Looking to pick up your books on the go? Harvard Library is piloting The Lamont Bookstop: a remote locker system that acts as a self-service hold shelf, providing users with access to requested material whenever the library is open. Each locker accommodates multiple books requested by a single user. You'll find all 24 lockers located inside the entrance to Lamont Library.
How does it work?
- Place a request in HOLLIS and select “Lamont Bookstop” in the drop down menu of pickup locations
- You'll receive an email when the item is available for pickup
- Go to the Lamont Bookstop and scan the barcode on your HUID or special borrower card
- The Bookstop checks the material out to your account and the door of the locker containing your request opens
- Take your books and close the locker door
During this pilot phase, users can make a request for any circulating/requestable Harvard Library items for delivery to this new pickup location. Borrow Direct and Interlibrary Loan books are not part of this pilot and will remain requestable for pickup at library circulation desks as they normally are.
Items will remain on hold for 7-days, which is consistent with items placed on hold at a circulation desk. A Lamont Bookstop hold request may be redirected and placed on hold at the Lamont Circulation desk in cases when all of the lockers are in use, or the item is too large to fit. We'll gather user feedback through a brief survey—the link is found on a slip of paper inside your book.
Spruill Harder is the Associate Director of Access Services for Professional School Libraries at Harvard.