Boston Library Consortium

For Librarians and Library Staff

The Boston Library Consortium offers services to librarians and staff 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

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

Cover of 'Consortial CDL: Implementing Controlled Digital Lending as a Mechanism for Interlibrary Loan'

Boston Library Consortium to implement controlled digital lending for interlibrary loan

New report released as resource for other libraries and consortia

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Open Call for Membership: BLC Human Resources Community of Practice

The BLC is pleased to announce an open call for a new Boston Library Consortium Human Resources Community of Practice . The BLC Human Resources Community of Practice (BLC HR COP) will develop and execute...

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Member Events

September 21, 2021

Professional Development Alliance

ASERL Webinar: TikTok on the Clock: Teaching Digital Media Literacy Skills on TikTok

TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short, bite-size videos. While teenagers and young adults have made up the vanguard user group of this platform since its start in 2017, millennials and older generations have increasingly joined the app in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially known for its viral dance crazes and lip syncing challenges, TikTok has grown to become a rich community space for knowledge and skill sharing.

Presenter:

Natalie Ornat, Humanities Librarian, UNC Charlotte

This webinar is offered to staff at BLC member libraries as part of the pilot Professional Development Alliance. To learn more about the Alliance, and to see all available webinars, please visit the Professional Development Alliance Project page.

September 22, 2021

Professional Development Alliance

ASERL Webinar: Sprouting Talent: Growing Library Leadership at Every Level

Develop leadership at every level of your library after hearing the experiences of two veterans in the field in this practical and inspiring session. Former library director Maxine Bleiweis found ways to open up opportunities to all staff members through daily practices that helped staff become their best and step forward in the library, the community and the profession. Kate Byroade went from shelver to library director to statewide leader with the encouragement of wise supervisors and an adventuresome spirit. You’ll come away with ideas to put immediately into action and a plan for a longer strategy.

Presenters:

Maxine Bleiweis
Kate Byroade

September 23, 2021

Professional Development Alliance

ASERL Webinar: When they see us: The Black Male Archives

Rodney Freeman, founder of the Black Male Archives, will spend some time walking us through his initial ideas to final creation of this amazing project. The objective is to capture, curate, and promote positive stories about Black men to combat the negative images portrayed in the media. Rodney recently left his library director position to dedicate himself to making his dream a reality. During this webinar, he will also provide us with a demonstration on all the features of the archive and how libraries and archives can use this material for instruction and DEI related activities. Come with your questions and suggestions on how to support Rodney's work.

September 27, 2021 to October 04, 2021

Webinar

BLC LGBTQIA+ Speaker Series: Joan Ilacqua

The BLC LGBTQIA+ Caucus is delighted to host the next speaker in the Series, Joan Ilacqua, Executive Director of the The History Project, on Monday, September 27th from 1:00pm-2:00pm. This presentation is open to the full membership and will discuss Ms. Ilacqua's work in The History Poject, "[...] the only organization focused exclusively on documenting and preserving the history of New England’s LGBTQ communities and sharing that history with LGBTQ individuals, organizations, allies, and the public."

This presentation will be followed by a more focused conversation with the LGBTQIA+ Caucus on Monday, October 4th, from 1:00pm-2:00pm. This conversation will also include Micha Broadnax, who will talk specifically about their project, Documenting Black Queer Boston.

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ Caucus or identify as a LGBTQIA+ library student or worker in the New England Region, please click here to register for this conversation.

September 30, 2021

Webinar

BLC BIPOC Speaker Series: Diversity and Collection Development: Every selector's responsibility

As colleges and universities develop and/or refine their equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) plans, departments and other units across those institutions are asked to demonstrate support for these plans. The library's collections are a tangible way to show support for this work and highlight how we can make significant progress in this area now while other measures of EDI progress are slow at best.

This session will discuss how and why the development of collections for diversity can be approached and is the work of all with selection responsibilities in our libraries.

After the webinar, Ms. Young will meet with the members of the BIPOC Caucus for an informal conversation. If you are a member of the Caucus, or identify as a BIPOC library student or worker in the New England Region, please register for that conversation here.

About the Presenter:

Courtney L. Young is University Librarian at Colgate University. She graduated with a BA from The College of Wooster and earned a MS in Library Science from Simmons College (now University). Before coming to Colgate, she held library positions at Penn State University, Michigan State University, and The Ohio State University. Courtney has served in a variety of leadership roles in the American Library Association (ALA), including being elected the 2014-2015 ALA President. She is a recipient of the Simmons Alumni Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Library and Information Professional Endeavors. Courtney frequently presents and publishes on issues related to advocacy, academic librarianship, diversity, leadership, and professional development.

This event is presented as part of the ongoing BIPOC Speaker Series. Learn more about the series at blc.org/BIPOCseries

This presentation will be followed by a more focused conversation with the LGBTQIA+ Caucus on Monday, October 4th, from 1:00pm-2:00pm. This conversation will also include Micha Broadnax, who will talk specifically about their project, Documenting Black Queer Boston.

After the webinar, Ms. Young will meet with the members of the BIPOC Caucus for an informal conversation. If you are a member of the Caucus, or identify as a BIPOC library student or worker in the New England Region, please register for that conversation here.