BU community members can borrow books and other materials by providing one of the following:
- Terrier Card
- Alumni Card (with a valid photo ID)
- Boston Library Consortium Card (with a valid photo ID)
- Boston Medical Center staff should contact the Alumni Medical Library for further guidance
Service Desks & Self-Check Out Stations
Service desks at Mugar, Pardee, Pickering, and the Science & Engineering Library are open during regular library hours. Mugar Library offers self-check-out stations on the 1st floor before the exit gates. Use your Terrier Card or Alumni Card to check out materials.
Returns
Materials can be returned at any library location. When the libraries aren’t open, you can return books at the book drops located outside of all library branches except for the Science & Engineering Library.
Renewals
Regular circulating items may be renewed in your library account as many times as you wish unless the item is recalled. If your patron record is blocked, you will need to clear your record before you can renew anything. Contact us through Ask a Librarian for assistance with your account.
Recalls
If an item you need is loaned to someone else, you can recall it on the item record. When you are logged into BU Libraries Search, select the option to “Request” it the book from the item record. You will receive an email when the book is ready for pick-up.
Loan Periods by User Status
Undergraduate Students
Graduate & PhD Students
Faculty
Staff
Alumni
BLC Cardholders
Pick-up & Delivery Services
BU Libraries 2 Go
For BU students, staff, and faculty
BU Libraries offers a contactless pickup service for books and other circulating materials for research and study.
Learn more about BU Libraries 2 Go
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
For BU students, staff, and faculty
No library has everything, but we can still get you library materials beyond our collection. ILL services are available to current BU students, staff, and faculty to borrow books, articles, and other items not available at BU Libraries.
- All patrons except those affiliated with the Schools of Law and Medicine may place and track requests through our online forms. Law and Medical School students, faculty, and staff should consult their school’s library websites for further information.
- For general inquires to the Interlibrary Loan office, please call 617-353-3706 or email ILLMML@bu.edu.
Learn more about Interlibrary Loan Services
Scanning & Digital Delivery
For Faculty & Graduate/PhD Students
BU Libraries provide scanning and electronic document delivery of scanned library materials from the Libraries for faculty and graduate students by request. BU faculty and graduate students who need scanned portions of books and other printed materials held by the BU Libraries should submit a request via the Scanning Requests form or through BU Libraries Search.