Harvard Library Spaces to Reopen for Fall Semester

In the coming weeks, Harvard Library will reopen all library spaces to Harvard students, faculty, and staff, with plans to reopen to special borrowers and visitors on October 4. Our reopening plans, which are listed in greater detail below, align with the University welcoming all students back to campus this fall.

Harvard Library has continued to deliver many of our services and resources throughout the pandemic. Though we were never “closed,” we look forward to again offering in-person library services and enabling more users to access our spaces.

As we begin reopening, we will continue to closely follow public health developments and adhere to University safety guidance. When we reopen to special borrowers and visitors, we will adhere to the visitor guidelines in Keep Harvard Healthy: Harvard University Guidance for On-Campus Activity.

Please note that Countway Library at Harvard Medical School is already open to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff, and Baker Library’s Stamps Reading Room is currently open to Harvard Business School students, faculty, and staff. Harvard Law School Library will release their reopening plan shortly. Additional details on professional schools’ respective reopening plans are available on their websites.

Key dates for reopening Harvard Library spaces:

August 2

  • Harvard staff, faculty, and researchers are authorized to return to campus following individual unit plans. Staff who will be working on campus must enter the University testing program, and mask requirements will remain in place. For a complete description of onsite safety protocols, please see the HL/HCL Summer/Fall On-Campus Information & Resources. Please note, professional school libraries may have school-specific guidance.
  • Harvard Kennedy School Library and Knowledge Services will reopen to Harvard students, faculty, and staff. Harvard ID holders who are not Kennedy School affiliates will need to use the Wexner Main Entrance.

August 9

  • The SEAS Science and Engineering Complex Library will officially open, with access for all Harvard students, faculty, and staff. Harvard ID holders who are not SEAS affiliates will need to use the east entrance to the building at the corner of Western Avenue and Stadium Road. 

August 16

  • Harvard Law School Library will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff. 

August 23

  • Widener Library will fully reopen, including its reading rooms and its stacks, for all Harvard students, faculty, and staff. The Widener Secure Reading Room will continue to be used as a reading room for non-circulating general collections.
  • Gutman Library at Harvard Graduate School of Education will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff.
  • Harvard Divinity School Library will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff.
  • Loeb Design Library at Harvard Graduate School of Design will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff.
  • Baker Library at Harvard Business School will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff

August 30

  • Several Harvard College Library spaces will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff — Botany Libraries, Cabot Science Library, Ernst Mayr Library, Fine Arts Library, Harvard-Yenching Library, Lamont Library, Harvard Map Collection, Loeb Music Library, and Tozzer Library.
  • Baker Library Special Collections will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff.

September 1

  • Houghton Library will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff in its newly renovated space.
  • Schlesinger Library will reopen to Harvard students, faculty, and staff by appointment.

September 7

  • Harvard University Archives and the Harvard Film Archive will reopen to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff.

October 4