Planning Your Visit

.Materials in Historical & Special Collections are open to all researchers regardless of academic affiliation. Researchers without a Harvard University ID must check-in at the Law School Library Circulation Desk in order to proceed to Historical & Special Collections.

The Root Room, the Historical & Special Collections Reading Room, is located on the 4th floor of Langdell Hall. All researchers must have a current registration card on file; registration cards are valid for the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) in which they are issued. For those researchers without a registration card please be prepared to show a photo ID.

If you are considering a visit to Historical & Special Collections, we recommend contacting us in advance so that we can discuss your research needs.

For more information, please see:

Hours
Limited Access - Effective November 24, 2011-July 31-2012
Location
Directions & Parking
Contact us
Access FAQs
Reading Room Rules

Hours: 

Our Hours Have Changed

The Historical & Special Collections Reading Room is open:
Monday - Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm
By Appointment Only

Please see the Historical & Special Collections’ homepage for any changes to our hours.

Limited Access: November 24, 2010 - July 31, 2012 

Due to a major construction project involving the Harvard Law School Library’s Historical & Special Collections stack areas, all early manuscripts and books (including the Red Set) in Historical & Special Collections will be unavailable to researchers from November 24, 2011 through July 31, 2012, except as described below.

Because large portions of our collection will be stored offsite and unavailable to staff as well as researchers, our ability to answer reference questions will be limited during this time. If you do have a question, please email specialc@law.harvard.edu and we will do our best to assist you.

During this time, it will still be possible to consult modern manuscripts and portions of the visual materials collection by appointment only, Monday - Friday between 10 am and 5 pm. Please arrange an appointment and request all materials two business days in advance of your visit. For more information, please email specialc@law.harvard.edu.

We expect to resume normal operations on August 1, 2012, though circumstances beyond our control may dictate a change in this schedule; announcements will be posted as necessary. We recognize that this process is inconvenient and we thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Location: 

The Root Room
4th floor, Langdell Hall
1545 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Directions & Parking: 

The Harvard Law School has written instructions for travel by car, but we recommend taking public transportation. Langdell Hall is a ten minute walk from the Harvard Square T stop and fifteen minutes from the Porter Square commuter rail. Massachusetts Avenue is serviced by both the #96 and #77 bus lines. For more detailed information regarding public transportation, see the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA ) website.

Most on-street parking in the area is reserved for city residents with Cambridge vehicle registrations; on-street metered parking in Harvard Square is scarce.

Visitors may purchase a daily parking permit through
Harvard University Parking Services
Holyoke Center, Room 807
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617.495.3772
Fax: 617.495.9119
Email: parking@harvard.edu

Parking can be reserved up to a week in advance of your visit. Please reserve parking as soon as possible for your visit as parking spaces close to the Law School fill up quickly during the school year.

Contact us: 

Email: specialc@law.harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 495-4550
Fax: (617) 495-8588

Mail: Historical & Special Collections
Harvard Law School Library
Langdell Hall
1545 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Access FAQs 

Can anyone access Historical & Special Collections?

Yes, materials in Historical & Special Collections are open to all researchers regardless of academic affiliation. For access to the Law School Library general collection, please consult the library’s Access Privileges Department.

Are laptops and scanners permitted in the Reading Room?

Laptops are permitted; scanners however, are not. For further information, please see our Reading Room Rules.

Is there wireless access for my laptop?

The entire Law School campus is wireless accessible. Harvard affiliates may register their laptops online using their PIN. Visiting researchers can get wireless access by going to the Information Technology Services help desk in Wasserstein Hall, Room B037 and registering their laptops. The help desk is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am -5:30pm. Although registration is a fast process, researchers are advised to register before they come to Special Collections.

Can I request items in advance of my visit?

We recommend that researchers using our modern manuscript collection contact us at least two business days in advance because most of this collection is housed offsite.

How much storage space is available to researchers?

Each researcher is provided with a small locker for the day. We suggest researchers make arrangements for storing larger items elsewhere, as we cannot be responsible for items that do not fit in the lockers. All bags and jackets must be placed in the locker. For preservation purposes, the Root Room is maintained at a set temperature that at times can feel cold. For your comfort, we recommend bringing a light sweater or sweatshirt.

Are there specific rules for the handling of materials?

All materials consulted must be handled with great care. Researchers handling materials carelessly will be denied further access to the collections. All incoming researchers will be asked to read and sign a copy of our Reading Room Rules, which include detailed information on proper handling procedures.