The opening day collection of 16,000 volumes fit in the Mason Street building, but it quickly became obvious that its quarters were inadequate. So in December 1854, the library's commissioners authorized the library to move to a new building on Boylston Street. Designed by Charles Kirk Kirby to hold 240,000 volumes, the imposing Italianate edifice opened in 1858. Eventually the library outgrew that building as well; in 1878, an examining committee recommended replacing it with a new one at another location.
The opening day collection of 16,000 volumes fi,t in the Mason Street building but it quickly became obvious that its quarters were inadequate. So in December 1854 the library's commissi,oners authorized the library to move to a new building on Boylston Street Designed by Charles Kirk Kirby to hold 240,000 volumes, the imposing Italianate edifice opened in 1858 Eventually the library outgrew that building as well; in 1878, an examining commit.tee recommende.d replacing it with a new one at another location.