The University of Rhode Island University Libraries joined the Boston Library Consortium in 2016.

This relationship is based primarily on Interlibrary Loan transactions.

Of the 25 member libraries, only 4 are not open to onsite visits by BLC patrons.

URI students and faculty and staff who wish to visit these libraries will need a Consortium Card to do so. 

Boston Library Consortium Cards may only be issued to you from your home library. Consortium Cards allow direct borrowing privileges to be extended to scholars visiting from participating academic institutions. Before borrowing from another BLC library, you must request a Consortium Card from the Head of Access Services.

• The Consortium Card does not automatically confer borrowing privileges throughout BLC.  It is your responsibility as the user to contact the BLC member library you plan on visiting to find out what their borrowing policies are for patrons from other BLC Libraries.
• The Consortium Card is an identification card, and cardholders are required to register at each library visited.
• Procedures vary across each library, ranging from pro forma registration to interviews to assess scholarly research needs.
• The Consortium Card is a privilege and cardholders must observe all circulation policies, including payment of charges for overdue and unreturned materials. Home libraries may be notified of overdue and unreturned material and are liable for fees assessed in accordance with replacement copy policies at the loaning library. The home library may assess fees to cardholders and/or rescind borrowing privileges in accordance with their own policies.
• Cardholders must validate their cards at intervals as determined by the home library.
• Cardholders must report lost Consortium Cards to their home library promptly.
• Cardholders may return borrowed materials to any BLC member library, including the University of Rhode Island's University Libraries.  Please be aware that the URI University Libraries will not be able to check those items in and, if those items are lost in transit - you are responsible for either finding a replacement or replacements for those items or paying for them.

 For more information about member libraries and Consortium Cards, please refer to Access & Borrowing from BLC Member Institutions.

Information to visitors from other BLC Libraries:

1. Students and faculty and staff from other BLC Libraries are welcome.
2. Though the Robert L. Carothers does have borrowing limitations (see below), it does not place restrictions on the reason for that borrowing.  Whether you are checking out an item for research or for enjoyment, either need is valid.
3. That said - the staff will need to see both your College/University's ID and your Consortium Card.
4. Once we have contacted your institution's library and verified that you are a patron in good standing, a record will be created for you and a Special Borrowers card issued to you.  The card will expire within a year of being issued and can only be renewed in person and to a person with a valid BLC Consortium Card.
5. You will be limited to 5 items.  
6. The items should be returned at the URI University Library from which you borrowed them.  However, if it is more convenient for you to return the items at your home library, you may do so.  Please be aware that your library will not be able to check those items in and, if those items are lost in transit - you are responsible for either finding a replacement or replacements for those items or paying for them.

CRIARL stands for the Consortium of Rhode Island Academic and Research Libraries, a consortium of all of the college and university libraries in Rhode Island plus selected non-academic research libraries. The CRIARL borrowing card allows borrowing privileges at all member libraries.

Who is Eligible?

Faculty, including Emeriti, and professional staff on continuing appointment may apply for a CRIARL borrowing card which is given for a one year period from the date the card is issued. Other faculty, post doctoral fellows, and visiting scholars are eligible to apply for a card during the term of their appointment. They must present a letter from their department chair on letterhead stationery stating their status and the term of their appointment. Cards may be renewed as long as the individual’s status has not changed.

How to Apply?

The request for a card may be made to the Head of Access Services or his/her designee during regular business hours at the University Library in Kingston or the Pell Marine Science Library on the Bay Campus.

Visiting Brown University

In accordance with University policy, all visitors to the Library must complete the Brown University Library Visitor Request Form and receive approval before entering a Library facility. Visitors with ID cards sponsored by a department or program at Brown do not need to fill out the form.

For more information, please refer to Brown University's Visitor Guidelines. 

For members of the Brown University Community planning a visit to URI:

Brown University Students (Undergraduate & Graduate)

• Prior to your visit, please search our catalog or review our list of databases. Also - go to the Parking Services page to find out where you can park.  For those visitors taking the bus from Providence to Kingston - check the RIPTA site for the 66 bus schedule.  Finally, either call Circulation at 401-874-2672 or check the Library's hours before you make the journey to URI.
• Are you a Rhode Island Resident?  Please review the criteria for obtaining a RI Resident Card.  You can only check out 5 items.  Books are loaned for 28 days with 2 renewals.  The items should be returned at the URI University Library from which you borrowed them because, since URI and Brown do not share a catalog, the items cannot be checked in at Brown and will remain on your URI patron record until they are checked in at URI.  If you opt to return the items at your home library, please be aware that if those items are lost in transit - you are responsible for either finding a replacement or replacements for those items or paying for them.
• Not a RI Resident? As a visitor you have in-house access to the databases and most of the services available within the Library.
• If you are visiting URI to conduct research in the University Archives & Special Collections, please contact them them prior to your visit.

Brown University Faculty & Staff

• If you have a CRIARL card, you are limited to 5 items.  Books are loaned for 28 days with 2 renewals.  The items should be returned at the URI University Library from which you borrowed them because, since URI and Brown do not share a catalog, the items cannot be checked in at Brown and will remain on your URI patron record until they are checked in at URI.  If you opt to return the items at your home library, please be aware that if those items are lost in transit - you are responsible for either finding a replacement or replacements for those items or paying for them.
• As a visitor you have in-house access to the databases and most of the services available within the Library.
• It is recommended that you either call Circulation at 401-874-2672 or check the Library's hours before you make the journey to URI.
• If you are visiting URI to conduct research in the University Archives & Special Collections, please contact them them prior to your visit.

URI's University Libraries and Salve Regina University's McKillop Library collaborated on an agreement and procedures to insure on-site borrowing for URI patrons who are ineligible for CRIARL cards - undergraduate students and graduate students and URI staff.

In regards to off-site borrowing, those requests must be still made using Interlibrary Loan. 

Please check your library account before visiting the McKillop Library.  The McKillop's items will not be checked out to anyone with overdue fines (any amount) and/or overdue items.

You can check your record by contacting Circulation.

    Kingston - 874-2672
    Narragansett - 874-6161

Rules of Use at the McKillop Library for URI patrons (and other unaffiliated guests)

URI patrons can register as patrons of the McKillop Library presenting your URI ID at the Circulation Desk

• The Library staff will call the URI Library to confirm your current and good standing.
• Your URI ID will be your McKillop library card.
• The card must be renewed each Academic Year at the McKillop Library.
• Most books at the McKillop Library can be checked out.
• Most other material may be used in the library building.
• Up to 5 items can be checked at a time for a month.
• Materials that can be checked out may be renewable.
• Please be aware that as a patron using the resources available at the McKillop Library, you are subject to that Library's policies regarding damaged or lost materials

To better plan your onsite visit, please check  Salve Regina University's McKillop Library Website.  There, you will find directions and contact information.  Finally, please check the McKillop Library's catalog prior to your visit.