Find & Borrow Items

Our Collection & Minuteman Library Network

The Olin Library’s in-house circulating collection includes: 8,000 physical books, a growing board game collection, and recording/technical equipment.

The Olin Library is a member of the Minuteman Library Network (MLN), a consortium of 40+ public libraries (and a few academic libraries) in greater Boston. MLN libraries share a unified catalog and delivery system, allowing Olin students to access, borrow, and return materials from the entire network at any MLN library, including Olin.

How the Library Catalog Works

The Olin Library catalog exists here: https://olin.minlib.net/

Search results appear in 4 tabs:

Entire Collection - results from any MLN member library or Libby ebook/audiobook (get books delivered and access Libby with the 2-minute setup described in Activate Library Account)
Olin College Library - what we own and any Libby ebooks/audiobooks (this tab gives the best overview of our collection)
Available Now - anything physically available to check out in the Olin Library
Available Online - MLN network Libby collection

Find a Book on Our Shelves

Look at either of the middle two tabs from your results. Catalog searches will display the call number for any Olin Library book on the results page. Use that call number with our posted signage to locate your book.

Standard call numbers (two letters followed by a series of numbers, ex: ZZ12.345 2026) are almost entirely on the lower level
TR call numbers (photography) are all located in the Quiet Reading Room
Fiction (all types) and DVDs are on the wheeled shelves on the upper level
Required books for any course are on the Course Reserves shelf on the upper level, arranged by instructor last name (or course name for co-taught courses). Results for anything on reserve are noted with “Reserve/Olin Patrons Only” in catalog search results