Harvard Libraries are the largest academic library system in the world. But their collections and resources go far beyond books! 

Journals and Academic Works

Academic journal articles are the foundation of a great deal of research, and students at Harvard have access to an extraordinary collection, both in-person and digitally. Throughout my time at Harvard, I've worked on projects spanning the fields of medicine, history, science, and global health, and I have always been able to access the journal articles I need for my work. Helpful tools such as the Harvard Library web browser extension allow me to get digital access to paywalled articles with just one click. And even if I'm trying to access an article in a journal to which Harvard does not subscribe, the Interlibrary Scan & Deliver program means that Harvard will obtain a copy from another library, with no cost to me!

Research Support 

Harvard's librarians are also research experts. Many librarians specialize in a particular field, allowing you to easily get advice on finding sources, conducting a literature review, and more from someone who is directly familiar with your project. Additionally, there are classes happening every week, teaching helpful information about using citation managers, research data management, and other library resources. The First-Year Librarian Program gives first-year students a personal guide to the library's wealth of resources, and many librarians also visit first-year Expository Writing courses to talk about course-specific research best-practices. 

Technology

The library system is also the University's hub for technology. Cabot Science Library, located conveniently in the Science Center, is home to a full multimedia lab, sewing station, AR/VR equipment, and more. You can also loan cameras, microphones, speakers, projectors, VR equipment and more for free! 

Archival Materials

As a History of Science concentrator, my personal favorite part of the Harvard Library system is the incredible wealth of archival materials and special collections. From the Harvard University Archives, to the Countway Library for the History of Medicine, to the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women, students can easily access a wide array of historical correspondence, documents, artwork, media, and more. After a librarian trains you on how to handle these documents carefully, using book cradles, gloves, and other equipment, you can visit the reading rooms and conduct research using these materials by just submitting an online request. Though this process, I've even had the opportunity to handle some of Galileo's original works that were hundreds of years old, as well as historic telescopes and other scientific instruments. If you're visiting campus, be sure to check out the public exhibitions at the Houghton Library and Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments for a small sampling of the archives! 

Study Spaces

And of course, one of the most common ways students interact with the library system is through the number of wonderful study spots, from the soaring columns of Widener Library to the 24/7 study carrels of Lamont Library! You can read more about the best study spots around campus! 

Ultimately, this blog post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wide array of resources at Harvard Library; it is truly such a wonderful system staffed by some of the kindest people on campus.