Translation: A Guide to Harvard Libraries in Plain English

• Library Services are Free
• Harvard Direct
• Borrow Direct & Interlibrary Loan
• Recalls
• Open Stacks
• Harvard Depository
• Scan & Deliver
• Study Carrels
• Scanners
• Printing
• Extended Loans

There is no charge to you, as a student, for borrowing books or for asking the library to purchase a book or other item for your research. 

You can request to have library materials delivered from the owning library to another (within Harvard's system).

• Sign in to your HOLLIS account with your Harvard Key in order to see the request options.
• Choose the "Request Pick Up" option under the "Access Options" section in the item's catalog record.
• Select which library you would like to pick the book up at.
• Submit your request.

If Harvard doesn't have an item you are looking for (or if the item is currently checked out), we can get it for you from another library.

If you find the item listed in HOLLIS, but it is not available, use the Interlibrary Loan link in the HOLLIS listing to request the item.

If you don't find the item listed in HOLLIS, make a request the item for the item via your InterLibrary Loan account.

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InterLibrary Loan: a method of ordering books, journal articles, and other materials from libraries across the U.S. and from other countries, if the item is not available at Harvard. Materials may take up to 10 days to arrive, but articles often arrive (electronically) within the same day of the request.

Open stacks means that you are able to browse the shelves where the books are kept in the libraries. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, you don't need to ask a person at the circulation desk to retrieve a book for you; you can go and find it yourself! 

Also, there is no limit to the number of books you are allowed to borrow.

Offsite Storage

• is where approximately 1/2 of Harvard Library's collection is kept
• has items that can be requested via a "Request Pick Up" link in the HOLLIS record (if you don't see the link, ask a librarian about it)
• items will be delivered to a library for pick-up the next business day (keep in mind if you request it on Friday, the item will not be available until Monday.

For items with a "Scan & Deliver" link underneath the item information in HOLLIS:

• You can request to have book chapters or journal articles scanned and emailed to you. The request must be no longer than 100 pages, and no more than 20% of the work, which is equivalent to about 2 chapters of a book, or 2 articles from the same journal issue.

• You will receive the PDF within 4 business days of your request.

Study carrels are available for your use. In some libraries, such as Widener, you will need to request a carrel. In others, such as Lamont and Cabot, the carrels are available on a first-come basis. Where carrels are requestable, you may hold books you need for your research there by checking books out to the carrel. If you are not eligible for a carrel in Widener, you may request a hold shelf to keep your books. 

• Request a carrel in Widener
• Request a hold shelf in Widener from the Privileges Office in Widener Library

• Use scanners to make an electronic copy of a portion of a book or journal.
• Scan to a USB drive or email the files to yourself.

You can use Crimson Cash on your Harvard ID card to print from the computer labs in the libraries.

• 5 cents per page for black & white printing (3 cents per side for double-sided)
• 15 cents per page for color printing (8 cents per side for double-sided)
• Color printing is available in Lamont, Widener, and the Science Center.