MIT faculty, students, and staff are eligible to use many of Harvard’s libraries and can choose from the following options:

• Delivery to MIT: Request materials from Harvard — or other institutions across the country — via Borrow Direct
• Visit Harvard in person (see Harvard’s visitor page for updates, including contact information for specific libraries or collections):
  • Access Harvard’s general collections and stacks, borrow materials
  • Use their spaces for studying
  • MIT users are not eligible for Harvard’s extended reference services or interlibrary loan services. Please use MIT’s services — Ask us or Interlibrary borrowing.

Registering for in-person Harvard privileges

MIT users are eligible for access through the Ivy Plus and BorrowDirect program. Below are the steps for MIT faculty, students, and staff to register for a Harvard Library Access Card.

1. Complete the Harvard Library Access application form.
2. Once your application is reviewed, Harvard staff will contact you to schedule a Zoom appointment to confirm your affiliation.
3. During your Zoom appointment, you will be asked to show a government-issued ID and sign into BorrowDirect with your MIT credentials.
4. Once this step is complete, you can pick up your Harvard ID at the Smith Center in Harvard Square.

Using the Harvard Libraries

Register for a HarvardKey (similar to Your Account in MIT’s Search Our Collections)

• To get the full benefits from Harvard Libraries HOLLIS system (requesting items on shelf to be held for pick up, viewing your record, requesting renewals), register for a HarvardKey:
  • Go to Harvard Key– this process registers you for dual authentication just like MIT and uses the same DUO app.
  • Now you can log into HOLLIS to access the above services.
  • Please note: A Harvard Key does not provide access to Harvard’s electronic resources.

Options Beyond Harvard

To explore the full range of options available to MIT users, view our Visit non-MIT Libraries page.