The MIT Libraries has a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Harvard College Library for MIT faculty, students and research staff. Eligible community members may apply online for an HCL Special Borrower card. In most instances, the confirmation email and privilege letter are delivered to your inbox within 15 minutes. Applications occasionally require review by a Libraries’ staff member, who will respond within 1 business day. Once the privilege letter is received, MIT community members may obtain a photo ID from the Widener Library Privileges Desk. The card gives the bearer borrowing privileges at participating HCL libraries including:
Cabot, Chemistry, Fine Arts, Harvard-Yenching, Loeb Music, Physics, Tozzer and Widener.
MIT has similar agreements for Faculty, Graduate Students and Research Staff at Harvard’s Countway Library of Medicine and the Graduate School of Design (GSD) Loeb Library. You may apply for access and borrowing privileges using the Countway or Loeb online application.
Do you need to renew your privileges? The special borrower card expires on May 31st for students and August 31st for Faculty and Research Staff. Submit an online application to receive your new privilege letter and then visit the Widener Library Privileges Desk to renew your borrowing privileges for the year.
