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Borrow & request

All library locations are now open to MIT faculty, students, and staff in Covid Pass. All users must wear masks and display MIT IDs.

Service updates

  • Our new search platform – Search Our Collections has launched – discover some of its new features.
  • Our stacks are now open for browsing.
  • Shipping of materials to off-campus addresses has been discontinued. You may request materials for pick up at the library location of your choice.
  • Office delivery continues for MIT faculty, postdocs, and academic/research staff.

Visit us in person

  • Library access is limited to MIT Faculty, students, and staff in MIT Covid Pass. The Libraries may only sponsor Covid Pass access for Libraries employees. If you have any questions, contact circulation@mit.edu.
  • Libraries are now open with limited hours. Full semester hours will begin on September 7th. See all library hours and locations.
  • Distinctive Collections will reopen the reading room; access will be by appointment only.

Borrow & request materials

  • Your MIT ID is your library card.
  • Our stacks are now open for browsing. You can also place requests via Search Our Collections and track them through Your Account to pick up at the library location of your choice.
  • Office delivery is available for MIT faculty, postdoc, and academic/research staff.
  • Faculty and Instructors are eligible to request a designated borrower, who may check out materials reserved for the faculty/instructor. Designated Borrowers must be in Covid Pass.
  • All of our e-books, online journals, databases, and other streaming/electronic materials remain available as usual – find what you need using Search Our Collections. See more information about how to authenticate to online resources.
  • Books from our collections that have been available electronically through emergency temporary access from HathiTrust and Internet Archive will be available for physical lending only. You can still request digital copies of these titles through Suggest a Purchase.
  • You can request PDFs of 50 pages or less from print books, journals, and serials through our Scan and Deliver service, or suggest a purchase in digital or physical formats.
  • For Distinctive Collections (Institute Archives, Manuscripts, etc.) materials, visit their requesting materials page for complete information.

Borrow & request materials from non-MIT libraries

Get materials for course reserves

  • The Libraries offers a full course reserves service for the fall.
  • The service includes access to article and chapter scans through our Scan & Deliver service, as well as access to numerous e-books and databases.
  • Print reserves for required textbooks will be available at the start of the term. Faculty and instructors can submit textbooks for courses via the MIT Coop AIP.

Return physical materials

On campus

Other shipping options

If you are off-campus and have items you wish to return, they may be sent to the following address:

MIT Libraries Book Return
MIT Libraries
350 Brookline St.
Cambridge, MA 02139

Policies

Loan periods

  • Books and accompanying materials, DVDs, and off-campus collection – 60 days
  • Journals – 1 week
  • Equipment, Reserves, Reference – vary. Please email circulation@mit.edu for more information.

Recalls

  • Items may be recalled. A minimum 2 week loan period is guaranteed unless an item is needed for course reserves.

 Renewal allowed

  • MIT Faculty, Students and Staff – 5
  • MIT Other – 3
  • Non-MIT – 2

Fines

  • We do not charge standard overdue fines.
  • We do charge fines for:
    • Overdue reserves – $2/hour
    • Overdue recalled items – $2/day
    • Overdue items from non-MIT libraries (via ILB/Illiad and Borrow Direct) – $0.50/day
    • Long overdue/lost (30+ days past the due date) – $15 + replacement fee. Replacement fee credited if the item is returned.

For questions about your borrowed materials contact circulation@mit.edu. If you have any other questions, please Ask Us.