We have several reciprocal borrowing agreements with groups and organizations that extend library privileges free of charge to their users. For those not affiliated with one of our reciprocal partners, a fee-based membership is available. With the exception of the Law Library, anyone can enter and use many of the resources available at BC libraries.
Guests, retirees and alumni have borrowing privileges at the O'Neill, Bapst, Social Work and Theology & Ministry Libraries. In addition to these libraries, Alumni also have borrowing privileges at the Educational Resource Center.
Guests, retirees and alumni can borrow up to 10 items for a period of 28 days. Materials can be renewed (if not requested by another user) two times for an additional 56 days (with the exception of the Educational Resource Center where no Guest/Alumni renewals are allowed).
For questions, please email notices@bc.edu.
Off-campus access to online resources is limited due to licensing restrictions. Some library databases are available through the BC alumni portal. Links can be found on the services for guest and alumni page.
Alumni borrowing privileges are extended to graduates of Boston College, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Newton College of the Sacred Heart, and Saint John's Seminary. Alumni can apply to check out physical items at the Circulation Desks of O'Neill Library, Educational Resource Center (ERC), Social Work Library, and Theology and Ministry Library.
To obtain library privileges please present the following documentation at either the O'Neill Library, Educational Resource Center, Social Work Library or the Theology and Ministry Library. These documents need to be presented at the Circulation Desk:
Graduation status must be confirmed before a library card can be issued. Alumni have borrowing privileges at all of the Boston College Libraries with the exception of the Law Library and are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
Retired faculty and staff automatically retain borrowing privileges at all of the Boston College Libraries and may continue using their Eagle ID as a library card. Retirees are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
Once you retire, your access to online resources and services will change. Retirees do not have remote access to electronic services (databases, library catalog account, etc). However, retirees may use the public computers at any BC library to access most databases. For access to online services, such as requesting or renewing materials please contact borrower services:
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is a conference of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. As a member of the AJCU, we will allow onsite borrowing for the faculty of other AJCU institutions.The faculty have borrowing privileges at all BC libraries except the Law Library and ERC.
For AJCU Affiliates (Borrowing materials from Boston College Libraries)
Faculty from participating AJCU schools can obtain borrowing privileges at Boston College Libraries. Please present the following information at the O'Neill Library Circulation Desk.
Cardholders have access to materials at the O'Neill, Bapst, Social Work and Theology & Ministry libraries and are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
The Boston College Libraries are a cooperating member of the Boston Library Consortium. Because of this membership, we extend borrowing privileges to the faculty and students from the other 21 cooperating academic and research libraries.
Cardholders have access to materials at the O'Neill, Bapst, Social Work and Theology & Ministry libraries and are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
For BLC Affiliates (Borrowing Materials from Boston College Libraries)
Walk-in Borrowing
Faculty, staff, and students from Brandeis, Boston University, and Northeastern University may obtain borrowing privileges by presenting their University ID.
Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Cards
Faculty and students from BLC schools other than Brandeis, Boston University and Northeastern (see walk-in borrowing above) can obtain borrowing privileges by presenting the following documentation at either the O'Neill Library, Educational Resource Center, Social Work Library, or the Theology and Ministry Library:
The Boston College Libraries are a cooperating member of the Boston Theological Institute (BTI) and extend borrowing privileges to faculty and graduate students from participating BTI Libraries. Users have access to all BC Libraries, with the exception of the Law Library and the Educational Resource Center.
Faculty and graduate students from participating BTI schools can obtain borrowing privileges at Boston College Libraries by visiting the Theology & Ministry Library or the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., Library, Monday-Friday between 9 am-5 pm.
Graduate students must register in advance for a BTI Portal Account by completing a New Student Registration Form. You will see this option at the bottom of the page. Students who already have a BTI Portal Account simply need to opt-in via the BTI Portal by checking the appropriate option under 'Do you want to sign up to use the libraries at other BTI schools'.
Once these steps have been completed, you will need to present your home institution ID at either the Theology & Ministry Library or the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., Library to gain access to member collections.
Faculty simply need to present their Boston College ID at any of the Boston Theological Institute libraries to gain access to member collections.
Cardholders are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
Individuals who are not affiliated with Boston College, alumni of BC, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Newton College of Sacred Heart or St. John's seminary or a member of one of our reciprocal institutions (Boston Library Consortium, Boston Theological Institute or Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities), may secure library privileges for a fee.
Cards are non-transferable and issued in two increments - $200 for a 3 month period or an annual fee of $500.
To apply for privileges or to renew existing privileges, please email notices@bc.edu. Applications are processed Sunday-Thursday from 9 am - 3 pm. To obtain a fee pay card, please provide the following:
Cardholders have access to materials at the O'Neill, Bapst, Social Work, and Theology & Ministry libraries and are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials.
OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program is a program of the Research Libraries Advisory Committee that allows faculty members of participating institutions borrowing privileges and on-site access to the collections of some of the most important research libraries in North America.
For RFPB Affiliates (Borrowing materials from Boston College Libraries)
Only current faculty from participating RFBP schools can obtain borrowing privileges at Boston College Libraries. Please present the following information at the O'Neill Library Circulation Desk:.
Cardholders have access to materials at the O'Neill, Bapst, Social Work, and Theology & Ministry libraries and are responsible for complying with library regulations and are subject to fines, recalls, and replacement fees for lost materials. Privileges to the Educational Resource Center and the Law Library are not given.
SHARES, a program of the OCLC Research Library Partnership, extends access privileges to faculty, emeritus faculty, students, and academic staff of partner institutions to use the collections and services at other SHARES libraries.
Please note that in-library use of material is permitted, but borrowing privileges are not granted. Please see the SHARES on-site access policy for more details.
Spouses of students, staff and faculty can obtain an Eagle-One Card through the Office of Student Services. Proof of identification such as driver’s license or passport, and a copy of the marriage certificate must be presented in order to obtain an Eagle-One Card. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Services.
