About Boston Library Consortium

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Mission

Boston Library Consortium empowers a coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States to share knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale.

Guiding Principles

Our strength lies in our diverse membership network of public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, state libraries, public libraries, and special libraries united by a commitment to champion innovation through collaboration. BLC pursues member-driven initiatives that:

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Encourage inclusive and transparent decision-making

 

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Create equitable opportunities for participation and collaboration at all levels

Shared Diverse Expertise

Amplify shared and diverse expertise to advance library practice

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Support the continuous evolution of BLC as a learning organization

Member Institutions

BLC’s success in the past and vision for the future lies with our members, who have from the beginning believed that information should be free and that knowledge should be shared. The following 26 institutions comprise Boston Library Consortium's membership:

Leadership & Staff

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BLC Board of Directors

The Boston Library Consortium is a 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a Board of Directors including representation from the chief librarian for each of the member institutions.

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Team BLC 2025

Team BLC

Meet the dedicated team at Boston Library Consortium. Together, we work with BLC’s membership to empower a coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States to share knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale.

Meet the Team

Our Current Work

BLC's Strategic Action plan guides the ongoing work within our four core programs: Professional Development, Resource Sharing, Resource Management, and Shared Systems and Services. Our Annual Report offers a snapshot of the collective impact driven by a vibrant community of library leaders and professionals committed to BLC’s mission to share knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale. 

BLC's Strategic Action Plan

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 Empowering Libraries, BLC's Strategic Action Plan, charts an ambitious path to advance five strategic priorities through a series of strategic initiatives over the next two years. Learn more and get involved, here.

Download Strategic Action Plan

2023-2024 Annual Report

BLC 2023-24 Annual Report - About Page

This report spotlights the member-driven approach that has shaped BLC’s impact, emphasizing the integral role of individuals within BLC’s membership and highlighting BLC’s commitment to championing innovation through collaboration.

Download BLC's Annual Report

History

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Original logo, circa 1974

Founded in 1970, Boston Library Consortium (BLC) is a library consortium serving public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, state libraries, special research libraries, and public libraries in the northeastern United States.

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.

Since its founding, BLC has been a change agent, acting to strengthen ties, facilitate resource sharing, and expand collaborative practices across northeast academic and research libraries. BLC began with an exchange of ideas, expanded to the sharing of resources and cooperative projects, developed communities of interest, and, through its cooperative action, enriched library users with a breadth of resources not available from any one library.

New to BLC?

BLC Quick Reference Guide

Get a quick overview of Boston Library Consortium (BLC) with our onboarding cheat sheet. This quick-reference guide covers BLC's mission, strategic priorities, programs, and services, along with ways to get involved in our communities. Whether you're looking to connect with peers, explore professional development opportunities, or dive into consortial projects, this cheat sheet will help you get started. 

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Code of Conduct

The BLC is committed to providing welcoming, open, safe environments where members can work and learn together. Central to the work of the BLC is the opportunity for people with a variety of experiences and perspectives to come together as peers in comfort and safety. We expect participants in the BLC community to help create thoughtful and respectful environments where that interaction can take place.

The BLC will not tolerate harassment within our community. If you have concerns that you are being harassed or notice someone else who is being harassed, please contact a member of the BLC staff as soon as possible. If you or others are in imminent danger, please phone emergency services at 911.