Updated: June 20th, 2025

The Schlesinger Library building is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Schlesinger Library Reading Room is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:45pm, with the building closing to researchers at 5:00pm. Please review current access policies. Please note that if it is your first visit to the Library, you will be required to show a photo ID at the reception desk on the first floor.

The Library will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

While masks are not required in the Reading Room, we have a supply of masks available in the Reading Room for anyone interested. For assistance, please ask at the desk.

Contact us in advance of your visit

• Please visit the Ask a Schlesinger Librarian web page to start a conversation with the Research Services Team. We can:
  • coordinate access to the materials to help you make the most of your time in the Reading Room
  • assist with access to other formats such as audiovisual and digital materials
  • discuss accessibility and accommodations
• Need help navigating resources or doing in-depth research?
  • Use the Research Support form to request an appointment with a research librarian. We will meet with you in person, via Zoom, or by phone. During our conversation, we can help you:
    • discover materials in our collections that are relevant to your project or recommend additional sources
    • learn how to navigate library catalogs, finding aids, and online resources
    • prepare for a research visit
• Information for research teams or researchers coordinating with a research proxy is available on our Research Teams Guide.

Request materials for your visit

Schlesinger Library materials must be requested online using your HOLLIS Special Request account. More information available below.

Unrestricted material stored on-site at the Library may be made available day-of. However, because most of our collections are stored off-site, we strongly recommend placing your requests at least one week in advance.

Please note: Requests for material stored off-site must be placed by 2:00pm one business day in advance of your visit. For more information, please see the “A Few Things to Know” and F.A.Q. pages of our Requesting Materials Guide.

Requests for some material stored on-site requires advance notice. These items include: audiovisual material, supersized items, and material with written permission restrictions.

HOLLIS Special Request

HOLLIS Special Request is available to all researchers and a single account can be used for all participating Harvard libraries and archives. No Harvard affiliation is required. This account allows you to manage your requests for access to Schlesinger Library’s materials. Instructions for placing requests, including how-to videos, are available in the Requesting Materials Guide. If you have questions, please reach out through the Ask a Schlesinger Librarian webform.

Planning a visit to access a small quantity of material?

If you are planning to visit to access only a small number of items, you are welcome to explore our guide to placing copies for reference use to learn more about options for virtual access. We are able to copy a limited quantity of material for researchers with limits renewed every six months. The Library’s Virtual Reading Room includes previously scanned files that may cover the content you are interested in. Please contact us via Ask a Librarian to learn more.

The Reading Room Experience

Looking for a preview of the Reading Room Experience? Check out our Reading Room Experience Guide!

From Radcliffe Yard to the Reading Room:

The Schlesinger Library is located in Radcliffe Yard. The address is 3 James St.; however, the library’s entrance faces the interior of Radcliffe Yard. The library entrance includes a wheelchair accessible ramp.

Checking In

When you enter the library, please check in at the Reception Desk located in the lobby on the first floor directly ahead of the library entrance. If you have not created a HOLLIS Special Request account in advance, you will be asked to create an account at the reception desk. If it is your first visit, you will be required to show a photo ID.

Using the Lockers

The staff at the reception desk will direct you to place your belongings in a locker located on the library’s lower level.

• Pencils, phones, digital cameras, laptops or tablets, and flash drives are welcome in the Reading Room. We provide loose leaf paper and pencils if you wish to take notes.
  • Additional supplies available in the Reading Room include ear plugs, magnifying glasses, rulers, and gloves for handling photographs and glass or metal objects.
• Leave pens/markers, notebooks, paper, folders, coats and outerwear, wallets, glasses cases, device cases, food/drink, and bags in the lockers.
• Please see the “Tech for Loan” section below to learn more about the equipment we have available for loan on a first come, first served basis.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are located on the lower level and on the first floor of the library. The bathroom on the lower level is wheelchair accessible. There are no bathrooms on the second floor where the Reading Room is located.

Lactation Room

Contact us for more information about lactation rooms on campus.

Using the Reading Room

Once you’ve stored your belongings in a locker, you can take the elevator or the stairs to the library’s second floor where the Reading Room is located. When you arrive on the second floor, please check in with the Librarian at the Reference Desk, which is located centrally in the second-floor atrium. The Librarian will provide you with directions for finding a seat in the Reading Room and then direct our Reading Room staff to retrieve the material you have requested.

If you have a research question, questions about Schlesinger Library’s collections, or are just starting a large research project, we recommend scheduling a research consultation with a Schlesinger Library Research Librarian ahead of your visit through our Ask a Librarian form. While you are visiting, the reference desk is staffed by a Schlesinger Library staff member during all open hours, so you can also get basic reference assistance throughout your visit.

Tech for Loan in the Reading Room

• Each table is equipped with overhead document cameras, called Hovercams. You can download the software on your own laptop or ask us about using a loaner laptop in the Reading Room during your visit. More information is available on our Guide to Hovercams.
• Prefer to use your own camera or phone? No problem, just turn off your flash and leave your camera case and free-standing tripod behind.
  • The library has two camera mounts, which can support a smart phone or DSLR camera, and two camera remotes, which can be connected to a smart phone's camera app via bluetooth. These tools are available for loan on a first come, first served basis.
• Additional equipment available on a first come, first served basis:
  • Wireless Mouse
  • Three PC laptops
  • USB-C to USB-A/HDMI adapter
  • Flash drives
  • iPhone charger

Before your visit, please review the Schlesinger Library's policies and procedures.