Using the Libraries Onsite

Graduates of Boston College are welcomed back to use the resources of the Libraries onsite.

Borrowing Privileges

Alumni have borrowing privileges at all the Boston College Libraries except the Law Library. The loan period for alumni borrowers is 28 days with two renewals per item permitted. At the Educational Resource Center (ERC) alumni have borrowing privileges (excluding all educational and psychological tests) for 14 days with one renewal (28 days total permitted).

Alumni borrower card applications are available at the O'Neill Library and the ERC circulation desks. A valid form of photo identification must be presented when requesting privileges. Once graduation status is confirmed a card will be issued. Borrowing privileges are granted for a 12-month period from the date of application and may be renewed annually. Cards are for personal use only and are non-transferable.

Access to the O’Neill Library

The Boston College Libraries (excluding the Law Library) are open to the public. During exam periods, at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, access to the O'Neill Library is limited. During these two periods entrance to the building is limited to Boston College students, faculty and staff after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, the library remains open to non-Boston College users. If you have a BC guest borrower card issued to you as an alumni, you will be able to enter the building at any time during restricted access.

Consult the Libraries' hours for updates on when restricted access periods occur.

Database and E-Journal Access

While on campus, Alumni may access most Online Databases and Electronic Journals. A very small number of databases and e-journals are freely available and are accessible to alumni from off-campus. All other electronic resources are licensed for off-campus use only by current students, faculty, and staff of Boston College. However, you will find many freely available web-based resources on our Online Reference Shelf.

If you are unable to visit the BC libraries onsite or cannot access the databases you need through BC, you may be eligible for remote access to databases available through the Boston Public Library. For a limited time, Massachusetts State Residents can sign up for a temporary (6 month) Boston Public Library eCard via the web! Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is at least 13 years of age may register for an eCard. BPL eCards are virtual 6-month library cards that allow users immediate access to all of the Boston Public Library's electronic resources, including 140 online journal and magazine databases, downloadable audio, video and music. For more information see the eCard information page at the Boston Public Library’s web site.

Reference Service

The Boston College Libraries provide in-person reference service in all libraries. The library web site also offers a variety of help by subject pages to assist in finding more focused resources in your research area. Check the Libraries' hours for service desks staffing or Contact Us for more information.

Quest Library Catalog

Quest is Boston College Libraries' online catalog. Use Quest to search the Boston College Libraries collections. Quest can be accessed both in the library and remotely. For more information, please contact the O'Neill Library Reference Desk (617-552-4472).

E-mail

In most BC libraries selected workstations will provide access to e-mail services. Effective May 2002, new BC alumni are automatically registered for the Alumni Online Community. If you graduated after May 2002, please use your BC student username and password to log in to the online community. If you graduated prior to May 2002, please register for BC's online community to create your account.

Forget your password? Visit the password assistance page.

Forget your username? E-mail your full name, year of graduation and the last four digits of your Social Security number to alumni.help@bc.edu.

View the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information or e-mail your question to alumni.help@bc.edu.

» Go to the Alumni & Friends site.