“Book It Around Boston” had residents running around the library on Saturday

ROXBURY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — More than a hundred people grabbed their running shoes and headed to the library Saturday morning. The event, Book around Bostonbegan with participants at libraries across the city with their new Boston Public Library passports in hand.

Around 150 people ran, walked and cycled to different branches of the city library to get their BPL passports stamped. The event launched the BPL Passport as a way to incentivize exploring different neighborhoods while learning about local libraries. Those with a BPL passport can receive a stamp at every library branch in the city.

“The Passport is a fantastic way to see and experience Boston’s many neighborhoods through the lens of its treasured local libraries. Each BPL branch has its own personality and important role within the community it serves, and we hope this Passport and Book it Around Boston will encourage Bostonians to get out and explore our wonderful city,” said Maggie Levine. , BPL librarian. BPL website.

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BPL partnered with Heartbreak Hill Running Company for the event and created five guided routes from five different branches, all of which ended at the Roxbury branch where event attendees enjoyed the reception. There were guest speakers, refreshments, snacks and merchandise for those who had their BPL passport stamped.

“The fact that they’ve all been refurbished is really, I think, a beacon institution in our city and involving that with the running community is really something special,” said Dan Fitzgerald, co-founder of Heartbreak Hill Running Company said.

The paths ranged from less than one mile to six miles depending on the branch where participants started. The five library branches featured were in Honan-Allston, West End, Parker Hill, Roslindale and Fields Corner.

“We drove four miles, we started at the West End branch, we went from Common to the Chinatown branch, over Commonwealth Avenue to Copley, then to the South End branch, and we we ended up in Roxbury,” a runner named Ben told WBZ. Shari Small.

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