A Note from the Library Director

On behalf of the Monroe C. Gutman Library team, I extend fall greetings to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends!

While Gutman Library is the social and intellectual heart of HGSE, also it is the premier education subject library for Harvard University, the greater Boston-Cambridge community, and educators and education historians near and far. Our work advances the research, teaching, and service missions of the School and the University. Gutman Library, one of Harvard’s seven professional school libraries, is a member of the university-wide Harvard Library system, which comprises the largest academic library collection and personnel in the world.

Our onsite, circulating collections include over 50,000 print volumes. Current HGSE community members have access to our online subscriptions and e-books. Our additional 200,000+ print research and special collections are securely stored offsite in environmentally controlled conditions. With advanced planning, these collection items can be requested for use. Spanning two centuries, the Gutman Library Special Collections offer rich and varied resources for studying the history of schooling and learning in America. Distinctive collections include:
 

We aim for inclusive educational experiences on the HGSE campus, and we want everyone to feel safe within our environment. While masks are not required, you may find wearing one helpful for your well-being.

To take the best advantage of Gutman Library, here are a few notes to consider:
1. Be sure to ask for help!  Just in time for fall semester our newly renovated 2nd-floor spaces are open. The Office of Student Affairs, Academic Programs/Affairs, and the Career Services and Alumni Engagement Offices have joined us to create a new 2nd-floor service hub for students. We're working out the early kinks, so I thank you for your patience with us!
2. The current renovated areas include the Library Services Desk; two reading rooms for silent or quiet work; a computing area with a scanner, copier, and printer; multipurpose conference rooms that are also used for the Writing Center & Communications Lab; a Special Collections reading room; a Data Visualization Lab, and library staff, student affairs, academic affairs, and career/alumni affairs personnel workspaces.
3. Already renovated spaces are available to use -- such as our upgraded 4th-floor, open study spaces, and our renovated open-air, roof-top patio.
4. We offer consulting services in digital scholarship, critical pedagogy, and research data management support. Also, get to know your program, concentration, and foundation research librarians.
5. Come to our in-person book talk series this year. We'd love to see you!
6. Lastly, make use of our affiliated services and spaces such as --

HGSE and Gutman Library continue to embrace open education resources (OER) to help reduce out-of-pocket textbook costs for students. Gutman Library supports OER use, and we are investing in further OER programming next academic year. We also want to support HGSE authors to understand and negotiate their publication rights and to provide the tools and expertise needed for innovative digital scholarship and scholarly communication.

My colleagues and I want to hear from you! Share your ideas about how we can build stronger partnerships in research, teaching, learning, and service by writing to me at alex_hodges@gse.harvard.edu or by contacting your designated HGSE program, concentration, or foundation research librarian via our online form.

Best wishes for a wonderful academic year ahead!

Alex R. Hodges, EdD, MLS
HGSE Librarian and Director, Monroe C. Gutman Library