There are a variety of ways in which you can access the resources and potentially the interlibrary loan services of libraries near you. A first choice may be your public library, as many are connected to larger networks of materials than just their local collections. For example, in Massachusetts, your public library may be connected to the Minuteman network or a network like NOBLE (North of Boston Library Exchange).
If you are located near any other seminary or university that has resources you need, we may still be able to help. A dean or administrator may be able to write you a letter of introduction as a visiting researcher. Many seminaries and universities will recognize such a letter to grant you visitor status, allowing you the ability to use their library and sometimes even borrow materials. If you think this could be an option for you, please contact the library and we will try to help you start this process.
All currently-registered distance education students are eligible for the same BTI privileges as on-campus students. In order to use BTI borrowing privileges, you need to create an account in the BTI Cross Registration Portal (http://www.bostontheological.org/btiportal) and "opt-in" to BTI library borrowing. This will grant you the ability to access those libraries and check out books. Books can be returned directly to that BTI library or to the circulation desk at the BU Theology Library. Read more on our ILL page, under the Boston Theological Institute (BTI) Card heading!
Some Quick Notes:
*All BU students can check out items at BC Libraries simply using only your BU ID (Terrier Card). There’s no need for a BTI Card!
***The BTI Card does not grant you access to Harvard’s Widener Library, or any other Harvard libraries beyond the Andover-Harvard Theological Library.
There may also be a BLC library near you. The Boston Library Consortium includes 17 research libraries across New England; a full list of their libraries can be found here. A BLC card can be obtained from BU’s main library, Mugar Memorial Library (located just to the west of and behind the School of Theology, at 771 Commonwealth Ave). This card must be picked up on campus and you are encouraged to submit the online card application prior to your visit. As with BTI libraries, this card should be presented with your BU ID at the circulation desk of the BLC library you wish to borrow from. A local patron account will be created for you in their system as a BLC visitor.
Through agreements with Boston College, Northeastern University, and Brandeis University, all BU students, faculty, and staff can borrow directly from those universities’ libraries using just their BU ID (Terrier Card), like you would checking out an item at our library. Furthermore, when those items are due, no need to trek all the way back to the library from which you borrowed the item; just drop the book off at Mugar Library’s book return! Remember that all due dates are set by the lending institution and we are unable to take care of fines or renew items for you.
The American Theological Library Association has a new reciprocal borrowing agreement among participating ATLA libraries. If you live near a participating library, you can have access to that library as well as visitor borrowing privileges under this agreement (similar to BTI or BLC borrowing). A list of currently participating libraries, as well as more guidelines, can be found on the website for the ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Initiative.
