Special Collections: Rare Book Collection at the Frances Loeb Library

To access the collections, all users of Special Collections must create a HOLLIS Special Request account and follow these step-by-step instructions. Once the items you've requested arrive, Special Collections staff will email you information about scheduling an appointment to visit the reading room. A Harvard ID or government-issued ID must also be presented to staff during each visit.

For researchers visiting outside of Cambridge, please reach out to us through Ask a Design Librarian to inform us of the extent of your research, requests, and visit plans so we can best support you.

To request rare books, theses, images, manuscripts, videos, printed materials, and some archival collections, scroll down in the HOLLIS catalog record to Access Options and use the “Request to Copy or Visit” link to submit a request through HOLLIS Special Request in advance of your visit. For some items, you may be required to fill out the HOLLIS Special Request form manually.

For additional information about planning your visit to the Frances Loeb Library's Special Collections reading room, please visit the Plan Your Research Visit guide.