Bates Hall, Boston Public Library (McKim Building)

Bates Hall is the main reading room in the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library at Copley Square, a space completed in 1895 and noted for its long arched windows, coffered ceiling, and oak reading tables. The hall exemplifies American library architecture of the late 19th century and has been influential as a model for grand reading rooms. The McKim Building and its interiors are part of the library's designation as a National Historic Landmark.