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Boston Library Consortium

EIN 04-2605198 · Franklin, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BOSTON LIBRARY CONSORTIUM, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION OR "BLC") WAS INCORPORATED IN 1977 AS AMASSACHUSETTS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. BLC IS A LIBRARY CONSORTIUM SERVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATEUNIVERSITIES, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES, STATE LIBRARIES, SPECIAL RESEARCH LIBRARIES, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIESPRIMARILY IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. AS OF MAY 31, 2025, BLC HAD TWENTY-FIVE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS INMASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, AND VERMONT, AS WELL AS ONE AFFILIATEINSTITUTION IN CALIFORNIA. EACH MEMBER, EXCLUDING THE AFFILIATE INSTITUTION, IS REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN OFITS PRINCIPAL LIBRARY. BLC EMPOWERS A COLLATION OF LIBRARIES TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, ANDRESOURCES AT SCALE.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
5
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$220,710, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $182,000 spent. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2023, BLC ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROJECT RESHARE STEERING COMMITTEE TO BE THE FISCAL SPONSOR OF PROJECT RESHARE. PROJECT RESHARE IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG LIBRARIES, CONSORTIA, INFORMATIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPERS TO BUILD A USER-CENTERED, APP-BASED, COMMUNITY-OWNED RESOURCE SHARING PLATFORM. BLC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS FULL GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER PROJECT RESHARE.
  2. $348,357 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT - BLC OFFERS REGULAR WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE SHARING EXPERTISE, HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK OF LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY STAFF ACROSS THE BLC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. BLC COORDINATES THE ACTIVITIES OF MORE THAN 30 MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITIES ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF LIBRARY PRACTICE AREAS. BLC COMMUNITIES INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM ACROSS THE BLC MEMBERSHIP AND RANGE FROM GROUPS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON NETWORKING AND SHARING EXPERIENCES WITH COLLEAGUES TO THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OR PROJECT. BLC ALSO MANAGES A SIGNATURE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, BLC LEADS. BLC LEADS BUILDS SHARED KNOWLEDGE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE INQUIRY AROUND A SERIES OF FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES AND QUESTIONS EXPLORED IN WEEKLY VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES AND FOUR IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS. IN 2024, BLC RECEIVED A LAURA BUSH 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN PROGRAM GRANT AWARD FOR THE BIPOC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR SUPPORT STAFF (BLASS) FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS). BLASS IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RETREAT EMPOWERING LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING, COMMUNITY-BUILDING, AND WELLNESS.
  3. $542,517 spent. RESOURCE SHARING - BLC WAS FOUNDED UPON A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE COOPERATION IN MAKING RESOURCES MORE READILY AVAILABLE. TODAY, THE BLC REMAINS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING HIGH-QUALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVE SHARING OF PRINT AND DIGITAL CONTENT THROUGH ITS RESOURCE SHARING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INTERLIBRARY LOAN AND CONTROLLED DIGITAL LENDING. BLC MAINTAINS A GROUP SUBSCRIPTION TO RESOURCE SHARING TECHNOLOGIES ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND MANAGES A CONSORTIAL DELIVERY SERVICE TO FACILITATE PHYSICAL DELIVERY OF PRINT MATERIALS AMONG BLC'S NETWORK OF LIBRARIES. IN 2023, BLC RECEIVED A NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS FOR LIBRARIES GRANT AWARD TO SUPPORT CONSORTIAL CONTROLLED DIGITAL LENDING INITIATIVES FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS). THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS AND SCALES A REUSABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION ENABLING CONTROLLED DIGITAL LENDING AS A COMPONENT OF LIBRARIES' INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.