the many beautifully decorated columns in the main reading room were painstakingly restored to their original 1895 color scheme using a hand-painted stippling technique.

Portraits in the State Library

George fingold.

Outside of the third floor main entrance to the Library is the George Fingold Memorial Library plaque. George Fingold (1908-1958) served as the Massachusetts Attorney General from 1953 to 1958. In 1960 the Massachusetts legislature officially renamed the library as the George Fingold Library in his honor. The bronze plaque, which measures 50" x 28¾" x 1" was created by Ralph Cooper in 1960 and was given to the State Library that same year in conjunction with the Library’s renaming. 

Governor Patrick, Chief Justice Ireland, and Senator Cowan

Hanging in the State Library’s reading room, this oil painting depicts Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Senator William “Mo” Cowan standing on the front steps of the Massachusetts State House.

Painted by Sharman Altshuler, this portrait is based on a photograph taken on July 3, 2013, by the Governor’s Office Photographer, Eric Haynes. The photograph was taken to commemorate the first time in Massachusetts’ history that the offices of Governor, U.S. Senator, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court were all held at the same time by African American men. The painting, which measures 56" x 40", was unveiled in the State Library on December 15, 2014.

Charles Carleton Coffin

In the State Library’s reading room hangs the portrait of Charles Carleton Coffin (1823-1896). A famous freelance war journalist and correspondent, Coffin covered presidential elections, the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, and, perhaps most noteworthy, the Civil War through first-hand accounts. The oil-on-canvas portrait was created from life by Frank Hector Tompkins and measures 38¾" x 29". The inscription on the portrait reads, “Charles Carleton Coffin, 1823-1896, bequeathed to the State Library,” which occurred in 1896.

Art in the Main Reading Room

Declaration of independence plaque.

To the right of the library's entrance is a bronze plaque of the Declaration of Independence, which was given to the library in 1929 by Governor Frank Allen. This engraved bronze facsimile was designed and cast in 1928 by the Gorham Company Bronze Division, located in Providence, Rhode Island. It is mounted on wood and measures 33¾" x 27". 

John James Audubon Prints

Decorating the walls of the reading room are beautiful print reproductions from the State Library's complete original double elephant folio set of Audubon's  The Birds of America , printed between 1827 and 1838.

Official Massachusetts Legal and Legislative Volumes

Although not technically "art," hundreds of volumes line the walls of the Main Reading Room in the  numerous original metal bookcases that  were restored during the Library's renovation in 2014-2015 to their original colors of olive green with bronze trimmings. As the official depository library of Massachusetts state publications, the Library holds such resources as the House and Senate Journals, Acts and Resolves, Legislative Documents, and the Massachusetts General Laws.

Busts in the State Library of Prominent Massachusetts Political Figures

Arthur buckminster fuller.

Arthur Buckminster Fuller (1822-1862 ) was a teacher, missionary, and clergyman. In the 1850s he served as chaplain for the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives, and in 1861 he was commissioned as the chaplain of the 16 th Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War. On December 11, 1862, Fuller was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, after volunteering to accompany the 19 th Massachusetts Regiment across the Rappahannock River. Made from plaster, this piece measures 27" x 15" x 12". and is attributed to artist George H. Bartlett, circa 1863. The bust was given the same year to the State Library by Fuller’s family.

George Frisbie Hoar

In 1908 the Commonwealth commissioned the creation of a bust depicting United States Senator George Frisbie Hoar (1825-1904) of Massachusetts. Daniel Chester French sculpted the piece from marble, which stands at 31" x 23" x 15". It is signed on the side by the artist.

John Davis Long

John Davis Long (1838-1915) had an impressive career serving as Massachusetts Governor, U.S. Representative, and Secretary of the Navy. Pierre Millet created the 26" x 13" x 11" bust from plaster, probably at some point between 1880 and 1894, when Millet was active in Boston. It is signed by the artist under the shoulder and was gifted to the Commonwealth by an unknown source. 

More Busts in the State Library of Prominent Figures

Theodore roosevelt.

Located to the left of our main reference desk, the bronze bust of Teddy Roosevelt was sculpted in 1919 by John Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941), who also sculpted Mount Rushmore. This piece predates the start of that monumental project by eight years. The bust, which measures 31" x 23" x 16½", is signed by the artist on the front and was given to the State Library in 1945 by the Roosevelt Club of Boston. 

Caleb Tillinghast

Caleb Tillinghast (1843-1909) was the Massachusetts State Librarian from 1879 to 1909. His bust was created from plaster by Paul A. Garey. Though the date of acquisition is unknown, Garey was active in the city of Boston between the years 1838 and 1881. The bust is signed “Paul A. Garey/Boston” on the back and measures 25" x 16 ½"   x 14".

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C) was a Roman statesman and orator and a frequent subject of sculptors in the nineteenth century. The State Library’s plaster bust of Cicero, which measures 24 ½" x 12" x 10 ½" , was created by an unknown artist and was modeled after a classical bust in the Capitoline Museum in Rome. It is inscribed, “Ciceron Buste/Antique Musee Capitole.”  

Library Mezzanine Highlights

Decorative rosettes.

Gold toned rosettes line the interiors of the archways that frame the view to the Main Reading Room below. These rosettes were restored to their original beauty as part of the Library's 2014-2015 renovation, during which time conservators drilled cross-sections from the Library's walls to reveal the fifteen different colors of the Library's original paint scheme.

Civil War Soldier Photographs

Prints of portraits of Sergeant Andrew Jackson Smith and two other unknown Civil war soldiers to the left and right of the entrance to the mezzanne balcony area are from the State Library's collection  of photographs and handwritten documents from the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiments.

Bird's-Eye View Maps

Located on the wall of the balcony are several reproductions of historic bird's-eye view maps from the Library's extensive holdings. Dating from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, these maps provide a fascinating view into a town's past. They can also be viewed in the Library's digital repository .

More Mezzanine Highlights

Hoosac tunnel and massachusetts railroad prints.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, transportation systems and infrastructure emerged in Massachusetts, starting with canals, followed by the development of railroads and harbors and finally the laying out of highways. The State Library of Massachusetts digitized visual materials in its collection related to the development of transportation systems in the state during the 19th and early 20th centuries and you can view them online as well. 

Freedom Trail Tapestry

On permanent loan in the Library's Conference Room on the fourth floor is a beautiful needlework tapestry of eleven historical sites on the Freedom Trail. The members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild created this 11' x 5' tapestry for the Massachusetts Senate in honor of the American Bicentennial in 1976. 

State Library Conference Room

The Library renovation in 2014-2015 included the addition of an attractive and inviting Conference Room space on the mezzanine that is available to reserve for meetings.

Additional Resources   for More Mezzanine Highlights

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Marketing & Publicity · Article

Increasing book discoverability to increase sales, library tours: how to set them up and what they can do for you.

Conducting a regional library tour is one of the least appreciated ways to sell books and gain crucial exposure at the same time. If you live in a small state, the tour might include most of its libraries. If your state is too large for that, confine your visits to a manageable geographical area. The idea is to arrive at each library, make your presentation, have the book signing, and be back home within two or three hours. The benefits of such visits may include receiving requests for further speaking engagements. It isn’t unusual, for example, for program directors of service clubs (e.g., Rotary, Lions) to be in the audience. Libraries tend to promote their events heavily, so even if the number of attendees is low, your name and the title of your book may be published in local newspapers or mentioned on radio. Multiply this by the number of visits you plan on making, and you will have a sense of your potential media coverage.

The Program and the People

Some people may attend your program with your book already in hand, having bought it in a bookstore or on the Internet. This is still a favorable feature of the tour, because they may have made the purchase in anticipation of your appearance and are there primarily to hear what you have to say, and to obtain your signature and perhaps a personal inscription. The event may well inspire them to spread the word about your book. My tour–for Famous Crimes Revisited , which I wrote with Dr. Henry Lee–took me to 120 libraries throughout Connecticut, where I live. Each program lasted about an hour. I spoke for 15 minutes, took questions (most dealt with details of criminal cases), and concluded with the signing session. The book lent itself to such a format, but you can tailor your presentation to your own subject matter and your own comfort level. For example, in initial remarks, you might incorporate a passage from your novel, short story, or collection of poems; or, in the case of nonfiction, take questions on the facts you’ve written about or the advice you’ve advanced. The number of attendees on my tour ranged from a handful to several hundred, with an average of 50 to 60. About one-third purchased books, but that number often represented two-thirds, because spouses would attend and the couple would buy a single copy. Sometimes a person would buy several books to give away as gifts.

The Library Tour Nitty-Gritty

Obtain a list of all the libraries in your state or region. Any major one of them can help you with this. Make sure it contains the vital information about each library, such as address, phone numbers, names of staff, and operating budget, if available. It’s also helpful to know whether a library has meeting rooms. It’s most important of all to know whether it has a Friends of the Library organization or its equivalent. Library Friends groups are proud of their work and usually put more time into rounding up attendees than the library staffers, who have other responsibilities. Take all these factors into consideration when choosing which libraries to contact. Be selective. Make your own phone calls. Ask for the director, program director, or reference librarian. Explain what you have to offer and that you charge no fee as long as you may bring books along for signing and purchase. Some libraries provide an honorarium; either accept it or offer to donate it back. Others might indicate they don’t allow the transfer of money in the library, but that you’re welcome to put on your program. Do honor the invitation and do show up (it’s good PR, and word gets around). Stress that you’ll bring your own supply of books and mention that you’ll arrange for a press kit to be mailed to them along with a complimentary copy of the book. My kit is a colored folder containing a press release, a bio, a glossy of me, and several reviews and newspaper articles. I’ve found that the ideal times for library programs are weeknights or, occasionally, Sundays, but you also have to be guided by the preferences of the library. Call the library a few days before your scheduled appearance to confirm. Ask for a podium if you need one. Inquire about any interest in the program to date so you can get an idea of the attendance. Some libraries have sign-up sheets, others don’t. Arrive about a half-hour early to set up. My only props were an aluminum collapsible easel and a poster blowup of the book cover. I also brought along a bottle of water, an extra pen for purchasers, and business cards, which I spread on a table. These help in obtaining other talk invitations and media interviews and also assist attendees with the spelling of your name. Arrange for a proper introduction. Check to be sure the introducer will not wing it and will read either from the bio you previously sent or from the one in your book or dust jacket. Then leave the room and perhaps browse through the library or read a newspaper. Return just before start time and sit unobtrusively in the back of the room. After the introduction, walk to the front from that location (a theatrical touch!).

If it’s convenient for you, stand, don’t sit, during your talk. I always requested a podium, even though I never spoke from notes. It provided something to drape my arm over from time to time. If the library anticipates a large turnout or the room is large, check on whether a microphone will be needed and available. Even if the room is small, stand–unless the turnout is also small (like four or five people). In that case, don’t run home. Often, the individuals in the audience are more embarrassed then you are, so you must put them at ease. Here’s how I handled it. Pulling up a chair, I would say something like: "Last week, I was in Hartford and 200 people showed up. The next night, Stratford, and only a handful was there. Last night, New Haven, and 80 or 90 came. And tonight? A handful. So one can never tell. But do you know what? It makes no difference to me. I give it the same energy either way. So if you’re comfortable, I am too. Let’s proceed, then, and who knows? Maybe others will eventually join us." Beware the person who might dominate the question-and-answer period. Don’t be rude, but don’t dwell on their repeated questions. Incidentally, those big talkers rarely buy books, I’ve found. Several recommendations for the book signing: Write a brief inscription over your signature. Keep all receipts unless an agreement has been made to donate a portion to the library (I give 20 percent). Take only cash or checks. Collect the money yourself and allow it to lie on the table, off to the side. Bring along some small bills to make change, and handle transactions from the table, not from your purse or wallet. Round off the amount so you don’t need to deal with coins. And to repeat, if a person arrives with your book in hand, that’s okay. Sign it with a smile. It still represents a sale, and now it also represents enduring interest. Send the library a thank-you note during the following week. State that you look forward to a similar presentation with another book someday down the road. This helps establish a network you can count on in the future. Finally, keep brief notes. I have a card for each library. Somewhere on it, I have a notation like "80/24." That means 80 people showed up and bought 24 books. I’ll contact that library again for my next book. If the notation reads "7/2," I might not.

Summary of Helpful Hints  

•  Do your own scheduling by phone.
• Weeknights and Sundays work best.
• Try not to include libraries that may be too small.
• Favor those that have Friends of the Library or its equivalent.
• In advance, send a press kit and a complimentary copy of your book.
• Call a few days before to confirm.
• Bring your own supply of books.
• Arrange for a proper introduction.
• Allow for questions and answers.
• Send a thank-you note the following week.

After his first exposure to forensic medicine while serving in the U.S. Navy, Jerry Labriola practiced medicine in his Connecticut hometown for more than 30 years. An assistant professor at the University of Connecticut Medical School, he was formerly chief of staff at Waterbury (CT) Hospital. He is the author of four mystery novels as well as the co-author of the nonfiction book Famous Crimes Revisited.

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