---
title: "BLC Forum 2025: Empowering Libraries"
description: On June 5, 2025, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) hosted its annual membership meeting, the BLC Forum, at Boston University.
---

[Blog | Boston Library Consortium ](https://blc.org/blog)

# [BLC Forum 2025: Empowering Libraries](https://blc.org/blog/blc-forum-2025-empowering-libraries)

 Written by [Boston Library Consortium](https://blc.org/blog/author/boston-library-consortium) | Dec 17, 2025 7:30:00 AM

On June 5, 2025, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) hosted its annual membership meeting, the [BLC Forum](https://blc.org/blc-forum), at Boston University. With representation from all 26 member institutions, the Forum brought together a record number of in-person attendees – 252 colleagues – for a day of collaboration, innovation, and community building.

This year’s Forum was driven by the membership. Charlie Barlow, BLC’s Executive Director, kicked off the day with an energizing and interactive plenary session, *Empowering Libraries: Building on BLC’s Strategic Priorities*, that invited both in-person and virtual attendees into a shared dialogue about the impact of BLC and the consortium’s collective path forward. Building on this conversation, the day centered on member-led programming, with colleagues across the consortium facilitating 16 presentations, 2 panels, 6 lightning talks, one workshop, and one poster session. These sessions showcased the innovative work taking place across BLC’s member institutions, facilitating a vibrant exchange of ideas, knowledge, and resources at scale.

Community engagement remained a core focus of the Forum. Seventeen BLC Communities held meetings, providing opportunities for colleagues to share updates, exchange expertise, and advance collaborative projects. Attendees also enjoyed guided tours of BU Libraries, gaining firsthand insights into Boston University’s library spaces and services. 

The BLC Leads 2025 Cohort & Alumni Mixer capped off the day, creating space for current fellows and program graduates to connect, share experiences, and expand their professional networks. The mixer featured a presentation from Nancy Kirkpatrick, Dean of Libraries at Smith College. 

Testimonials from attendees capture the impact of the Forum to foster community and encourage the sharing of knowledge and resources among BLC’s membership:

> “At the end of the day, I was grateful and filled with joy to connect with so many people and hear what our colleagues are doing in their work despite the extreme challenges.”

> “It was exceptionally informative and I loved the opportunity to see colleagues from other institutions in person instead of on zoom.”

> “My favorite part of the Forum was hearing updates on the BLC's work; as someone who hasn't been super involved with the BLC until now, it was so cool to learn more about what the organization does.”

> “Great forum as per usual! It's always a highlight of my professional year!”

## Presentations and Workshops:

Member-led presentations promoted expert perspectives and innovative strategies to address current challenges and drive innovative change in the library landscape within and beyond the BLC community. Explore the Forum’s presentations, presenters, and resources below: 

[Solace & Stories: The Emergence of Cozy Fantasy](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1NdeYb-WQSroR7g1__Dacew-L_IvDKLIU)  
Lily Reilly, Northeastern University

[Managing Collaborations in a Multi-Phase OpenAthens Implementation](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1B9RvgdEN0bzs0cF8yoMnwJSaZ8u94-Ck)  
Yueqing Chen, and Louisa Choy, University of Massachusetts Boston 

[Using AI Tools for Literature Searches: How Great is This Idea?](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=14NmjNUxPOD82Q7sgwXnHGKVn-mDs-VoN)  
A'Llyn Ettien, Boston University 

[Senior Information and Borrowing: The Positive Impact of Recognition and Promotion](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=156zRXFccVOK00vBnex-Dip1i7guhxA53)  
Mary Calo, Brandeis University 

EDI Steering Committee Updates: [Infographic](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ARgHhJpibRNmM01HTkzzGuT4DM2Y9HUp) and [Reading List](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1FMRHHQLz6Zvv0SGJJbtmjXqJwGpZzrd-)   
Michael Brown, Boston Public Library, and Sonia Pacheco, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Exploring Shared Services within the BLC  
Kim Sweetman, University of New Hampshire 

[Library Strategies to Support Experiential Learning Courses in Business Schools](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1X9zotPMenEHA9Fe49IB5garUPEsmsV9s)  
Dorice Moylan and Kathleen Berger, Boston University 

[BLC Network Zone: Where We're Going, Where We've Been](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=14AeP1UZSqw2sUZkpRpiLz2eka71wmdSw)  
Nathan Mealey, Rebecca McCallum, Lori Stethers, Wesleyan University, and Fred Folmer, Connecticut College 

[AI in Action: Practical Ways Library Staff Can Leverage AI](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1CjFx1Teu56vGAbP3m-UKqPr02-mvGKQz)  
Brock Edmunds, Boston University

[Rebuilding a Sustainable and Sustaining BLC Community of Practice](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1l_n0PQhQoolyXteIVzUKOQw77iJpVSHO)  
Jill Livingston, Wesleyan University, and Laura Hibbler, Brandeis University

[What's New at the Internet Archive](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSZYpseIyWWlp5D9hTdbyeVNhA0vY2Kap4bdvJJy1QzjRQWTLk6BjEYO4b-eWcoDUnMtCrpbKi7GLL9/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g3061e4970a8_0_0)  
Chris Freeland and Mek Karpeles, Internet Archive 

[Operational Shifts and Pedagogical Partnerships: Engaging AI Across the Academic Library](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Fl5ghx-yc0BSC3VOd8l23NwYESmtXmTk)  
Nathan Mealey and Jason Di Resta, Wesleyan University 

[Thinking Outside the Stacks: Circulating Equipment at Tisch Library](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1sTeAHAx-3QsuJ68dbxkKkN9fztBEtxIN)  
Jess Spear and Miles Donovan, Tufts University 

[Intercampus Collaborations for Catalyzing Action Toward Environmental Justice: Capacity Building and Empowerment During Uncertain Times](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1fxm4uzdzBu84jE4wLavJPUtlqbFFd5nK)  
Sarah Hutton, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Lauren Movlai, University of Massachusetts Boston 

[3,650 Hours: WMS to Alma in Just Five Months](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Qf-Q_Q78Hbp79dWaSVt-rPNGKgfWZ9Yt)  
Rebecca Gerber and Morgan Kolinski, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

[Check This Out!: Revitalizing BLC’s Consortium Card Program](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1GHG2eBaewEdxj4RuHI9uQL5kGQUHBwgR)  
Marc Hoffeditz, Boston Library Consortium, and Ann Marie Schafer, University of Massachusetts Boston 

[A DIY Approach to Web Archiving to Protect the Things You Care About](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1FB6r395hZrdd42BZ3lzl7dlaWfsFufGN)  
Avi Bauer, Seung-hwan Leo Kim, Merrill Pecci, Boston College, and Anna Kijas, Tufts University

## Lightning Talks

Lightning talks offered members the opportunity to share innovative and creative concepts in concise, engaging 15-minute presentations. 

Making Meaningful Metrics: Applied Analysis of Online Content for Instructional Librarians  
Lucy Flamm and Jack Mulvaney, Boston University 

[Speedy Delivery: Mobilizing Our Public Service Students to Accelerate ILL Lending ](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=15Vvh0gwAW_rRZNFCfcuF2ykEEIMOvmTE)  
Angie Batson, Wellesley College

[Cultivating Future Success: Growing Professional Experience for Library Student Workers](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=17tfX75X-qbgz3Wno_Q7QHTHr0aT81dR8)  
Pam Pfeiffer, Wellesley College

[Library Lab Partners: Combined Information Literacy/Data Management Instruction for Labs ](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1wI3jyv8ZELtWXMwpIxKwQGO4rE2QLMLU)  
Cecelia Lasley and Elizabeth McCall, Tufts University 

[Understanding Our Researchers' Data Services Needs](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1GW7G4DBol2gd_jXfbydcq1PW6BTZRIOv)  
Margarita Corral and Ford Fishman, Brandeis University

Become the Best Job on Campus: tips for giving and asking for student employee feedback  
Eliana Peretz, Tufts University 

## Roundtables and Panels

The BLC Forum showcased engaging panels and roundtables on BLC projects and programs, driven by member-led leadership and engagement: 

[BLC Network Zone Roundtable](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=15FWrm6X8J4qqzLctVTXiHoAhPyrtdDQ6)  
Nathan Mealey, Wesleyan University, Terry Simpkins, Middlebury College, Amy Harrell, Trinity College, Fred Folmer, Connecticut College, and Susan Swogger, University of Vermont 

BLC Leads Fireside Chat: How to get the most out of your BLC Leads   
Martha Kelehan, Tufts University, Abby Walsh, Boston College, Dominique Couturier, Boston University, Heather Castle, University of New Hampshire, and Andrew Weidner, Boston College 

## Poster 

*Student Perceptions of Campus Safety: Information for Academic Libraries*  
Steph Barnaby, Northeastern University

## Community Meetings

Seventeen BLC Communities held in-person and hybrid meetings during the BLC Forum:

- Access Services COI
- Archives & Special Collections COI
- Assessment COI
- BIPOC Caucus
- Business COI
- Directors Meeting
- Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion COI
- Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Steering Committee
- Heads of Resource Management
- Health Sciences COI
- LGBTQIA+ Caucus
- Metadata & Resource Management COI
- Media COI
- OER COI
- Resource Sharing COI
- Science & Engineering COI
- Senior Managers COP

As attendance at the Forum continues to grow year after year, this membership gathering has solidified an annual opportunity to strengthen ties, share knowledge, and inspire one another across institutions. BLC looks forward to announcing the date and location of the 2026 BLC Forum soon. 

[View full post](https://blc.org/blog/blc-forum-2025-empowering-libraries)

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