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Steps for issuing a BLC card:

NOTE: BLC cards are only issued at Barker, Dewey, Hayden, & Rotch Reference Desks

Verify their status through the Barton circulation system - they cannot have any administrative blocks!

If they have administrative blocks, send them to the Circulation Desk to have the issue resolved.

What do you do?

Give the patron:

A blank BLC form to fill out.
A BLC brochure.

Check the number of the last issued card; this is important -- we cannot duplicate card #s! The card you are now issuing should be the next number in the sequence (i.e. if the last card was #151, this card is #152).

The expiration dates are (renewing a card):

We offer faculty the chance to get the card for the full year (i.e. expires 30 June)

Take out a BLC card:

Type or print (in ink) very neatly the card using the information provided by the patron.
The number of the card goes at the top in the space provided; the letter preceding the card # is H (e.g. H - 03 -152).

Stamp the card with the BLC stamp.

Where is the card good?

See the BLC information, and/or web page.

When the card expires, what can be done?

The cards expire every term & every year. The previous year's cards must be replaced with the current year's.

To renew the card for another semester:

Fill in the information required on the BLC Card Renewals form on Turnpike (\\Turnpike\PS Lib\BLC Cards).
Stamp the card again with the MIT stamp.

How to get more information?

Ask Georgiana McReynolds...

• for more BLC cards, forms and/or brochures.
• if there's a problem with a lost card or a duplicate number.
• if you have a policy question or question about resources.

BLC Information

Who can have a BLC card?

BLC cards are for RESEARCH purposes. (i.e. We cannot give them to people just because another library is closer to their home or because they like the looks of Tufts.)

If the student is an undergraduate, please inquire as to what resource the student needs (you might save them a wasted trip):

a) The student may have missed something available here (esp. an on-line source or ejournal).
b) The material may not be available at a BLC library.
c) The item might be checked out of the library to which the student wants to go.
d) Some libraries are stronger than others in certain fields.

* Just a reminder, the BPL's research collection is a non-lending collection…
** Harvard is required to allow anyone to enter their depository collection (in Lamont).
*** Call or send them to the MIT Music Library first, if at all possible.
† Call first, because of flood.