Resources for a Successful Spring Semester

As we start a new semester, be sure to check out just are just some of the library resources that can help you dive into your course work,  get a head start on your research projects, and find what you need for a successful spring semester.

If you don’t see what you need below or have a question about any resource, just ask: ask@bu.edu.

Map of BU Libraries: If you are visiting a new library branch, looking for a study area, trying to find a particular book, our floor plans can help you navigate our spaces. Most floor plans show the resources available, the types of study spaces, and the call number ranges in that area. Can’t find what you are looking for? Stop by the Library Services Desk to ask for help.

Reservable Study Rooms: Reservable spaces are available across BU Libraries locations for individual study or group work.

The BU Libraries branches also offer a variety of seating options and noise levels so you can find the study spot that best meets your needs. Open study spaces offer three zones of noise levels—silent, considerate, and collaborative—to accommodate different needs.

Ask a Librarian: BU Librarians are here to help you at every step of the research process. Librarians can help you develop a search strategy and find scholarly sources, show you how to use resources and tools, and answer questions about the research process.

Just ask a Librarian! Visit askalibrarian.bu.edu to call, chat, text, email, or set up an one-on-one appointment with a librarian.

BU Libraries Search: The BU Libraries provide a wide variety of high-quality scholarly materials, including academic databases, eJournals, eBooks, and print resources, scores, video and audio recordings, and other items. BU Libraries Search provides a single place to search these collections. The BU Libraries offers tutorials and FAQ’s you help get the most out of BU Libraries Search. Review basic search tips, familiarize yourself with Advanced Search, and learn how to work with search results.

If you need materials beyond the BU Libraries collections, we may be able to obtain them from another library for you. Learn about making an Interlibrary Loan request.

BU Libraries 2 Go: Once you find what you need from our collection online, you can request the books and other materials be ready for you to pick up at our library locations. Learn more about  our BU Libraries 2 Go service.

Library Tools and Guides: Whether you need guidance on choosing a research topic, finding sources, or writing your paper, BU Libraries’ guides can help you get a head start on research papers and projects with topic- and class-specific resources. If you aren’t sure where to begin, use BU Libraries How-To Guides to get started with the research process and research more effectively. If you need help, meet with a subject specialist librarian. Don’t forget to use a citation manager to make citing, storing, and organizing references easy. 

Special Collections

The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at the BU Libraries is the University’s central repository for archives, personal papers, and rare books. Its collections include the papers of notable individuals, the records of organizations, and rare books. Learn more about our special collections, make an appointment for archival research, and visit one of our curated exhibitions.

BU Libraries to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with community tours of King Reading Room

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at his press conference at Boston University, with Gus Harrer, University Librarian, in background, 1964: King is answering questions from the press about his decision to donate his papers to Boston University. Image source: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University Libraries

The Boston University Libraries join the Howard Thurman Center, the City of Boston, BU African American & Black Diaspora Studies, and BU Government & Community Affairs in inviting all to the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. The annual celebration features thoughtful and inspirational speakers and provides community members and opportunity to tour the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading Room in Mugar Memorial Library.

Register for the event | Register for a tour

This year’s event, held on Monday, January 19, at 12 pm in the Metcalf Ballroom of the George Sherman Union, will feature Dr. Eve L. Ewing as the keynote speaker. Ewing is a writer, scholar, and cultural organizer from Chicago. An associate professor in the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity at the University of Chicago, she is the award-winning author of five books. Her most recent book is Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller. This year’s event theme is Justice Indivisible: Fighting Racism, Greed, and War.

Following the speaking program, archivists from the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at the BU Libraries will provide tours of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading Room. The BU Libraries proudly holds an archival collection of Dr. King’s manuscripts, notebooks, correspondence, printed material, financial and legal papers, photographs, and other items dating from 1947 to 1964. Through drafts of sermons, speeches, and books; telegrams, programs, leaflets, manuscripts; and personal correspondence, the Reading Room exhibition provides an intimate view of Dr. King’s time at the University, and his leadership of the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement.

Tours will begin 2 pm and run approximately every 20 minutes through 3:30 pm.  Meet at the library entrance on the first floor of the George Sherman Union to join a tour.

Visitors are welcome to visit Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading Room at another time during the library’s open hours by making an appointment through this form.

More information about Dr. King’s Papers is available in the finding aid to the collection:

Research appointments to view the archives can be requested by writing to archives@bu.edu

Mugar Library open 24 hours a day for study period and finals week

Mugar Memorial Library will be open 24 hours beginning Wednesday, December 10, at 7 am until Friday, December 19 at 11 pm to provide all students study space that fits their schedules during the University’s study period and final exams. All other BU Libraries branches will be open during their regularly scheduled hours during this time.

The BU Libraries will also provide a late-night campus shuttle for students from midnight to 6 am each day during its 24-hour service schedule. The shuttle will depart from Mugar Memorial Library every 30 minutes, following this route:

1. Mugar Library – 771 Commonwealth Ave.
2. Hyatt Regency Hotel – 575 Memorial Dr., Cambridge
3. StuVi 1 – 10 Buick Street
4. StuVi 2 – 33 Harry Agganis Way
5. Rich Hall – 277 Babcock Street
6. 1019 Comm Ave
7. South Campus – Park Dr. & Beacon St.
8. Fenway Campus – 255 Brookline Ave.
9. Danielsen Hall – 512 Beacon St.
10. 610 Beacon Street & Kilachand Hall – Bay State Road & Raleigh St.
11. The Towers – Bay State Road & Silber Way
12. Warren Towers- Commonwealth Ave. & Granby St.

Students must show a BU ID to use the shuttle.

Open Access Week: Explore OpenBU

The BU Libraries are celebrating International Open Access Week (October 20-26) by highlighting library services that support the global reach of scholarship produced at BU and the variety of works available in BU’s digital institutional repository.  

To support the university’s commitment to “disseminating the fruits of its research and scholarship as widely as possible” as outlined in its open access policy, the BU Libraries manages a digital institutional repository OpenBU (open.bu.edu), available to all members of the university community. As BU’s digital institutional repository, OpenBU houses thousands of articles, chapters, theses and dissertations, presentations, datasets, media, and more—all authored or co-authored by BU faculty, students, and staff. This repository enables BU researchers to share, disseminate, and preserve their scholarship, and makes their research more accessible. 

Learn how to contribute your own work to OpenBU and share it with the world. 

OpenBU currently holds 49,485 items, and since its launch, there have been 6,654,437 downloads and 8,047,005 visits. Its collections cover a wide array of topics, and materials from numerous BU colleges, schools, and departments can be found in the repository. The scope of the repository’s materials is captured in OpenBU’s most-viewed items of the past year: 

1. Abraham Lincoln and Christianity.
2. The concept of the soul in Plato and in early Judeo-Christian thought 
3. The supernatural in the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 
4. Spinoza's concept of God's infinity. 
5. The effects of quicklime on the decomposition process in a tropical climate 
6. Evaluating the vitamin D content in sardines and mackerel 
7. Robert Frost: His treatment of nature and humanity 
8. Sexual Violence in Muslim Communities: Towards Awareness and Accountability 
9. Macroscopic observations of the effects of corrosive substances on bone and soft tissue when subjected to heating 
10. Tying the knot: a Feminist/Womanist guide to Muslim marriage in America 

This list offers a small snapshot of the wealth of materials researchers can share and discover through OpenBU. This repository is a key program in the BU Libraries’ broad support of research, teaching, and learning at Boston University and it is part of BU Libraries’ deep commitment to facilitating greater access to research and knowledge. 

Explore the benefits of this open access initiative by browsing OpenBU’s collections and contributing your own work. If you have questions about contributing to or exploring OpenBU, email open-help@bu.edu. 

From BU Today: Robert Redford’s Mysterious, and Little-Known, Tie to Boston University

Photo by Cydney Scott

Upon the passing of legendary actor and director Robert Redford last week, the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at BU Libraries invited BU Today to learn more about its Robert Redford collection and view the annotated scripts, promotional materials, personal sketches, and other materials he gave to the University. From BU Today:

The collection has over a dozen of Redford’s scripts, spanning films he acted in, directed, or produced, includingBarefoot in the Park,All The President’s Men,The Candidate, andA River Runs Through It. In several cases, Redford even annotated the pages, offering a rare insight into his creative process. The collection also features promotional materials—some signed—like film posters, lobby cards, press kits, and photos, as well as his personal sketch book, which includes watercolors, pastels,and pen and ink drawings.

Jennifer King, associate university librarian for academic engagement and special collections, oversees HGARC and all other Special Collections. While the Redford collection is modest in size, King describes it as a wonderful collection that offers a glimpse into the actor’s early career. “It’s really exciting to see the scripts that Robert Redford performed,” she says, “and you can see, in some cases, some of his notes and get a sense of how he created the role that was envisioned on the page.”

While the BU Libraries hold just a small slice Robert Redford’s enduring work and legacy, this collection offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that went into many iconic films and provides the BU community an opportunity to meaningfully engage with his work.

Continue reading about the collection in BU Today's "Robert Redford’s Mysterious, and Little-Known, Tie to Boston University," view the collection inventory, or schedule a research appointment to view the materials.

Archivists prepare the Nikki Giovanni Collection for use as her last book is published

Nikki Giovanni. Photo is part of the Bay State Banner Archive held at the BU Libraries.

The archivists of Boston University Libraries are hard at work preparing the archive of poet, writer, and activist Nikki Giovanni for use. Beginning in 1971, and over the course of her career, Nikki Giovanni donated more than 185 boxes filled with her manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, subject files, printed materials, professional records, personal memorabilia, audio and video recordings, and artwork to BU. The papers, when open for use, will offer unparalleled insight into her life and career. 

The publication this week of her last volume of poetry, The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things by William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins, is a powerful reminder of how deeply moving and insightful Giovanni’s poetry and writings are.  

The Libraries will be able to welcome researchers to use the archive in 2026. Stay tuned for more details about a forthcoming event celebrating the opening of the papers and our access to an extraordinary archive that Nikki Giovanni has given us all. Until then, please direct queries and questions to archives@bu.edu. 

Boston University Introduces Common Read, a New Campus Tradition

BU Today announced the launch of the Boston University Common Read, a University-wide reading program that will serve as an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to build connection through discussion and engagement with a compelling title. The inaugural pick: Orbital by Samantha Harvey

A team from the BU Libraries guided the selection of the title, reading and reviewing several books before submitting a final recommendation to University leadership. University Librarian Mark Newton told BU Today:

“Our review considered how a book’s themes might connect with experiences of students entering college and how well it laid the foundation for discussion around the questions and aspirations that undergird so much of the research and learning we do in our time at the university,” Newton says. “Importantly, we wanted to recommend a book that would resonate with readers because of its relatability and timeliness and that could foster connection across the whole University community. Even though we don’t bring direct experience with space travel to our reading, I think Orbital meets these goals well through the range of perspectives, experiences, and concerns that Harvey packs into the telling.

Learn more at BU Today about the Common Read program and why Orbital was chosen as this year's book.

Welcome new students: Here’s what you can do at your library

Welcome! As you begin your academic journey at Boston University, the BU Libraries are here to guide you. Our expert librarians and array of resources can help you dive into your classes, develop new research skills, and learn. Explore the list below to learn about just some of the tools, resources, and supports available to you--no matter your major, schedule, or academic focus.

Get Expert Research Help

BU librarians can help you develop a search strategy and find scholarly sources, show you how to use resources and tools, and answer questions about the research process. Just Ask a Librarian!

Visit askalibrarian.bu.edu to call, chat, text, email, or set up an appointment with a librarian.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, use BU Libraries How-To Guides to get started with the research process and research more effectively.

Study and Collaborate

The BU Libraries branches offer a variety of seating options and noise levels so you can find the study spot that best meets your needs. Open study spaces offer three zones of noise levels—silent, considerate, and collaborative—to accommodate different needs.

Reservable spaces are also available across BU Libraries locations for individual study or group work.

Browse all Libraries study space options.

Borrow books & access scholarly materials                 

The BU Libraries provide a wide variety of high-quality scholarly materials, including academic databases, eJournals, eBooks, and print resources, scores, video and audio recordings, and other items. You can even sign up for a subscription to the New York Times and browse newspapers and magazines in PressReader.

BU Libraries Search provides a single place to search our collections. Review tutorials and FAQs to get the most out of BU Libraries Search.

If you need materials beyond the BU Libraries collections, we may be able to obtain them from another library for you. Learn about making an Interlibrary Loan request.

Use subject specific tools & resources

BU Libraries collections include industry-specific databases, and the Pardee Management Library provides access to a Bloomberg terminal. Library Research Guides and Course Guides offer topic- and class-specific resources to help you find quality sources in your areas of research.

If you need help, meet with a subject specialist librarian.

Explore special collections

The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at the BU Libraries is the University’s central repository for archives, personal papers, and rare books. Its collections include the papers of notable individuals, the records of organizations, and rare books. Learn more about our special collections, make an appointment for archival research, and visit one of our curated exhibitions.

BU Libraries celebrate Della Hardman Day

Research Proposals Sought for Nursing Archives Research Award

The Nursing Archives Associates is now accepting proposals for the Nursing Archives Research Award, a $2,500 award to support use of the nursing archives held in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University Libraries for historical research about nursing and health care. 

Students, faculty and independent researchers from all disciplines are welcome to submit research proposals for evaluation. The award supports travel, photocopy, digitization, and other expenses related to using the nursing archives in Boston University’s Special Collections. 

Download a flyer with more information about the award and proposal requirements. The information is also below. The deadline for proposals is November 1, 2025. Awards will be announced in December 2025.  

To speak with an archivist and learn more about the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, please visit bu.edu/library/gotlieb-center.  

$2,500 Archival Research Award  

The purpose of the Nursing Archives Research Award is to support historical research about nursing and health care. The award is limited to researchers who will use the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center (HGARC) Nursing Archives at Boston University as a source for primary research.  

Eligibility includes students, faculty, and independent researchers from all disciplines, based on evidence of preparation and/or productivity in historical research related to nursing and health care. Successful grantee will receive $2,500. This award is payable to the individual applicant and is taxable income. The purpose of the award is to support travel, photocopy, digitization, and other expenses related to using the nursing archives in Boston University’s Special Collections.  

Applicants should submit a full research proposal of no more than 500-600 words, exclusive of title page and references, along with a current CV. The proposal should include the following:  

• Abstract  

• Project description indicating the scope of the historical research  

• Boston University Nursing Archives collection(s) to be used  

• Narrative for existing scholarship and how the research will advance scholarship in the history or nursing and health care 

• Methodology and timeline, and  

• Intended product and plan for dissemination  

Evaluation of the proposal will consider the clarity and feasibility of the project. Recipients of the research award are expected to submit a summary of their work, a head shot and brief biography for the Nursing Archives Associates Newsletter and HGARC blog. To speak with an archivist, and learn more about the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, please visit bu.edu/library/gotlieb-center 

The deadline for proposals is November 1, 2025 

Awards will be announced in December 2025 

Proposals should be sent to: NURSING@BU.EDU 

Begin searching the BU Libraries’ Nursing collections in ArchivesSpace: https://archivesspace.bu.edu/repositories/9/classifications/16.