Circulation Borrowing Policies
Borrowing Materials
Circulation and access services are provided at two separate circulation desks
at the entrance of Langdell Hall, and at the International Legal Studies (ILS)
entrance in Lewis Hall. If you have questions about borrowing, renewing, or
requesting library materials, staff can assist you at the circulation desks
or over the phone at 617-495-3455.
Borrowing privileges are limited to current members of the Harvard community
with a Harvard ID or those with a Fletcher, Officer Dependent or Spouse Special
Borrowers card. The standard loan period for circulating materials is 28 days
for Harvard University staff and students. Semester loan periods are for Harvard
officers, faculty and their research assistants, S.J.D. graduate students, Ph.D.
candidates, and library carrels with due dates of September 10, January 10,
and June 10. All books are subject to recall after they have been borrowed for
14 days.
Periodicals, primary source materials, and looseleafs do not circulate. Approximately
20% of the Library collection actually circulates.
To check out a book or other material from other Harvard libraries go to the
library in which the item is located. Consult individual library
listings for borrowing and access policies.
Renewing Materials
Books that have not been requested by another library patron may be renewed
directly through the HOLLIS
Catalog by using the "Your Account," function, found at the upper left of
the top menu. Log in using your University (or Special Borrowers) ID and PIN
number. "Your Account" gives you access to your library circulation records,
and allows you to renew and request items on-line.
To set up viewing your account Harvard University faculty, students and staff
may request a PIN at http://www.pin1.harvard.edu/.
Overdue books may be renewed, but the user will be billed for any applicable
overdue fines.
Books recalled by other patrons cannot be renewed.
Renewal Limit
There is a five-time renewal limit for any materials loaned from any Harvard library. Once an item has been renewed more than five times, it cannot be renewed online. That item will have to be returned or renewed in person at the owning library's circulation desk. The rationale for this policy is that patrons who keep books longer than five loan periods often find it difficult to produce them after that period of time has elapsed. Physically producing borrowed books every five loan periods should help locate these items when they are actually needed, enabling the libraries to account for the collections at regular intervals and to fulfill their preservation and conservation stewardship role.
Requesting Books Out to Another User
All books are subject to recall after they have been borrowed for 14 days. Patrons may recall/request materials that are checked out through the HOLLIS Catalog. You must be logged in to "Your Account." using your University (or Special Borrowers) ID and PIN number. If you have questions or problems with requesting materials, staff can assist you at the Circulation Desks or over the phone at 617-495-3455.
The due date on a recalled book is adjusted to 7 days after the recall has been placed, unless the item has not yet been out for the guaranteed 14 day loan. Please alert Library staff if you are working under a strict deadline to find out if there may be other options, such as an interlibrary loan request.
Requesting Books at Harvard Depository
Patrons may request materials that are at Harvard Depository directly through the HOLLIS Catalog. You must be logged in to "Your Account." using your University (or Special Borrowers) ID and PIN number. If you have questions or problems with requesting materials, staff can assist you at the Circulation Desks or over the phone at 617-495-3455.
Overdue Fines and Book Recalls
Overdue fines are 50¢ per day up to a maximum of $15 per overdue item. Overdue fines for Reserve materials are $1.00 per hour up to a maximum of $28 per overdue item. Patrons may let the fine go to Term Bill or Accounts Receivable offices, or pay by check or exact change at the Langdell Circulation Desk. Patrons owing the Law School Library $200 or more will be blocked from checking out additional books until fines have been paid.
All books are subject to recall after they have been borrowed for 14 days. Whenever a recall request is placed, a notice will be mailed indicating an adjusted due date of 14 days. Failure to respond promptly to a recall request will result in fines of $2 per day up to a maximum of $28.
A book is presumed lost if not renewed or returned within 30 days, and a $85 replacement fee will be charged for each item; out-of-print or more valuable items may be billed at a higher rate, based on the judgment of the appropriate bibliographer. If the book is returned after a replacement fee has been charged, the patron will still be responsible for the $15 overdue fine. In lieu of the $85 replacement fee, patrons may supply an acceptable duplicate copy to be used for replacement; however, a $30 fee will be charged for the processing of the replacement copy.
Address Changes
The Library is not responsible for non-receipt of notices. Changes of address must be made with the Registrar's office of the appropriate school for students, with the Human Resources office for faculty and staff, and with the Widener Privileges Office for special borrowers.