Due to construction in Campion Hall, the ERC will be temporarily closed beginning Thursday, May 15, 2025. We will reopen on Monday, August 25, 2025.
This page contains answers to key questions regarding ERC materials, spaces, and services. We will update this page with additional details as they become available.
Don't see the answer to your question on this page? Please contact Head Librarian Jessica Hinson-Williams at hinsonwi@bc.edu for more information.
Question: Why is the ERC closing for the summer?
Answer: A major HVAC project is taking place in two phases in Campion Hall, and this summer marks Phase II. The construction team will be working on the eastern side of the building, including in the ERC, this summer.
Q: Will I be able to check out ERC materials during the summer semester?
A: Because of the nature of the construction, the physical ERC collection will not be accessible during the temporary closure and you will not be able to request or borrow ERC items. If you will need materials during the summer, you are welcome to borrow items before we close at 5 pm on May 14th. During the closure, you will be able to use Interlibrary Loan services to request physical items (e.g., picture books) and scanned chapters (e.g., from a textbook). Our online materials, including K-12 databases, ebooks, and Overdrive collection will all remain available and accessible from anywhere you have an internet connection! You may also qualify for a library card from local public libraries, including the Boston Public Library and Minuteman Library Network. Both library systems have branches near the BC campus and provide access to children's and young adult literature.
Q: Where can I return ERC books and materials over the summer?
A: You're always welcome to return BC books to any campus library! (Note: technology, reserve materials, and other specialty items should be returned to the library where you borrowed them.) During the summer, the ERC book drop (directly outside the ERC doors) will be open, but please consider that construction activities may make accessing the building more difficult than usual. Please feel free to return your books at whichever campus library is most convenient for you, or to keep the books until we reopen on August 25th.
Q: I'm teaching a summer course; can I still put materials on reserve for my students?
A: Absolutely. Please visit our Guide to Course Resources for information about requesting physical and digital materials for your summer courses using the Course Resources platform in Canvas. If you are teaching an on-campus LSEHD course and would like a physical item placed on reserve, it will be made available at O'Neill rather than in the ERC.
Q: I'm a student looking for a summer job. Will the ERC be hiring?
A: Because we will be closed this summer, we won't be hiring student employees this spring, but you can find information about other jobs in the BC Libraries or jobs across campus online. Please refer to the library student employment page in July/August to learn about late summer/fall semester hiring.
Q: I'm a Read Aloud volunteer. How can I borrow books for my May and June reading visits?
A: If you would like to use ERC books for your end-of-year visits, we recommend selecting and borrowing your May and June read aloud texts by Wednesday, May 14th. If you need read aloud books during the ERC closure, you are welcome to request them through Interlibrary Loan (note that books typically take 1-2 weeks to arrive on campus) or visit a local public library (such as the BPL or NFL) to borrow items from their children's collection. We're happy to work with you to select materials in advance, and will send out reminders as the summer closure date approaches.
Q: I work in a K-12 classroom and need ERC materials until the end of the school year in June. Is this possible?
A: Yes, you are welcome to borrow materials before the ERC closure and return them to another BC library at the end of the K-12 school year. Please feel free to contact the ERC team (ERC@bc.edu) if you need assistance extending due dates or selecting materials before May 15th.
Q: Will ERC librarians still be available for library instruction sessions and one-on-one research meetings this summer?
A: Yes! Contact Jessica Hinson-Williams (hinsonwi@bc.edu) and Bethany Campbell (campbeb@bc.edu) about library sessions for your course or visit our Meet with a Librarian page to set up a virtual or in-person research appointment.
Q: Where can I find alternative study spaces this summer?
A: The BC Libraries offer a variety of study spaces across campus, with options for both group work and solitary study sessions. As you plan your summer library study days, remember to check the Library Hours page for the most up-to-date summer and holiday hours for all campus libraries.
Q: I/my students/my graduate assistants will need access to the ERC Test Collection this summer. How can we access these materials?
A: Please contact Head Librarian Jessica Hinson-Williams (hinsonwi@bc.edu) directly before May 14th to make arrangements for your course or research needs.
Guide to Course Resources for Instructors: Follow these instructions to request materials (physical and digital) for your summer courses.
Meet with an ERC Librarian: Schedule a time to meet with Jessica or Bethany in person or virtually for library help during the summer semester.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Unable to access a book you need from the ERC? Request a physical copy or scanned chapter through ILL and pick it up at the campus library of your choice.
Education Research Guide: Use the resources on this guide -- including recommended databases and citation guidance -- as a starting point for your research project or paper.
Technology Loans: Need a charger, laptop, or adapter? This page includes information about loanable tech across the BC Libraries.
Summer Library Hours: Check this page for the most up-to-date hours for all of the BC Libraries.
