Track Down Materials

What should you do if a book that you find in HOLLIS and want to use is:

  • checked out to someone else?
  • declared missing or lost in the catalog record you are looking at (alas, it happens)?
  • on order (that is, coming into the library collection but not yet arrived at Harvard)?
  • in process (that is, it's arrived at Harvard but some final things are being done to get it ready for the "stacks," i.e., the library shelves)?

In every one of these cases, open the full item record and look for the INTERLIBRARY LOAN option toward the bottom of the screen (under Access options. Follow the prompts from there. If it's only 1-2 chapters you need, select the option for SCAN & DELIVER, instead.

We'll get a copy of the book for you, within 4 days, from another university library. 

Need an article that's not online or in a journal on the shelf? Either of the above options (INTERLIBRARY LOAN or SCAN & DELIVER) should work.

For more tips on tracking down materials at Harvard Library, see Locating Sources (Harvard Guide to Using Sources).