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Library Services

The Becker College Libraries provide support for undergraduate studies and research through print and electronic collections on both campuses.  The Ruska Library on the Worcester campus houses print materials in business, nursing and health sciences, criminal justice, elementary and early childhood education, legal studies, interior design and liberal arts.  The Swan Library on the Leicester campus contains print materials in liberal arts with concentrations in veterinary science, sports management and psychology.  A reserve collection for course work is maintained in both libraries.  A current Becker College photographic ID serves as a library card and is required for borrowing materials.

Library Collections

Current library holdings include more than 72,000 books, microform, newspapers and non-print materials.   Approximately 300 journals and periodicals are held: 221 are currently received.  Library staff provide back issues for use within the library.  Click here to view a listing of the Library's periodical holdings by title.  Print resources are supplemented with 13 proprietary databases, expanding to an additional 15 databases at the secondary access level. 

Materials can be checked out for three weeks and renewed for one additional week. Materials that have been renewed can be recalled if needed by another library user. Reference books, periodicals/newspapers, reserve materials and audiovisual materials can only be used in the library.

Library Reference Assistance and Instruction

Becker College Librarians assist patrons with the use of all print and on-line resources.  They also provide information for course-related bibliographic instruction, citation documentation, and customized course-integrated instruction which supports the curriculum via a librarian/faculty partnership.  In addition, library resources are integrated into the First Year Experience program and the Centers for Academic Success. 

Holds

Library users are able to place a hold on items that are checked out by other users. Users placing a hold on an item will be contacted when the item has been returned. Materials will be kept at the circulation desk for one week after notification has been made.  The library will also hold (keep items at the circulation desk) up to five items for three days for a library user.

Interlibrary Loan

Management of interlibrary loans is available at no cost to the student through the libraries' membership in ARC and OCLC.  In addition, access to library collections from across the state to across the nation are made available to Becker students through our Interlibrary loan service. Please speak to a library staff person about making a request.

Reserve Collection

Materials that faculty want their students to use are often placed on the reserve shelf located behind the circulation desk. Students must present a valid Becker ID to check reserve materials out. Students are allowed to check out one item at a time for a two-hour loan. Reserve materials can only be used in the library.

Resource Sharing

Becker College is a member of the Academic Resource Collaborative (ARC), a coalition of academic, public, and special libraries working together to facilitate the sharing of resources and services for the benefit of their collective users. The libraries at Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Atlantic Union College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Fitchburg State College, MA College of Pharmacy, Mount Wachusett Community College, Nichols College, Quinsigamond Community College, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, UMass Medical Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester Public Schools and Worcester State College have agreed to share library resources.  The institutions have granted direct borrowing privileges to students of the other participating colleges.  Users must have a valid college ID and a cross-borrowing card, obtained by contacting a library staff member and is subject to the rules and procedures set by each library.