Dear FAS Faculty colleagues,
Thank you for your thoughtful responses to Harvard Library’s Smart Restart for Research draft plan. We heard how eager many of you are to resume using on-campus library collections and services, and also your appreciation for a phased approach that prioritizes the safety of our staff and users. Today, I’m pleased to let you know how you can begin to access Library resources now during our pilot restart phase.
If you would like to continue receiving news about Library services as they restart, please sign up for updates.
Scan and Deliver
Available: June 29
Harvard Library has resumed scanning materials in our collections, including digitizing materials for course reserves. To begin, we will scan materials that are available in Widener, Lamont, Countway, and the Harvard Depository. Once safe workflows have been tested and evaluated, we will expand this service to materials housed in other locations. When you make a Scan and Deliver request, we do our best to find a digital version for you. We’re often able to point you to an existing scanned version. When in doubt, submit a request.
To submit a request for this service, click on the “Scan & Deliver” link in an item’s HOLLIS record. You will receive an email when your scanned materials are ready.
Front Door Pickup
Available: June 30, by appointment
We have restarted access to some physical collections with a new service at Lamont Library: Front Door Pickup. Staff has begun filling requests to check out books and other materials from Widener, Lamont, and the Harvard Depository. As with Scan and Deliver, once safe workflows have been tested and evaluated, we plan to expand this service to materials housed in other locations, still with pickup at Lamont.
Submit requests for materials through HOLLIS. Once your materials are available for pickup, you will be notified and sent a link to schedule a pickup time.
Returns
Available: June 2020
Books can be returned to Widener Library using the Massachusetts Avenue entrance. Please note that most due dates for borrowed items have been extended, so there is no need to make a visit to campus solely to return your materials. You will not be able to enter any library spaces beyond the drop off point. If you cannot return your books in person, please contact us.
Course Planning Support and E-Reserves
Available: June 2020
As you revise and plan your courses for the fall, Harvard Library is ready to assist you with adaptations and new strategies. We encourage you to connect with your librarian to explore what will be possible.
We are expanding our course reserves services for the upcoming semester. Using e-reserves, digital content and materials can be added directly to your course’s page on Canvas. Library staff will find links to existing digital resources, scan articles and book chapters, and post it all to a Library Reserves reading list on Canvas. Within FAS, submissions before August 1 will receive priority.
Next Steps
We are ramping up our on-campus services after considerable planning and careful attention to balancing accessibility and safety. As this process unfolds, we continue to welcome your feedback.
Best wishes,
Martha Whitehead
Vice President for the Harvard Library and University Librarian
Roy E. Larsen Librarian for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences