Today we publish Empowering Libraries, BLC’s 2023-24 annual report describing the meaningful progress we have made toward our strategic priorities, establishing sustainable initiatives, strengthening collection stewardship, promoting professional development, optimizing resource sharing, and enhancing shared systems.
“This past year has been an extraordinary chapter of growth, innovation, and shared purpose at BLC,” said Charlie Barlow, BLC’s executive director. “Our mission—to empower our coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States—has gained even greater momentum through our collective dedication to sharing knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale.”
Key Highlights from the 2023-24 Annual Report:
- Strategic Growth and Community Engagement: Published the Strategic Implementation Plan, launched a redesigned website, and expanded opportunities for collaboration across BLC Communities.
- Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Established the EDI Steering Committee, conducted a baseline survey across member institutions, set strategic goals for consortial efforts, and secured an IMLS grant to pilot the BIPOC Leadership Academy for Support Staff.
- Professional Development Impact: Delivered 25 webinars and workshops with over 1,000 registrations and welcomed 20 Fellows into the BLC Leads program, expanding the network of leadership alumni to over 70.
- E-Book and Digital Ownership Innovation: Published "E-book ILL Roadmaps," hosted the inaugural E-Book Summit, and contributed to the "Principles of Digital Ownership" to advocate for sustainable access and preservation of digital collections.
- Launch of the BLC Network Zone: Introduced a shared Integrated Library System (ILS), enabling collaborative collection management and resource sharing among member institutions.
Explore the Full 2023-24 Annual Report Here
We invite our members, strategic partners, and the wider library community to explore the full 2023-24 Annual Report to learn more about the milestones, achievements, and future directions of BLC. Your continued support and feedback are vital as we grow and evolve to meet the needs of our members and the communities we serve. Please email Cate Harriman with any comments.