Service updates
Get books delivered – MIT students, faculty and staff can get books delivered to any U.S. mailing address or MIT building address, including dorms. See below for more information.
The MIT Libraries are implementing a phased plan for providing access to physical collections. We will update this page as services evolve. Library locations and study spaces remain closed until further notice.
Initial services will be limited to current MIT faculty, students, and staff. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Available now
Request digital copies of materials in our physical collections
- Use our Quick Search or other search tools to find available content in our general circulating collections and Distinctive Collections. If an item is only available in print/hard copy, order a digital equivalent by selecting “Request digital copy.”
Request delivery of books, media, and more
- Use our Quick Search or other search tools to find available content in our general circulating collections.
- If you require a physical copy of an item, select “Request item.”
- You will be asked to provide a current address for delivery: either an MIT campus address or off-campus within the United States. (We are currently working to address international users’ needs; please check back for more information.)
Please note that turnaround times are likely to be longer than usual, as our safety protocols limit the number of library staff on campus. We will update this page as we learn more about the volume of requests and how quickly we can fulfill them. Thank you for your understanding.
Get help
- Our Ask Us services are available online for general help, research, and reference questions.
- Subject expert librarians can teach in MIT online classes, on topics ranging from archival research to literature reviews and more. They are also available for remote consultation and can be reached via email.
- Data Services (GIS, DMS and Statistical Services) provides assistance across the Institute in data management, creation, visualization, and analysis in support of all aspects of the research, teaching, and learning workflows.
- For help with copyright questions related to digitizing materials, please contact scholarlypub@mit.edu.
Access electronic materials and collections
- All of our e-books, online journals, databases, and other streaming/electronic materials remain available as usual. See more information about how to authenticate to online resources.
- Libraries staff have coordinated with major publishers and digital platforms to provide expanded and free resources for remote teaching, learning, and research.
- Get access to online resources from public libraries. Any MA resident can get a Boston Public Library e-borrowing card.
Request materials we don’t own
- If we don’t own what you need or don’t currently have access to materials we do own, request the item via Illiad/Interlibrary Borrowing. We continue to fill article and book chapter requests as we can.
- Requests for physical materials from Borrow Direct and Interlibrary Borrowing have been suspended until further notice.
- You may also request a purchase of materials needed to support online learning and remote work at MIT.
Get materials for course reserves
- Significant changes have been made to the course reserves service to better support the largely online environment. Visit our Fall 2020 Reserves guide for complete information.
- Textbooks are a source of particular frustration to students, faculty, and librarians in a remote teaching environment. Many textbook publishers do not make electronic copies of their textbooks available for libraries to purchase. See our FAQs on textbooks and remote learning to find out more.
Returning materials
- Overdue fines have been suspended and due dates will continue to be extended as necessary.
- See our Borrow and request page to learn how to return library materials.
- For questions about your borrowed materials contact circulation@mit.edu.