Boston Library Consortium

BOSTON LIBRARY CONSORTIUM, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION OR "BLC") WAS INCORPORATED IN 1977 AS A MASSACHUSETTS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. BLC IS A LIBRARY CONSORTIUM SERVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES, STATE LIBRARIES, SPECIAL RESEARCH LIBRARIES, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES PRIMARILY IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. AS OF MAY 31, 2023, BLC HAD TWENTY-ONE MEMBERS IN MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, AND VERMONT, AS WELL AS ONE AFFILIATE MEMBER IN CALIFORNIA. EACH MEMBER IS REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN OF ITS PRINCIPAL LIBRARY. BLC EMPOWERS A COLLATION OF LIBRARIES TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RESOURCES AT SCALE.

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, 2023, EAST HAD 134 MEMBERS IN FIFTEEN 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.

RESOURCE 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.