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BU Catalog

eResources

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BU Libraries

Finding Books

First Step:

• Search the Boston University library catalog for the book or other item you are seeking. Search options include: Author, Title and Word (or keyword, allowing you to search for terms appearing anywhere in a catalog record).

For example:

Author	carter stephen l
	american civil liberties union
Title	prosser and keeton on torts
	annual report of the director of the administrative office of the united states courts
Words	federal sentencing guidelines
	nutshell and criminal procedure

• For the most flexible and powerful search option, click the Advanced Search button, just below the Catalog Quick Search box for the library catalog. The Advanced Search option allows you to search for certain keywords in specific fields (such as author, title or subject) and to limit your results by library, item type, publication date, etc.

If the BU Libraries do not have what you need, consider:

Second Step: Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

• The library’s ILL service allows journals to submit requests to borrow books and other items and to obtain photocopies of articles and other documents. Please consult with your editor about your journal's process for coordinating and submitting ILL requests. ILL requests can be submitted online.
  

• Please note: If you cannot wait at least 7-10 days, ILL may not meet your needs. It is impossible to guarantee the processing time for an ILL transaction. (Additional information on how the interlibrary loan service works and some types of items that may be difficult or impossible to obtain via ILL are available in this guide.)
  

• If you have questions about likely turnaround time using this service, please contact the circulation department, send your question by e-mail, or call 617-353-8412.

Alternative Second Step: Trip to Other Libraries

• If time is of the essence and you are able to travel, you may want to consider visiting other libraries and consulting the material there. (Please speak with your editor before making a trip off campus.)
  
  • Note: To borrow an item from another library, it is necessary to submit an ILL request, unless you have personal borrowing privileges at that library.


• As a Boston University law student, you may obtain a Boston Library Consortium card, which enables you to borrow circulating materials in person at member libraries.
  

• Other library catalogs can be searched via Internet, including:

  Boston Public Library
  Minuteman Library Network (metro west public libraries)

• The Library Consortia and Catalogs section of the Law Library’s web site includes links to a number of other library catalogs, including the virtual catalogs of regional law library organizations, as well as the Worldcat database.
  

• Please contact the reference desk if you would like to visit another academic law library in the area. If that library is not open to the public, it may be possible for the librarians to provide a letter of introduction, so that you can access materials that are not otherwise available.

Page maintained by David Bachman
Last updated: August 2007