The Boston Library Consortium is a cooperative association of sixteen academic and research libraries:

Brown faculty, students and staff who wish to borrow material from one of the BLC libraries must obtain a Boston Library Consortium Card from the Brown University Library. Cards are issued only to currently employed full and part-time faculty/staff, and to students actively enrolled in a degree program at Brown. In order to qualify for a BLC card, the individual must also be a borrower in good standing at the Brown University Library, with no overdue materials or outstanding bills/fines at the time of issuance.

Brown University Faculty, Staff and Graduate students: Apply for a BLC Card at the Circulation Department of the Rockefeller Library. Applications can usually be processed immediately on all weekdays between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, and can usually be processed on evenings and weekends, depending on staffing. Cards will be issued for the current academic year, and may be renewed by submitting a new application each September.

Brown University Undergraduates: Apply for a BLC Card at the Circulation Department of the Rockefeller Library. Applications can usually be processed immediately on all weekdays between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, and can usually be processed on evenings and weekends, depending on staffing. Cards will normally be issued for the current semester, and may be renewed by submitting a new application to Reference at the start of each semester.

You will need to register at any BLC library from which you wish to borrow materials. The lending library may set a shorter expiration date than the one appearing on your card.

Borrowing privileges and expiration dates vary at each member institution; some information is available in the BLC "Guide" and "Handbook." Please note that there are different loan periods and fine structures at each library; be sure to get details at the time you register. You are responsible for any charges you accrue. If necessary, the Brown Library will assist other BLC Libraries in the collection of books or fees assessed, and will bill the individual for lost BLC books. Failure to abide by lending library rules at any BLC library may result in loss of library privileges at all Consortium Libraries, and may affect your borrowing privileges at Brown.

Book returns: The individual borrower is responsible for the prompt return of all materials borrowed from BLC libraries. While books borrowed from other institutions may be returned to any BLC library, including Brown, the various libraries do not assume responsibility for the items nor their timely return to the owning library. To avoid charges and to guarantee a continuation of BLC privileges, allow extra time before the due date if you are returning an item to a library other than the owning library.

On-site use of most member libraries is possible, in accordance with the indivdual libraries' access policies. Many BLC Libraries are open to the public. Others may require you to show proof of current affiliation with Brown University. If you wish to have a letter of introduction affirming your current affiliation with Brown, please request it at the Reference Desk of the Rockefeller or Sciences Library.