Access to non-MIT libraries

For members of the MIT community

Harvard Libraries

Privileges for MIT faculty, students and staff at Harvard's collections:

Harvard College Libraries | Harvard Science, Medicine, and Technical Collections | Baker Library (Harvard Business School) | Other Collections and Categories of Use

NOTE: The Harvard University Library system includes over 90 distinct libraries.

Use HOLLIS, Harvard's online catalog, to locate materials within these collections, or consult the appropriate MIT library's reference desk for more information.

Harvard College Libraries

Using the HCL Special Borrower card, MIT faculty, research staff, and graduate students are eligible for borrowing privileges at:

• Cabot
• Fine Arts
• Kummel
• Littauer
• Loeb Music
• Tozzer
• Widener

On-site-only access is available at:

• Harvard-Yenching
• Hilles
• Houghton
• Lamont

Additionally, the card allows borrowing or access privileges at:

• Frances Loeb Library (Design)
• Specific Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Libraries:
  • Biological Laboratories
  • Blue Hill Meteorological
  • Center for Astrophysics
  • Center for European Studies
  • Center for International Affairs
  • Documentation Center on Contemporary Japan
  • Gordon McKay
  • Russian Research Center
  • Wolbach

Important Note: The HCL Special Borrower card is NOT honored at these Harvard libraries:

• Baker (Business)
• Countway (Science, Medicine and Technical collections)
• Gutman (Education)
• Harvard Law School
• Kennedy School of Government

Baker and Countway have separate agreements for access.

Terms of borrowing, renewals, overdue fines, use of reserves, etc., are set by the individual libraries. The usual borrowing period is one month.

You are not eligible for extended reference services or interlibrary loan services.

How to Apply for an HCL Special Borrower Card:

1. Go to any MIT Reference desk for eligibility verification.
2. Take the application form to the Library Privileges Desk on the first floor of Widener Library, Harvard Yard, between 9 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
3. You will be issued an HCL Special Borrower photo ID valid until May 31 of the academic year for graduate students, until August 31 for other eligible individuals.

• Where is this Special Borrower Card NOT honored?

Graduate students may have their privileges extended for the summer by getting a letter from any MIT library; only students whose graduate study at MIT will continue in the fall will be granted this extension.

For further information, call HCL Library Privileges at 617-495-4166.