Course Librarians
Teach with Harvard Library! Librarians are available in person and on Canvas and ZOOM. We'll gladly tailor library and archival research classes to suit your needs. We can also help locate course materials and consult with you on instructional projects. Send your students to us for guidance and support with their research.
- Want to learn more? Check out Plan Your Course With Harvard Library
Consider designating a Canvas Course Librarian.
Do your students need help identifying scholarly sources? Librarians will create custom Research Guides for your classes.
We invite you and your students to schedule Research Consultations for personalized guidance from a library specialist online or in-person. No question is too small.
Ask a Librarian! Our staff of librarians, archivists, and subject matter experts are ready to answer questions for you and your students via chat and email.
Find your librarian: Want your students to explore primary sources? Build a literature review? Create a podcast? Visualize data? The librarian for your subject area or program is here to support your course.
Course Materials
The library can provide you and your students with access to books, articles, streaming media, and more.
You can activate the Course Reserves service via Canvas ("Library Reserves" link) or HOLLIS ("Send to > RESERVES LIST" feature). It can handle almost any source, including streaming media, your own PDFs, and standard items.
- Note: Reserves staff provide accessible PDFs of chapters and articles.
- PRO TIP: Add items directly from HOLLIS.
- From a specific HOLLIS item, find the "send to" or "..." menu, and choose the Reserves List option.
- Your reserves list must be activated (do this in Canvas).
- For an individual book chapter, make sure to select a HOLLIS record for the chapter, not the whole book!
Funds are available to digitize selected materials for teaching; ask your library liaison.
Many films are only a click away. The Streaming Video guide includes information on finding films, requesting films, and copyright.
- In cases where a film is only available as a physical copy and is not available for streaming, the library has staffing and equipment to accommodate student viewings for assignments or assist faculty screening films in the classroom.
- See Also: Using Published Video in Online Courses
3D scanning and consultation about Teaching and Learning with 3D Content can provide immersive experiences with primary sources that help bring your course material to life. Objects can range from very small to entire buildings!
Copyright First Responders can help you decide what’s safe to post or share.
Special Collections
Teach with Special Collections: Discover, engage, and collaborate with us to help students use primary sources and understand material culture.
- Read more about Teaching with Special Collections.
- Teach with Houghton and view the Faculty Guide to Houghton Library.
Partner alongside librarians to build digital collections and exhibits with CURIOsity.
3D scanning and consultation about Teaching and Learning with 3D Content can provide immersive experiences with primary sources that help bring your course material to life. Objects can range from very small to entire buildings!
Links to Share with Your Students
How to get started using the libraries
How to do research in... for discipline-specific research tips
Streaming Video @ Harvard for documentaries, feature films, theater productions, opera, video art, and more
Tech loan for phone chargers, tripods, VR headsets, and more
Large-format printing for student posters and projects
