Tips to help you get started. See the Guide for Graduate Students for more.

1.    Get to know your department’s Library Liaison. All FAS departments have at least one liaison — a librarian who can help you identify resources in the Harvard libraries and devise research strategies for classes, term papers, theses, dissertations, and other research projects. 

2.    Learn to use the two library websites: http://hcl.harvard.edu and http://lib.harvard.edu. You’ll find a wealth of information, including hours, locations, library liaisons, links to HOLLIS (the online catalog) and online databases (such as JSTOR and Web of Science), and applications for library services.

3.    Apply for extended loan periods. Normally, graduate students can borrow books for a 28-day period, with the option to renew in 28-day increments. A program at Widener, Fine Arts, and Loeb Music libraries extends the borrowing period to a term, with the option to renew online up to five times.

4.    Apply for a study carrel. Make the library your research base.

5.    Take a tour. Contact your departmental library liaison to arrange it.

6.    Learn to use library research guides. Librarians from the Harvard College Library create a variety of research guides to assist your in your work, ranging from guides for first-time library users to subject guides and course-specific guides.

7.    Learn how to request materials from Harvard Depository and through Interlibrary Loan. Harvard Depository is Harvard University Library’s off-campus media storage and retrieval facility. Books housed there can be requested through a link in HOLLIS catalog records. Interlibrary loan gives HCL users the ability to borrow books and journal articles from non-Harvard libraries.

8.    Save time. Learn to use research tools like Citation Linker and the LibX toolbar, as well as citation management tools.

9.    Learn how to access the materials you need, even if they’re checked out. Via Hollis, you can place a recall request on an item that has been checked out.

10.   Learn how to use the free scanners and the free Scan and Deliver service. Free self-service scanners are available in Cabot, Fung, Harvard-Yenching, Lamont, Loeb Music, Tozzer, and Widener libraries. Scan and Deliver is a free service of Harvard libraries that allows users to request portions of books or journal articles for electronic delivery.