Virtual Catalog
The Virtual Catalog provides a single interface from which users can search for books that are owned by any of the participating Boston Library Consortium (BLC) universities. Eligible Boston University students, faculty, and staff may also use the Virtual Catalog to place requests to borrow books from other BLC institutions. This eliminates the need to submit an Interlibrary Loan, and expedites delivery of the book.
Participating Libraries and Networks
Current faculty, staff, and students of the Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical Center may search the Virtual Catalog by typing guest in the Patron ID field.
In order to request books via the Virtual Catalog, you must sign-in using your BU ID number (BMC users click here).
Each participating library determines which items in its collection are eligible for borrowing on the Virtual Catalog. This includes books and other materials that normally can be checked-out.
You will not be able to request items that are already checked-out, or that are in non-circulating collections such as reference, course reserve, audio-visual, journals or other special collections.
If your request is accepted by the Virtual Catalog, then the system has identified at least one copy that can be requested.
If the book you want cannot be borrowed on the Virtual Catalog, it may be available through other Interlibrary Loan services.
If the materials you requested are available at the first library, the materials should be ready for pickup approximately a week after your original request.
If the materials that you have ordered are NOT readily available at the first lending library, your request is automatically transferred to another library. In these cases, items may take longer to arrive.
Loan period: Approximately 28 days
Renewals: None
Fines for late items: $.50 per day for all users
Lost or never-returned items: $100.00 per item or the replacement cost of the item - whichever is higher.
All materials can be picked-up at the Alumni Medical Library Circulation Desk. If you gave your e-mail address when you placed the request, we will send you an e-mail notice when the item is ready for pick up. If you didn't give an e-mail address, we will send you notification by regular mail to your home address. You will need your valid BU ID in order to check-out materials. When you are done using borrowed materials, they can be returned to the Alumni Medical Library Circulation Desk only, and not to other BU or BLC libraries.
On the Virtual Catalog's Patron Main Menu, click on the button labeled Review your Requests.
You will then be shown a summary of all your outstanding requests. Find the appropriate request ID number/item and click on the title link. Status and Due Date are toward the bottom of the Request Details screen.
- Click on the
logo. - In the Patron ID box enter the 9-digit ID number from your BU ID (U...)
- From the Patron Main Menu, if you wish to search the catalog, click on the Search/Request button. To check the status of requests you have already submitted, click on Review your Requests.
- On the Search Menu, choose the type of search (Title, Author, Subject, or ISBN), enter your search Term, and click on Start.
- If your search finds items in the Virtual Catalog, they will be displayed on the Combined Results screen.
- You may sort the list by author, title or publication date. Click on the Next page button, if any, to be sure of seeing all results. Click on the title link to see more information about any item.
- When you find something of interest that is owned by more than one library, use the scroll bar on the Details screen to select a library. Then click on Show Availability to see the Location, Call Number, and Status of the item.
- At any point in your searching you may press the Request button to initiate a borrowing request. If a copy is available for Virtual Catalog borrowing, the Create Request screen will be displayed. Fill in the form as directed, and click on the Submit Request button.
- The Request Confirmed screen will display the title information and a request number.
- If you gave your e-mail address when you placed the request, we will send you an Email Status Report when your request is ready for pick up or if there is a problem and your request cannot be filled. If you didn't give an e-mail address, we will send you notification by regular mail to your home address.
- Check request status: On the Patron Main Menu, click on the button labeled Review your Requests. You will then be shown a summary of all your outstanding requests. Find the appropriate request ID number/item and click on the title link. Status and Due Date are toward the bottom of the Request Details screen.
- Log Out: Make sure to click on the Quit button on the left frame menu to ensure your privacy and the security of the system