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About the BU Libraries

BU Libraries house more than 2.4 million physical volumes, over 45,000 current unique serials, and 77,000 media titles. We provide research tools and services that include library tutorials, library instruction from research basics to graduate-level classes, reference services in all our major libraries, access to digital resources, specialist consultations, and librarian-created guides with curated resources.

Our specialized libraries develop targeted collections for area-specific research, offering access to the best available resources. Libraries in our system include:

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African Studies Library

The African Studies Library (ASL) is a collection of multidisciplinary resources for the study of Africa, including social sciences and humanities, sciences (especially public health), and subjects in nearly every academic discipline.

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Alumni Medical Library

The Alumni Medical Library serves the faculty, staff, and students of BU’s Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Public Health.

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Astronomy Library

The Michael D. Papagiannis Astronomy Library’s collection supports BU’s astronomy and astrophysics programs as well as research conducted by faculty and staff of the Astronomy Department, the Center for Space Physics, and the Institute for Astrophysical Research.

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Fineman and Pappas Law Libraries

The Fineman and Pappas Law Libraries supports the research needs of the School of Law faculty and students, along with other legal researchers at BU. Library holdings include federal and state primary legal materials; major serials, treatises, and other secondary materials; legal documents and reports; and international law materials.

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Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center

The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center is a major resource for researchers, biographers, historians, producers, and students. The collections vary in size and content and contain a variety of manuscripts, drafts, galleys, notes, notebooks, journals, diaries, scrapbooks, reviews, photographs, memorabilia, and personal and professional correspondence.

Krasker Film/Video

Located in the basement of Mugar, Krasker Film/Video Services provides instructional media support to university classes. There are also viewing stations for students, faculty, and staff to watch videos in the collection.

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Mugar Memorial Library

As BU’s main humanities and social sciences library, Mugar Memorial Library provides resources for study, teaching, and research, and houses the Martin Luther King Reading Room, the PAL Study Lounge, and the Common@Mugar.

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Music Library

The Music Library, located on the second floor of Mugar Memorial Library, supports the music faculty and students at BU, but its collections are open to area and visiting researchers for on-site use.

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Frederick S. Pardee Management Library

The Frederick S. Pardee Management Library provides resources and services supporting the faculty and students of BU’s Questrom School of Business. Our facility is a study haven as well as home to an extensive collection of leading information resources of business, management, and related subjects.

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Pickering Educational Resources Library

The Pickering Educational Resources Library supports the Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development’s faculty and students through research services and tools and an extensive (and growing) collection of print and electronic resources.

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School of Theology Library

The Theology Library encourages the pursuit of personal and academic research in all stages of life. The library maintains an open-doors policy to the public for in-house consultation of all its materials, without exception.

Science & Engineering Library (SEL)

Science & Engineering Library

The Science & Engineering Library supports the Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Environment, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics Departments, the College of Engineering, and associated research labs and centers.

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Stone Science Library

The Stone Science Library brings together books, journals, atlases, maps, photographs, and more in support of the Archaeology, Geography, and Earth & Environment Departments, as well as the Center for Archaeological Studies, Center for Energy & Environmental Studies, Center for Remote Sensing, and Archaeological Institute of America.

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Additional Libraries

There are additional libraries around campus that provide collection access to all BU students, faculty, and staff. Many are based within departments around the university so please visit their websites for more information.