The Boston Library Consortium (BLC) has welcomed the University of Vermont as its newest member - joining 20 other institutions in the BLC's network working on innovative solutions that enrich the creation, dissemination and preservation of knowledge.
Founded in 1791, the University of Vermont is a public land-grant research university located in Burlington, VT. The University of Vermont Libraries encompass the David W. Howe Memorial Library, the Dana Medical Library, and the Jack and Shirley Silver Special Collections Library. UVM Libraries' collections include more than one million books, 300,000 e-books, 130,000 serials titles, 300 databases and electronic resources, and 26,000 multimedia materials.
The membership will position the University of Vermont to participate in all the BLC's programs and strategic initiatives, including the consortium's membership communities, reciprocal borrowing privileges between BLC member institutions, and professional development activities to strengthen the expertise of library faculty and staff.
"We are delighted to welcome the University of Vermont to the Boston Library Consortium," said Dorothy Meaney, president of the BLC and director of the Tisch Library at Tufts University. "The board of directors' recent visit to the UVM Libraries affirmed that their faculty and staff will contribute meaningfully to our strategic initiatives and be active members across the full range of BLC's Communities."
For Bryn Geffert, dean of libraries at UVM, this membership helps connect the Libraries' faculty and staff to new colleagues and strategic initiatives in the northeastern region of the United States.
"The UVM Libraries are geographically isolated, a condition yielding a strong desire for formal partnerships," said Geffert. "Our membership in the BLC connects us to the knowledge, learning and camaraderie of the BLC's Communities, the professional development offerings for which the BLC is well known, and the opportunity to participate in the controlled digital lending initiative taking flight."
Charlie Barlow, executive director of the BLC, applauded the board's decision to welcome the University of Vermont as the consortium's newest member.
"This strategic expansion to a fifth state in the region significantly enhances our network," said Barlow. "We're energized about the opportunities to strengthen our collective expertise and cultivate new collaborative initiatives together with faculty and staff from UVM Libraries."
About the Boston Library Consortium
Founded in 1970, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) is a library consortium serving public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, state and special research libraries in the northeastern United States. The BLC members collaborate to deliver innovative and cost-effective sharing of print and digital content, professional development initiatives, and projects across a wide range of library practice areas. For more information, visit blc.org
About the University of Vermont
Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. Today, UVM is a Public Ivy and top 100 research university of a perfect size, large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet small enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study, from bachelor's to M.D. programs. Here, students' educational expertience and activities are enriched by our location - from the energy and innovation of Burlington to the forests, farms, and independent spirit of Vermont. UVM provides students endless ways to explore the world, challenge ideas, and dig in on the most pressing issues of our time. For more information, visit uvm.edu
Contact: Charlie Barlow, Boston Library Consortium - cbarlow@blc.org