Boston Library Consortium

FOUNDED IN 1970, THE BOSTON LIBRARY CONSORTIUM (BLC) IS AN ACADEMIC LIBRARY CONSORTIUM SERVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES, STATE LIBRARIES, SPECIAL RESEARCH LIBRARIES, AND PUBLIC 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.

EASTERN ACADEMIC SCHOLARS TRUST (EAST) PROJECT - BLC HAS BEEN THE FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE EASTERN ACADEMIC SCHOLARS' TRUST (EAST), A SHARED PRINT PROJECT ORIGINATING AS A GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVE, SINCE 2015. EAST IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES TO DOCUMENT, PROTECT, AND PROVIDE LONG-TERM ACCESS TO THEIR PRINT COLLECTIONS. AS OF MAY 31, 2022, EAST HAD 82 MEMBERS IN THIRTEEN STATES. BLC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS FULL GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER EAST.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT - BLC OFFERS REGULAR WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE SHARING EXPERTISE, HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK OF LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY STAFF ACROSS THE BLC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. BLC COORDINATES THE ACTIVITIES OF MORE THAN 20 MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITIES ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF LIBRARY PRACTICE AREAS. BLC COMMUNITIES INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM ACROSS THE BLC MEMBERSHIP AND RANGE FROM GROUPS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON NETWORKING AND SHARING EXPERIENCES WITH COLLEAGUES TO THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OR PROJECT. BLC ALSO MANAGES A SIGNATURE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, BLC LEADS. BLC LEADS BUILDS SHARED KNOWLEDGE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE INQUIRY AROUND A SERIES OF FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES AND QUESTIONS EXPLORED IN WEEKLY VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES AND FOUR IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS.

RESOURCES SHARING - BLC WAS FOUNDED UPON A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE COOPERATION IN MAKING RESOURCES MORE READILY AVAILABLE. TODAY, THE BLC REMAINS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING HIGH-QUALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVE SHARING OF PRINT AND DIGITAL CONTENT THROUGH ITS RESOURCE SHARING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INTERLIBRARY LOAN AND CONTROLLED DIGITAL LENDING. BLC MAINTAINS A GROUP SUBSCRIPTION TO RESOURCE SHARING TECHNOLOGIES ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND MANAGES A CONSORTIAL DELIVERY SERVICE TO FACILITATE PHYSICAL DELIVERY OF PRINT MATERIALS AMONG BLC'S NETWORK OF LIBRARIES. BLC'S HEADS OF RESOURCE SHARING COMMITTEE PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF RESOURCE SHARING PROGRAMS.

MEMBER SERVICES - BLC SUPPORTS VARIOUS OTHER SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THE EXTENDED DELIVERY SERVICE, AND THE CONSORTIUM CARD PROGRAM. THE HEADS OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DEFINES AND ARTICULATES A VISION FOR A BLC COLLECTIVE COLLECTION, AND PROVIDES LEADERSHIP OF JOINT PROJECTS RELATED TO COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND ASSESSMENT THAT LEVERAGE THE DIVERSE STRENGTHS OF THE LIBRARIES OF BLC'S MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLC STAFF, COMMITTEE MEMBERS PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF BLC'S GROUP SUBSCRIPTION AND E-RESOURCE LICENSING AGREEMENTS.