Boston Library Consortium

For Librarians

The Boston Library Consortium offers services to librarians at member libraries ranging from resource sharing and e-resource licensing to professional development and programming on issues of importance to academic and research libraries.

For Students, Scholars & Researchers

Those affiliated with the Full Member libraries of the Boston Library Consortium can take advantage of access to and borrowing of materials from these libraries.

Our Members

Brandeis University
Williams College
University of New Hampshire
Wellesley College
Northeastern University
Boston College
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Connecticut
Boston University
Tufts University
University of Massachusetts Boston
Bentley University
State Library of Massachusetts
Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
University of Massachusetts Medical School
University of Rhode Island

Networking Day 2019 with Keynote Speaker DeEtta Jones

The BLC's 2019 Networking Day will feature keynote speaker DeEtta Jones, principal of DeEtta Jones & Associates , and a trusted voice in leadership, equity, and diversity topics. Ms. Jones has worked closely with the...

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BLC Members in the News: University of Connecticut's Connecticut Digital Archive Joins DPLA

The Connecticut Digital Archive, a University of Connecticut Library program, has joined the Digital Public Library of America, adding over 75,000 items. These materials, which range in content from historical to contemporary photograph collections, personal...

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Member Events

May 22, 2019

Symposium

Networking Day 2019

The BLC is pleased to announce our annual Networking Day will be held at Brandeis University in the Sherman Hall Function Room on Wednesday, May 22nd from 9:30AM-4:00PM.

The keynote speaker is DeEtta Jones, of DeEtta Jones & Associates, who will talk about Courageous Leadership. Focusing on what it means to be a leader of conscience, DeEtta will share guidance for both senior leaders and those early in their leadership journey. She has been a leading voice in shaping contemporary thinking and practice around workplace culture, personal transformation, diversity and inclusion and was the primary architect of the BLC Leads leadership development program.

Select BLC Communities of Interest will be meeting at the conclusion of Networking Day. If you have any questions, please email Executive Director Susan Stearns (sstearns@blc.org).

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Agenda

9:30 am	Registration and Continental Breakfast
10:00 am	Welcome: Simon Neame, President of the BLC and Susan Stearns, Executive Director
10:15 am	Keynote: DeEtta Jones of DeEtta Jones & Associates
11:45am	Panel of BLC Leads Participants – Graduates of the 2017 and 2018 BLC Leads Leadership Institute will discuss how the program has shaped their leadership.
12:45pm	Break to setup for Lunch
1:00pm	Lunch
1:45pm	BLC Update – Susan Stearns
2:00pm	Lightning Talks: What’s New at BLC Libraries – BLC member libraries’ staff will provide brief presentations on initiatives and projects of interest.
3:00pm	Break
3:15pm	Breakout Sessions for the BLC Communities of Interest – Locations TBD
3:30pm	BLC Leads Meet Up – Participants in the 2017 and 2018 program are invited to a meet up with light refreshments. BLC Board Members are welcome to join.

March 25, 2019

Meeting

BLC Health Sciences COI - Spring Virtual Meeting

The Health Sciences COI will have its Spring virtual meeting on Monday, March 25th from 10:30am-11:30am. The meeting agenda and login information will be shared in the COI's list-serv.

March 28, 2019

Webinar

Expanding Knowledge Webinar: Strategies for Effective Library Marketing and Communications

In response to the recent survey to BLC librarians, Mary Moser (UMass Boston) and Annie Harrison (Brandeis University), have partnered to bring library and marketing expertise together and share Strategies for Effective Library Marketing and Communications. This Expanding Knowledge webinar will take place on Thursday, March 28th, 2019, from 11:00am - 12:00pm.

How do you get the word out about your library’s resources, services, and programs? Two library communication staffers will share best practices, tips, and tools for identifying, developing, and adapting communications strategies that will work for your campus and library staffing levels. The webinar will cover: library and campus branding and style guides; campus partnerships for communication and outreach; email and social media strategies, including accessibility concerns; and developing a communication plan for your library.

Presenter Information:

Annie Harrison is the Strategic Communications & Marketing Specialist at the Brandeis Library. She has a BS in Journalism and Political Science from Central Michigan University, and she is currently working on her MS in Digital Marketing and Design at Brandeis. She began her career at Clarkson University as a social media manager and news writer, and now supports the Brandeis Library in developing written and visual content for print and digital marketing channels as well as preparing annual reports and other strategic planning materials.

Mary Moser is the Engagement and Advancement Librarian at UMass Boston. She has an MLS from Indiana University and an MA in Educational Technology Leadership from the George Washington University. After a decade of coordinating library instruction programs in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Massachusetts, she now coordinates grant writing, fundraising, and communication initiatives for Healey Library.

This webinar will be recorded and shared with BLC member libraries.

April 01, 2019

Meeting

Heads of Resource Management (HRM) Committee In-Person Meeting

The Spring in-person meeting of the Heads of Resource Management Committee will take place on Monday, April 1st from 10:00am-12:30pm. Location and other information will be shared via the HRM list-serv.

April 04, 2019

Webinar

Collections Strategies Webinar

More and more, library leaders are implementing innovative strategies that advance efforts to transform collections activities from an outside-in model (publisher/provider content) to an inside-out approach (locally created and distinctive content). This can include an emphasis on Open Access, Open Education Resources, Library Publishing, Digital Scholarship, Data Science initiatives and more. Collections transformations should be informed by data, values, and strategic direction, while providing oversight of the building, shaping and presenting of content. Speakers from across the diversity of the Boston Library Consortium will participate on a panel sharing the philosophical and real changes driving their institutions’ approach to collections.

This webinar will present theoretical and practical approaches to this new way of thinking about collection management, allowing attendees to consider implementing this shift into their thinking about library collections.