A list of periodicals, newspapers ... and other serial publications currently received in the principal libraries of Boston and vicinity

Published in the late 19th century by the Boston Public Library, this serial listing was created as a bibliographic tool to organize the sprawling collections of academic and public institutions throughout the Boston area. At a time when library science was becoming a formalized discipline, these union lists were essential for scholars and researchers attempting to navigate the burgeoning number of newspapers and periodicals circulating in an era of rapid industrial and cultural expansion.

The publication was compiled under the institutional authority of the Boston Public Library, reflecting the era's focus on standardized cataloging and public access to information. Its design is typical of Victorian-era institutional bibliographies, prioritizing functional typography and logical categorization over aesthetic flair. It was received by the academic community as a vital, if utilitarian, resource for regional resource sharing, effectively laying the groundwork for more modern inter-library loan systems.