Alumni Medical Library: Frequently Asked Questions

	Library	L-1101 Testing Center	L-1109 Public Computing	L-11 Computing Help Desk	L-1110 Computer Classroom*	McNary R-107**
Monday - Thursday	7:30 am - Midnight	6:00 am - 11:45 pm	7:30 am - 9:00 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	6:00am - 11:45pm	24/7 study space/public computing when no classes are scheduled
Friday	7:30 am - 10:00 pm	6:00 am - 9:45 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	6:00am - 9:45pm
Saturday	10:00 am - 10:00 pm	8:00 am - 9:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-9:45pm
Sunday	10:00 am - Midnight	8:00 am - 11:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-11:45pm

L-11 Computing Help Desk CLOSED during L-1101 Testing Center exams.
LIMITED Help Desk Support is available on L-12 at the Circulation Desk.

*L-1110 Computer Classroom is available as study space / public computing when no classes are scheduled.
A valid BU ID card may be needed for access

**McNary R-107 is accessible by valid BU ID Card.
If your BU ID is not programmed for access, please e-mail amlit@bu.edu or submit a ticket with your name, BU ID# and School.

Summer Hours : Saturday, May 19 – Sunday, July 15

Library, L-1101 Testing Center, L-1109 Public Computing, L-11 Computing Help Desk & McNary R-107

	Library	L-1101 Testing Center	L-1109 Public Computing	L-11 Computing Help Desk	L-1110 Computer Classroom*	McNary R-107**
Monday - Thursday	7:30 am – 10:00 pm	6:00 am - 9:45 pm	7:30 am - 9:00pm	7:30am - 5:00pm	6:00am-9:45pm	24/7 study space/public computing when no classes are scheduled
Friday	7:30 am - 6:00 pm	6:00 am - 5:45 pm	7:30 am - 5:00pm	7:30am - 5:00pm	6:00am-5:45pm
Saturday	10:00 am - 6:00 pm	8:00 am - 5:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-5:45pm
Sunday	10:00 am - 6:00 pm	8:00 am - 5:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-5:45pm

L-11 Computing Help Desk CLOSED during L-1101 Testing Center exams.
LIMITED Help Desk Support is available on L-12 at the Circulation Desk.

*L-1110 Computer Classroom is available as study space / public computing when no classes are scheduled.
A valid BU ID card may be needed for access.

**McNary R-107 is accessible by valid BU ID Card.
If your BU ID is not programmed for access, please e-mail amlit@bu.edu or submit a ticket with your name, BU ID# and School.

*Special and holiday hours are posted at the library entrance and on the Alumni Medical Library's website at http://medlib.bu.edu.

ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY: The Alumni Medical Library provides library and information services to students, faculty and staff of the Boston University schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Public Health, and to employees of the Boston Medical Center. The Library is open to Boston University students, faculty, staff and alumni, members of the Boston Library Consortium with valid BLC ID, and members of the Massachusetts Medical Society. See the Library Access Policy page for details.

Where is the Library located?

Directions

The Alumni Medical Library is located at 72 East Concord Street on the Boston University Medical Campus. For information on how to get to the Library, please refer to the maps below or contact the Reference Desk at (617) 358-4810, or refquest@bu.edu, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

View Larger Map

Can I use the Medical Library if I'm not part of Boston University or the Boston Medical Center?

Access Policy

Library Access and Library Photography and Filming Policy

The Boston University Alumni Medical Library is a private research facility that supports the educational, clinical and research needs of current Boston University students, faculty and staff, BU alumni, and Boston Medical Center (BMC) staff with current IDs.

Boston Library Consortium (BLC) cardholders with a current BLC card and a photo ID, Massachusetts Medical Society members with current IDs, BU alumni with a valid BU alumni card and a photo ID, and BMC patients with a valid photo ID must register at the Circulation Desk prior to accessing the Library.

For additional questions about Alumni Medical Library access, please contact the Reference Desk at (617) 358-4810, or refquest@bu.edu, Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM.

Access to the Alumni Medical Library
Boston University Students/Faculty/Staff and Researchers	Yes, with a current BU ID.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) Staff	Yes, with a current BU ID.
Boston University Alumni	Yes, with a valid BU alumni card and photo ID. If a patron does not have a BU alumni card, he or she should obtain the card online, or contact the BU Alumni Office. These guests must register in the Circulation Desk Visitor's Logbook, and are eligible to use the Library's resources in-house and to check out books.
Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Cardholders	Yes, with a valid BLC card and a photo ID. These guests must register in the Circulation Desk Visitor's Logbook, and are eligible to use the Library's resources in-house and to check out books. Click for a list of BLC Member Libraries.
Massachusetts Medical Society Members	Yes, with a valid Massachusetts Medical Society member card and a photo ID. These guests must register in the Circulation Desk Visitor's Logbook, and are eligible to use the Library's resources in-house only.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) Patients	Yes, with a valid photo ID. These guests must register in the Circulation Desk Visitor's Logbook, and are eligible to use the Library's resources in-house only.

Alumni Medical Library Photography and Filming Policy

Prior approval by the Communications Office is required in advance of any photography or filming occurring in the Alumni Medical Library. No unauthorized photography or filming is allowed in the Alumni Medical Library.

The Medical Campus Communications Office will evaluate all requests and determine whether or not a request is approved. The Communications Office will review with the requestor the BU Medical Campus Policies and Procedures. The Communications Office will also determine whether or not the Alumni Medical Library is the most appropriate location on campus for a photography or filming need.

If a request is approved, the Communications Office will coordinate a date, time, and location with the Alumni Medical Library. Please contact the Communications Office as early as possible since scheduling and coordinating appointments and locations requires advanced planning.

Please contact Gina DiGravio, Media Relations Manager, at (617) 638-8480, or ginad@bu.edu

What forms of payment does the Library accept?

Payment options include:

Check
Print/Copy Cards
Boston University requisition orders
BMC Harrison Ave. campus or East Newton St. campus departmental account numbers accompanied by a purchase order, or grant numbers accompanied by a purchase order
Cash and Credit Cards are NOT accepted

Can I renew my materials using the Library Catalog?

Yes: Sign into the Library catalog (look for the 'Sign In' link in the upper right corner) using your BU ID and Kerberos password to see materials you have checked out and renew items that are coming due. Note that if another user has placed a 'hold' on an item, it cannot be renewed.

What kinds of workshops or training sessions are offered by the Library?

The Library offers a variety of training sessions on Library Resources each semester. To set up a workshop or a one-on-one training session, contact The Reference Desk at (617) 358-4810 or refquest@bu.edu.

Use this link to view the Alumni Medical Library's Tutorials.

Boston University Information Services & Technology also offers several tutorials relating to their computing services.

I'm looking for information on a specific topic. Where do I begin?

There are many resources which could provide useful information on any topic, but we usually recommend that you start with two basic sources -- books or journal literature. To find books on your topic, do a subject search in the Library Catalog to identify books located at BU libraries. To locate journal literature, MEDLINE is usually the first database of biomedical journal literature that we recommend using.

Talk with a Reference Librarian at refquest@bu.edu or (617) 358-4810 before beginning your research. He or she will recommend resources and provide guidance and assistance in using these resources effectively.

How do I check if BU owns a specific book?

Use the Library Catalog to determine whether a specific book is owned by the Alumni Medical Library. In the Library Catalog, search for the book's title, author, or subject. The bibliographic record will indicate which BU library owns the book, and whether it is checked out or available on the shelves. Look for "Medical" on the book record to identify books that are owned by the Alumni Medical Library.

Will the Library purchase a particular book or journal?

Make a book or journal purchase recommendation at http://medlib.bu.edu/forms/bookjournalrequest.php.

BUMC students, faculty and staff are invited to submit book and journal purchase requests. Book and journal subscription purchases are made based on several criteria including: an evaluation of the requested material's subject scope, indexing, and cost; Library collection development policies; Interlibrary Loan data; analysis of the overall collection; and the availability of funds. Book requests are reviewed on a weekly basis and may be submitted at any time. Journal requests are reviewed annually and should be submitted prior to July 1 to be considered for the next calendar year subscription. For additional information about purchase requests, please contact a reference librarian at refquest@bu.edu or (617) 638-4228.

I can't find the book/journal that I need. According to the Library Catalog, the item isn't checked out and should be on the shelves. What can I do?

If you can't find an item on the shelves, come to the Circulation Desk and let us know. We can check to be sure the item isn't misshelved, at the bindery, etc. If we can't find it, please fill out the Missing Item Form so that we can search for the missing material, update the Library Catalog record, and replace the missing item if necessary. When you fill out the Missing Item Form, Library staff begin searching for the material. If it isn't found within one week, we'll do a free interlibrary loan for you.

Use this link for information on other Library Catalogs that can be used to locate books.

What can I do if the book I want is already checked out to another patron?

Contact the Circulation Desk at (617) 358-4902 and ask to have the book placed on "hold". When it is returned, Library staff will contact you, and you can then check out the book.

The book that I have checked out is due back soon. Is there any way I can keep it longer? How can I renew a book?

You may renew a book for an additional 28 days as long as another patron has not put a "hold" on the item. (Each book can be renewed one time.)

To renew a book:

You can fill out our Book Renewal Form.

Or you can renew books through the Library Catalog:

Go to the Library Catalog at BU Libraries Search
Click on the Sign In link, located in the upper right corner of the page.
Sign in with your BU ID and password, then click on "My Account" to renew an item.

Books can also be renewed in person at the Alumni Medical Library, or by telephone by contacting the Circulation Desk at (617) 358-4902.

What fines do you charge for overdue books? What about blocked records?

If a patron fails to return a checked-out item 7 days past its due date, he or she will receive a late notice requesting that the item be returned immediately. If the book is not returned 14 days after the first notice is sent, a second late notice is mailed.

If the item is still not returned within an additional 20 days, a final late notice is sent, and the patron may be blocked from checking out materials from all Boston University libraries.

Blocked records cannot be re-instated until the overdue item is returned. If a patron does not return the item 10 days after the final notice has been sent, he or she will be billed $100 or the replacement value of the item, whichever is higher. (Students' university accounts are automatically billed for $100 or the replacement fee. Faculty and staff receive billing invoices directly from the Library.)

Patrons who return items after receiving a billing notice are not required to pay the full $100 or higher bill. If the item is returned in good condition, the patron is required to pay a $30 per book billing fee.

When a patron returns the item, his or her Library records are immediately unblocked as long as all fines have been paid in full.

For more information about fines, overdue books, or blocked records, contact the Circulation Desk at (617) 638-4244.

Library materials in circulation may be recalled (i.e. placed on hold) by other patrons. The library automated system will notify the patron by email about the new due date. Overdue materials will accrue a fine.

What are my options for getting a book that isn't owned by the Medical Library?
There are several options for obtaining books not owned by the Alumni Medical Library:

If you want to go to another Boston University Library and check out the book yourself, you can use BU's Library Catalog to determine if the book is owned by another BU library. You can also use the BU WorldCat Local to determine whether any of the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) member libraries hold the book, and request that it be sent to the Medical Library for you if so.
If no BLC libraries own the book, another option is to order it via interlibrary loan. Submit your ILL request at the Circulation Desk or over the Web using our ILL Request Form.

You can also check WorldCat to find a library where your book may be held. Please note that if you find the book in a library that is not a member of the BLC, you will have to visit that library in person to view it, and most likely will not be able to check it out.
I am looking for a specific journal; how do I know if BU owns this title?

Use the Library Catalog to determine whether any of the BU libraries owns a particular journal title. In the Library Catalog, do a "title" search for the name of the journal. Be sure to verify that Library holdings include the volume and year for which you are looking.

Do you have a listing of all of your journals?

Because our journal holdings records are updated daily, we do not produce a printed list of journal titles. Instead, all of our journal holdings are included in the Library Catalog. Use the Library Catalog to do a "title" search for the name of the journal for which you are looking, either by clicking "Journal Title Search" near the upper right of the screen (under "Help"), or by entering the title in the main search box and selecting "in the title" in the dropdown menu under the search box.

If you need to find a listing of journals by subject, you can also use the Library Catalog. For example, if you want to know what journal titles we subscribe to on dermatology, you can enter "dermatology" in the Library Catalog search box, then choose "in subject" from the dropdown menu below. You can then select "Journals" in the "Resource Type" column on the left of the screen to limit the results.

You can also check our database of over 7,000 electronic journals. Remember that some titles/years may only be available in print.

How & where are your journals shelved?

The Medical Library's journal collection is shelved in a strict alphabetic range. For example, American Journal of Medical Genetics is shelved with the "A" journals.

We have a limited number of current, unbound journals, which are stored in the back room on the 12th floor of the Library. You can ask for the issue you need at the circulation desk.

Bound journals are shelved on the 12th floor of the Library, on the East Concord St./BMC side (to your right as you enter the Library from the elevator lobby).

The Library Catalog indicates which journal years and volumes are current or bound, as well as which volumes are owned by particular BU libraries. 'Lacks' notes indicate missing volumes or issues.

How may I tell if a journal is unbound or bound?

Most print journals are bound, but currently-received titles may have unbound issues, which are kept in the back room. Ask at the circulation desk for access to these issues. To determine whether a particular journal volume is in the open stacks or the back room, do a "title" search for the journal title in the Library Catalog. The screen display indicates the total years held, and the years/volumes that are held in the back room. Please ask at the desk if you have questions.

May I take a journal out of the Library?

Journals do not normally circulate outside of the Library. Special permission to borrow a journal volume may be granted, however, if the journal volume is needed for slides or photographic reproduction. Contact Konstantin Starikov ((617) 358-2349 or kstar@bu.edu), or Rhonda Thomas-Iglesias ((617) 358-4902 or rhondat@bu.edu) for information.

What are my options for getting a journal that isn't owned by the Medical Library?

There are several options for obtaining journals not owned by the Alumni Medical Library:

If you have time to go to another Boston University library, you can use Library Catalog to determine if the book is owned by another BU library. You can also use BU WorldCat Local to determine whether any of the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) member libraries hold the journal. If so, you may visit these libraries with a BLC card and view or copy the article you need (copies of articles cannot be requested through BU WorldCat Local's free delivery service).

If no BLC libraries own the book, another option is to order it via interlibrary loan. Submit your ILL request at the Circulation Desk or over the Web using our ILL Request Form.

You can also check WorldCat to find a library where the journal may be held. Please note that if you find the book in a library that is not a member of the BLC, you will have to check the rules of that library regarding visitors and make arrangements to go there in person to read or copy the article you need.

What is the Loansome Doc document delivery service? Who is eligible to use it?

Loansome Doc was developed by the National Library of Medicine and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) as a document ordering service. PubMed users can order journal articles from local or regional libraries via the Loansome Doc program.

The Alumni Medical Library offers Loansome Doc service to individuals not affiliated with the Boston University Medical Center. Service is provided Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

The fee for Loansome Doc service is $15 per article. A rush fax service is available for an additional $12 per article.

An account, requiring a deposit of $300, must be established with the Alumni Medical Library. When the account falls below $50, you will be notified that a deposit is required to replenish the account. There will be no billing for articles.

For more information on Loansome Doc, contact Konstantin Starikov at (617) 358-2349 or kstar@bu.edu. Or, go to the NLM's Loansome Doc info page for a detailed overview of the program.

What is interlibrary loan and how does it work?

The Medical Library has cooperative sharing agreements with thousands of libraries around the country. Interlibrary loan, or ILL, is a process by which libraries lend materials to each other. When you need a book or journal article, you request an ILL, and our Interlibrary loan staff make arrangements to have the materials sent here from any one of thousands of libraries. We first attempt to find a library in the Boston area with which we share materials regularly. If the item isn't owned locally, we'll then attempt to find it within New England, Northeastern U.S., and so on.

ILL requests can be submitted at the Circulation Desk, by fax at (617) 358-2351 or on the Web using the ILL Request Form. Because ILL's are usually sent via U.S. postal mail, it usually takes 5 - 10 working days for an item to arrive here. Interlibrary loans cost $6 per item ordered.

ILLs may be picked up at the Library Circulation Desk, Monday-Thursday 8:00am-6:00pm and 7:15pm-11:30pm, Friday 8am-7pm and 8:15pm-9:30pm.

For emergency or rush requests, a faxing service is available for $16. Rush faxes usually arrive within 24-48 hours. Please Note: Because rush requests are sent via fax, the reproduction quality may be somewhat compromised.

Who is eligible to use the Library's interlibrary loan service?

The Alumni Medical Library will obtain interlibrary loans for faculty, staff and students of the Boston University Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Public Health, and the Boston Medical Center only.

If you are faculty, staff or a student of any of the schools on the BU Charles River campus, please request your interlibrary loans through the Mugar Library.

If you are not affiliated with Boston University or any other university or institution, your local public library may have an interlibrary loan service available to you.

I ordered a book/journal via interlibrary loan. Can I have the item sent directly to me instead of having to pick it up at the library?

Most libraries do not do third party lending. In other words, libraries will loan materials to other libraries, but not directly to their patrons.

When you request a book via interlibrary loan, the book is actually loaned to the Medical Library, and we in turn lend it to you. Therefore, you must come to the Medical Library to pick up the book.

If you request a journal article through interlibrary loan, the article is also mailed to the Medical Library on your behalf. If you are paying with your Copy Card or Check, you'll need to come to the Library to pick-up and pay for the article. If you're paying with an account or grant number, you can give us your address and we'll mail the article to you when it arrives. Articles can also be faxed or e-mailed to you if you are providing a billing account number.

For more information, contact Konstantin Starikov at (617) 358-2349 or kstar@bu.edu.

What is the price for making photocopies?

Six photocopy machines are available in the BUMC Library (two each on the 11th, 12th and 13th floors) for patron use during all regular Library hours. Print/Copy cards can be used in the photocopy machines. Photocopy machines do not accept cash.

The self-serve Card Dispenser is located next to the Circulation Desk. Initially, a copy card costs $1, which includes the cost of the card plus 5 pages. Thereafter, the cards can be encoded with additional amounts at $.12 per copy. The Card Dispenser accepts bills only and does not give change. Receipts are issued for card purchases.

Where can I get my free Print/Copy Card?

BUSM, BUGMS, BUSDM and BUSPH students are eligible to receive 100 free pages (equivalent of 200 images if you use double-sided printing) during EACH of the following two time periods:

January 1 – June 30, and
July 1 – December 31.

The 100 free pages can be picked up on any date during each of the two periods. Students must show a valid Boston University ID in order to receive their copies/prints. Copy cards may be picked up at the Library Circulation Desk, Monday-Thursday 8:00am-6:00pm and 7:15pm-11:30pm, Friday 8am-7pm and 8:15pm-9:30pm.

Print/Copy cards purchased and encoded in the Alumni Medical Library cannot be used in any other BU library. Copy cards purchased at other libraries cannot be used at the Alumni Medical Library.

We cannot replace lost cards. Make sure to write your email address on the back of your card in case it is found and returned to us.

Free Medical Library Print/Copy Card Distribution to BMC Residents
BMC Residents are eligible to receive a free Print/Copy card through the BMC CIR office. To request your card, contact the CIR Office at 617-414-5301.

Does the Library offer a Photocopy Service?

A photocopy service is also available at the BUMC Library. Library staff will photocopy journal articles located in the Library's collection for BUMC students, faculty and staff, at $6 per article. Copies are usually ready within 2 - 5 days. Payment options include personal checks or value deducted from Print/Copy card at the Circulation Desk. No credit cards are accepted. Boston University students, faculty and staff who wish to bill photocopies to their departments must present a departmental requisition order. Boston Medical Center students, faculty and staff who wish to bill photocopies to their departments must provide a purchase order and departmental billing number.

Rush requests for in-house journal articles and book chapters cost an additional $10.00 per item and take 24 - 48 hours to fill.

Photocopy request forms are available at the Circulation Desk or on the Web. One photocopy request form must be submitted with each item requested.

All photocopy requests must conform to the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, US Code.)

I can't get into the ACP Medicine or STAT!-Ref electronic textbook collections. What is the problem?

If you are locked-out of STAT!-Ref or ACP Medicine, there are two possible reasons. First, you could be locked out simply because the programs have reached their maximum capacity of simultaneous users. ACP Medicine is limited to 9 simultaneous users, while STAT!-Ref is restricted to 15 simultaneous users. If you are attempting to login to either electronic textbook during times of heaviest usage, you may have to wait and try again in a few minutes.

The second reason you could be locked out of AccessMedicine or STAT!-Ref is because the systems may not recognize your computer as being a valid part of the Boston University Medical Center network. Because of licensing agreements with the software producers, access to these electronic textbooks is restricted to the following IP addresses (an Internet Protocol address identifies your machine's location on the Internet):

Boston University Medical Campus and Charles River Campus IP addresses
Boston Medical Center IP addresses
Any BUMC or BMC user's IP recognized by BU's EZ Proxy server. You must have a valid BU login name and Kerberos password to access the Library's electronic resources.

Faculty, staff and students of the Boston University Medical Center can use ACP Medicine or STAT!-Ref via the Web from computers located anywhere on the Boston University Medical Center campus or from home and other remote locations by connecting to resources using your BU username and Kerberos Password.

What are the Computer Lab hours?
Library & Learning Resource Center (LRC) Hours

Fall/Spring Hours

Library, L-1101 Testing Center, Computing Help Desk & McNary R-107

	Library	L-1101 Testing Center	L-1109 Public Computing	L-11 Computing Help Desk	L-1110 Computer Classroom*	McNary R-107**
Monday - Thursday	7:30 am - Midnight	6:00 am - 11:45 pm	7:30 am - 9:00 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	6:00am - 11:45pm	24/7 study space/public computing when no classes are scheduled
Friday	7:30 am - 10:00 pm	6:00 am - 9:45 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	7:30 am - 5:00 pm	6:00am - 9:45pm
Saturday	10:00 am - 10:00 pm	8:00 am - 9:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-9:45pm
Sunday	10:00 am - Midnight	8:00 am - 11:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-11:45pm

L-11 Computing Help Desk CLOSED during L-1101 Testing Center exams.
LIMITED Help Desk Support is available on L-12 at the Circulation Desk.

*L-1110 Computer Classroom is available as study space / public computing when no classes are scheduled.
A valid BU ID card may be needed for access

**McNary R-107 is accessible by valid BU ID Card.
If your BU ID is not programmed for access, please e-mail amlit@bu.edu or submit a ticket with your name, BU ID# and School.

Summer Hours : Saturday, May 19 – Sunday, July 15

Library, L-1101 Testing Center, L-1109 Public Computing, L-11 Computing Help Desk & McNary R-107

	Library	L-1101 Testing Center	L-1109 Public Computing	L-11 Computing Help Desk	L-1110 Computer Classroom*	McNary R-107**
Monday - Thursday	7:30 am – 10:00 pm	6:00 am - 9:45 pm	7:30 am - 9:00pm	7:30am - 5:00pm	6:00am-9:45pm	24/7 study space/public computing when no classes are scheduled
Friday	7:30 am - 6:00 pm	6:00 am - 5:45 pm	7:30 am - 5:00pm	7:30am - 5:00pm	6:00am-5:45pm
Saturday	10:00 am - 6:00 pm	8:00 am - 5:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-5:45pm
Sunday	10:00 am - 6:00 pm	8:00 am - 5:45 pm	Closed	Closed	8:00am-5:45pm

L-11 Computing Help Desk CLOSED during L-1101 Testing Center exams.
LIMITED Help Desk Support is available on L-12 at the Circulation Desk.

*L-1110 Computer Classroom is available as study space / public computing when no classes are scheduled.
A valid BU ID card may be needed for access.

**McNary R-107 is accessible by valid BU ID Card.
If your BU ID is not programmed for access, please e-mail amlit@bu.edu or submit a ticket with your name, BU ID# and School.

*Special and holiday hours are posted at the library entrance and on the Alumni Medical Library's website at http://medlib.bu.edu.

Does the Library have wireless networking and/or Internet connections or Ethernet ports for laptop computing?

Wireless networking is available in the Library through the 802.1x Network. The Library also has Ethernet ports/Internet connections for laptop computing. The Ethernet ports are located on the 12th floor, against the wall opposite the Reference Desk, and on the 11th floor, in the 1101 Testing Center (not publicly accessible during scheduled exams).

Do you offer general computing classes?

The Medical Library does not offer general computing classes (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.). The Office of Information Technology on the Charles River campus offers general applications training. Click here for IS&T's training schedule.

Online training for Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, Powerpoint & Word), graphic design and web publishing software is available through Element K.

Who is eligible for BU E-mail accounts?

Faculty, staff and students of the Boston University Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Public Health are eligible to apply for BU E-mail accounts. Click here for more information about BU E-mail or to apply for an account.

Faculty and staff of the Boston Medical Center Harrison Avenue and East Newton Street campuses are usually eligible for a BU Username and Kerberos password. BMC faculty and staff can use their BU login and Kerberos passwords to access Library resources such as electronic textbooks and journals, or bibliographic databases. Click here for detailed instructions for BMC faculty and staff who want to apply for BU username and Kerberos passwords.

If you are unsure of your eligibility for a BU E-mail account or Kerberos password, please email amlit@bu.edu. You will receive an answer from the Library's IT Help Center.

How do I register for a BU E-mail account?

Most faculty, staff and students will receive instructions on creating a BU ID and Kerberos password during orientation. For members of other groups, learn more about registering for a BU e-mail account on the Information Services & Technology page.

For more information on your BU E-mail account, please visit the BU E-mail page.

Can I access my BU E-mail from off-campus?

BU E-mail can be accessed via the Web through the BU Webmail page.

For more information on using computing resources off-campus visit the Remote Access page.

Configuring e-mail on my computer: How can I set up client e-mail software on my computer to retrieve e-mail from the BU E-mail server?

See the Desktop Clients page for instructions on using Mac Mail, Outlook, Thunderbird, Pine and Entourage desktop e-mail interfaces.

Can I forward all of my e-mail messages to another e-mail account?

Use the instructions on this page to forward your BU e-mail to another e-mail system.

Since BMC employees are not eligible for BU E-mail accounts, what are our e-mail options?
Boston University offers BU E-mail accounts to faculty, staff and students of Boston University only. Boston Medical Center affiliates are not usually eligible for BU E-mail accounts. However, if your position requires you to directly interface with BU or access BU resources, you may be eligible. Please contact amlit@bu.edu for more information. You will receive an answer from the Library's IT Help Center.

You can also subscribe to BMC e-mail, which is sponsored by the BMC Information Services Department. To register for a BMC e-mail account, contact the Information Services help desk at 617-638-7953 or 617-414-7953.

To use your BMC e-mail account, go to the following URL: http://mail.bmc.org
I'll be away from my e-mail for a while. How can I set up an automatic reply so that people who send me messages will know that I'm away?

Go to the Auto-Reply page for detailed instructions on setting up "vacation" responses.

After you have returned from vacation, please be sure to turn off the automatic message!

What resources are available through mobile or PDA access?

Use your handheld device to:

Browse subject guides to electronic resources
Search e-journal, e-book and database collections
Find information on Library departments & staff
Search select content from the Library website

Find free clinical software for your handheld.

For questions or feedback regarding mobile applications, contact Konstantin Starikov at (617) 358-2349 or kstar@bu.edu.

What recycling is available at the library?

The library has recyling bins available on the 11th, 12th, and 13th floors. In addition, there are a battery recycling bin and a secure bin for documents to be shredded, both near room 1202 on the 12th floor.

Have a question that isn't answered here?

Contact a Reference Librarian at (617) 358-4810 or refquest@bu.edu for additional information. You can also contact the Circulation Desk at (617) 638-4244, or the Library's Administrative Office at (617) 638-4230 for additional information about Library facts and services.