FAQ: Services Changes at the Libraries
In November 2025, the MIT Libraries shared our approach to Institute-wide budget reductions, outlining service changes for the MIT community. This FAQ addresses the most common questions from the community about access to collections, spaces, and services going forward.
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Q: The letter to the community said you will be cutting back on paywalled journal subscriptions. Will I have to pay for access to articles?
A: No. The Libraries will still pay for your access to the journal literature you need. By switching from buying subscriptions – which often include lots of journals and articles that are rarely or never used – to a per-article service, we can save money while still getting the articles you need. We have always used a variety of strategies to ensure you have access to the content you need, even when materials are not purchased directly or renewed.
If we no longer have a subscription to a journal, you can request PDFs of articles from the journal, which will be delivered to your email, in most cases very quickly – more than 85% of these requests are filled within one minute. For assistance requesting materials, see Get materials via the MIT Libraries.
Q: Will the Libraries still provide funding for MIT authors to publish open access?
A: The Libraries continue to have agreements with several publishers that cover full article processing charges for preprints, journals and additional agreements that provide discounts. Unfortunately, as of July 1, 2025, the Libraries’ open access (OA) articles fund has been suspended, and support for OA monographs has been reduced. If an MIT author would like to submit a request for OA monograph funding, they can make a request and we will consider requests on a case-by-case basis, as funding allows. MIT Libraries remains committed to open access publishing, and we know this news is disappointing. For additional questions about publishing open access, contact our Scholarly Communications team.
Q: What will happen to the books in Barker and Dewey?
A: Books and other print materials currently located in Barker and Dewey will continue to be available to you by request. Most will remain on campus, in closed stacks, although a limited number of items from Barker and Dewey will be moved to the open browsable stacks in Hayden. You will be able to request any of these collections directly from our catalog and choose the campus pick-up location most convenient for you. Office delivery will continue to be available for MIT faculty, academic/research staff, and some postdocs.
For assistance requesting materials, see Get materials via the MIT Libraries.
Q: Is Barker Library closing?
A: No. While there will no longer be a staffed service desk, Barker Library will continue to provide 24/7 study space in the reading room under the Great Dome and on-site collections, which will be available by request.
Q: Is Rotch Library closing?
A: There are no plans to close Rotch Library at this time, but we do know that staffing in that location will be reduced in June 2027. The Libraries and the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) have formed a joint task force to discuss how Rotch can meet the needs of the community, considering the Libraries’ reduced staffing and SA+P’s move to the Met Warehouse. The task force will make recommendations to the Provost’s Office this spring on topics including services, collections, technologies, special collections, and study spaces.
The Aga Khan Documentation Center and the GIS & Data Lab, which are currently located in Rotch Library, will not be impacted by these changes.
Q: Library staff have been extremely helpful to me in my research/coursework. Will I still have access to these services with the upcoming staffing reductions?
A: Yes. The Libraries are not reducing any of the subject librarian roles or the staff in Data Services. Subject librarians with offices currently in Dewey or Barker will still be available to meet with you in person or virtually. Our Ask Us service (available via chat or email) can also connect you to the resources you need or direct you to an expert for a more in-depth research consultation.
Q: Will I be able to browse physical collections in person anymore?
A: Yes. Hayden Library will remain a browsable collection. Over time we hope to create a more interdisciplinary collection in Hayden by moving heavily used items and items most used for browsing from other locations into Hayden. The Lewis Music Library physical collections also remain browsable.
We also encourage you to make use of an online browsing tool, the virtual shelf feature, which appears in search results and includes collections regardless of location or whether they are currently checked out. Search our collections to get started. We’re also currently developing an improved online search experience that will provide more comprehensive results from across multiple catalogs and systems.
Q: What about study and meeting space for the community?
A: We know that physical library spaces play a critical role for the community, and we have significantly increased our amount of 24/7 study space in recent years. We will keep the popular study spaces in Barker and Hayden accessible 24/7 to community members with MIT ID. Rotch will also continue to provide 24/7 space while the joint task force on the future of Rotch considers future study space needs in its recommendations (see above).
While Dewey will no longer be an MIT Libraries space, the Institute will consider how the space can be repurposed to meet study space and other needs on that end of campus.