Borrow, Renew, and Return Library Materials

Use HOLLIS, the library catalog, to search for the materials you need. There you can see if there's a physical copy available on campus and where to find it, or request pick up from the library of your choice. Book pick up requests are filled in 1 to 4 business days. Look for the "Request Pick Up" link in HOLLIS to submit your request.

If you can't get the library to pick something up, you can try our Scan & Deliver service.  It's a free electronic document delivery service for the Harvard community. In HOLLIS, look for "Scan & Deliver" under the access options for your item. Submit a request and we'll scan a journal article or book chapter and deliver it to you via email.

If you can't find what you're looking for at Harvard, try submitting an Interlibrary Loan request. Library staff will search other libraries for what you need.

Articles requested via Interlibrary Loan can often be delivered within hours. Other materials can arrive as quickly as 3-4 days or can take up to 14 days. 

At many Harvard libraries you can borrow basic gear like headphones and laptop chargers. Just check in with a staff member to see what's available.

A few libraries also have media production equipment available for loan — everything from tripods and SD cards to 360 cameras and VR equipment.

Here's what you need to know: 

Renew

• If no other library users have requested the regular loan materials you've checked out, the loan period will automatically be renewed up to five times. 

Return

• You can return circulating library materials to any Harvard library.

Recall

• All regular loan materials are subject to recall at any time at the library’s discretion. If an item you've checked out is recalled, we'll notify you via email.

HOLLIS is where you can track your library loans, renew items, check due dates and more. After logging in, click your name in the top right corner, then "My Account."