Rotch Home

Reserves information for other libraries at MIT

Course reserves

1. Where is Rotch Library?

Rotch Library is located on the second floor of Building 7, Room 238.

2. How do I find reserve materials for my class?

There are binders labeled "Course 4" and "Course 11" at the Rotch Library desk. The binders contain reserve lists for each class for which there are assigned reserve readings. Included in these notebooks are lists for a few other miscellaneous classes (such as MAS, for instance). Please ask anyone at our services desk for help in finding the titles you’d like to use.

3. What kinds of materials are on reserve?

Most of the items on reserve are books and course readers. A few CD's and videos are also on reserves each semester.

4. For how long can a reserve item be borrowed?

Reserve materials at Rotch Library circulate for two hours. So long as no one else is waiting to use a reserve item, it can be renewed three times. This short borrowing period works to everyone’s advantage by making materials readily available to everyone who needs them.

5. Can I ever take out a reserve book for a longer period of time?

Yes. If you check out a book two hours before Rotch Library closes, you may keep it overnight. It must be returned one hour after the library opens the next day. The library’s hours vary during the week and during the semester. ( Check Rotch Library’s hours .)

6. What happens if I return an item later than the date and time due?

There is a significant fine for overdue reserve materials. There is a 15 minute grace period for reserve materials.

7. How many reserve items can I check out at once?

You may check out any two reserve items. For instance, you might want to borrow two course readers, or two books, or a reader and a book.

8. I’m in a huge hurry and it’s raining. Is it true that reserves borrowed from Rotch Library have to be returned to Rotch?

Yes, reserve materials always must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed. If you were to drop off a reserve item at another location, it could take up to two days to get back to Rotch. During that time, the material would be unavailable to other students in your class.

9. What about the bookdrop outside the Rotch Library?

Feel free to use the bookdrop to return books when the library is closed. However, we ask that you not use the bookdrop when returning course readers because these looseleaf notebooks are both bulky and easily damaged.

10. Can you put aside a reserve item for me? Why not?

Reserve items cannot be held for you. They are available on a first-come, first served basis, so that they are available to anyone who may need to use them. We think you’ll find this system works to everyone’s advantage.